Sen. Boquist: Oregon v. Biden, wildfire map, more …

By Oregon State Senator Brian Boquist:

Capital Chatter: Do Oregon Democrats want Biden to stay in the race?  “U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer this week became the first Democrat in Oregon’s congressional delegation to publicly urge President Joe Biden to end his quest for re-election.”  So is this election interference?  Oligarch donors and Super Delegates want to replace the candidate citizens chose in the primary.  How is this different than Chinese, Russian, or Ukrainian election interference?

Oregon Capitol Insider.  New wildfire hazard map will be released with few changes after yearlong makeover.  “A statewide “wildfire risk map” that drew the ire of many Oregonians will return in several weeks with few changes but with a new name following a yearlong makeover.”  This map sparked outrage a year ago.  What is the government’s answer?  Convene more government bureaucrats, wait a year, rename the map, launch a propaganda campaign, and try to hoodwink Oregonians again?  Looks like it.

Oregon Capitol Insider.  Deadlocked Oregon ethics commission won’t investigate complaints against Gov. Kotek.  “A deadlocked Oregon Government Ethics Commission won’t pursue an investigation into Gov. Tina Kotek’s since-abandoned plans to give her wife an expanded policy role in her administration.” Anyone surprised?  Did the Democrats say no and Republicans said yes to an investigation.  Tie means amnesty is granted?

The Lund Report.  Oregon Medical Board delays microaggression, bias rule criticized as vague. “The state Medical Board has hit pause on a rule that would require doctors and other licensees to report other health care professionals for discrimination, including microaggressions, after an Oregon Medical Association attorney raised concerns.” Maybe Oregon Medical Board’s time would be better spent reflecting and fixing its failed response to the pandemic, rising deaths, and support for runaway costs, rather than acting as political agents who have long forgot about their Hippocratic Oath.  Or maybe focus on HIV exposure to thousands in Portland through mistakes made?

Salem.  “Ballot measures on cannabis unions, higher corporate taxes could be on November ballot.  Only two measures — one that would tax corporations more to give $750 annual payments to all Oregonians and one that would restrict union-busting in the cannabis industry — submitted signatures by Friday … they’ll join three legislative referrals on the November ballot. Lawmakers in 2023 opted to let voters decide whether to give the Legislature the power to impeach top officials, let an independent commission set salaries for elected officials and change the way candidates are elected.”  IP-17 is the corporate tax measure.  Based on election across the nation in may well pass.  IP-17 effectively is a tax cut on personal income taxes.  IP-17 may well replace any legislative gas tax increase as the constitution may well require nearly $350 million per year to go to the highway fund.  IP-17 may well reduce state budget expenditures as well per independent reports.  IP-17 shifts taxes to large corporations with revenues over $25 million.  A popular approach that has helped elect Congressional candidates across the country.  Only voters can decide.

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