Sen. Boquist: Final letter

By Oregon State Senator Brian Boquist,
Highlights, excerpts from Sen. Boquist newsletter

Dear Readers:

Welcome to this last edition of the unedited uncensured bi-weekly clips consolidated by other Oregonians for your thought-provoking consideration with other information sources.  If we do any future clips they will be on X @SenatorBoquist as articles.  Thank you for twenty years of loyal readership.  As we leave the legislature this last set of clips will reach 194,992 people. 

Oregon Capitol Insider.  1/9/2025.  “Capital Chatter: A plea for kindness across the divide: This is not the column I planned to write, the one for which I interviewed legislators this week.  This is not the column I wanted to write. But it is the column I must write.  It is a plea. No matter how much we dislike the current U.S. president or the incoming president, please — please! — do not demonize either him or his followers.  No matter how much we disdain Oregon’s Democratic leaders or the Republicans who oppose their policies, please forgo the inflammatory rhetoric.  We might save a life.”  I’ve led with this article as the writer is only one of two true journalists I know in Salem.  What happened that led to this article this past week we do not know?  ‘Pollyanna’ as the writer said it may be but none-the-less it is worth some thought.  While I think it may be far too late, we can have hope, or at least reflect upon it?

Oregon Capitol Chronical.  1/7/2025.  “Lawmakers propose pause on rate hikes from utilities embroiled in wildfire lawsuits: Three Oregon lawmakers want to stop utility companies from raising rates on customers while those companies are still resolving years-long lawsuits over wildfire culpability and costs.”  Pollyanna or politics?  Given these are three entrenched Republicans it is hard to tell?  After 20 years in the Legislature, I can envision no Democrat majority reversing course on green profits, climate change, or donor benefits, can you?  Today, my PGE bill is double that of public utility districts nearby plus across the state.  Why?  Because of Democrat majority passed legislation plain and simple implemented by Democrat executives.  Not a matter of right or wrong but a simple fact. 

KATU News.  1/10/2025. “Oregon sending one of its largest deployments to aid California wildfire fight: Three hundred Oregon firefighters are in southern California working to battle the flames … bringing 75 seventy-five engines.”  Tragic but expected?  Nor does it solve the lack of water for those very engines?  NYT on water.  AP News on water.  Recall so-called corporate media denied there was a water shortage issue?  Then there is the climate change and draught claims but the Los Angles Almanac with USG rain data says the opposite?  Quote from link: “Average for seasons 1944 through 2024: 11.99 inches.”  Official records show 22-23 at 28 inches then 23-24 at 24 inches meaning double plus the normal rainfall resulting in massive vegetation growth.  Growth that turns dry at this time creating record fire dangers.  Los Angeles was founded in 1781 thus one might think someone would know this natural occurrence?  Like someone in charge?  Or were the Democrats in charge, yes registered Democrats are legally in charge, occupied with something more important?  Like what?

Then we’ve spend over $200 billion in tax dollars to kill a million people in Ukraine out of kindness yet cannot afford to fight fires, house the homeless, feed the poor, build roads, have running water, and help Americans … why?