Join Marion Polk First in their campaign to stop tax hikes in the City of Salem by canvassing in support of Michael Hoselton, candidate for Ward 5 City Council. RSVP with Nick Hill at nick@marionpolkfirst.com or just show up ready to meet you north Salem neighbors.
Meet at Hammond Elementary School - 4900 Bayne St NE, Salem, OR 97305 - Jan Ree/Kale Street neighborhood
Election Integrity Symposium
Friday, May 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm
1-5:30, $25 adm. Speakers include Phil Izon from Alaska Ranked-Choice voting Education Association, Mark Cook from Colorado IT witness on Tim Sipple case, and Dr. Frank on how to use data to approach clerks. Washington County will give a report on finding dead voters. And others to give information on how to approach counties for in-person voting.
Celebrated on the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when in the wake of the American Civil War, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas.
Last Monday, SB 795 was given a hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. As you may recall from the action alert in my last week's newsletter, SB 795 would give counties an option to take back forest lands that were deeded over to the State.
Under the original agreement, those forest lands would be managed for the “greatest permanent valueâ€, but the Department of Forestry has lowered harvest levels below sustainable harvest levels, costing many of our counties (including Linn and Marion) and special districts over $1 Billion in tax revenues.
Under SB795, counties could take back ownership (and management) of their forestlands if those counties feel the agreement is not being upheld and that they could obtain more value from the lands on their own.
Senator Girod (R, Stayton) introduced this bill because he also feels that rural counties know better than the bureaucrats at the Oregon Department of Forestry how to best manage our own forest lands—to protect our water, provide habitat, defend our communities from fire, and support our tax base.
With the passage of SB 795 into law, logging could increase once again in Linn County, bringing with it countless jobs and added revenue.
I want to thank everyone who testified in front of the committee, as well of all of you that submitted written testimony on OLIS. I would encourage you to continue following along as this extremely important bill continues to move through the legislative process. We will need all the support we can get!
Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist and Will Tucker's testimony can be viewed here.
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My written testimony:
“When two parties enter into a contract, both parties have an obligation to uphold their side of the responsibilities outlined in that agreement. Yet in the case of our forestlands, it is the State of Oregon who is defaulting on its side of the agreement, leaving our rural communities deprived of the tax revenues they are owed—and the compounding effect of those loses for decades. SB 795 would be a small step towards correcting our State’s failure, and I urge your support.
When Counties deeded over hundreds of thousands of acres of forestlands to the state in the 1930’s and 1940’s, it was agreed that the state would manage those lands for the “greatest permanent valueâ€. Yet the Oregon Department of Forestry (DOF) has reduced management practices, repeatedly lowering the revenues off these lands by harvesting below sustainable levels.
To make matters worse, the DOF has ignored the input of our counties in their decision making, committing to a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that will further reduce harvest levels on our forestlands—and with it, the tax revenues owed to our rural taxing districts. This was not the agreement the State made with our counties.
The State has failed to weigh the effect its management decisions have on our counties and has ignored its contractual obligations for these forestlands. Now, our counties want the option to effectively terminate that agreement and reclaim their rightful forestlands—something that is absolutely reasonable when a contact is in breach.â€
Establishing the right to carry concealed firearms without permit
The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office has now received the initial prospective petition filing to establish constitutional carry in Oregon. The three chief petitioners in the effort are: Joel Pawloski, Chair of the Marion County Republicans; Kerry McQuisten, former gubernatorial candidate and former mayor of Baker City; and Jean Sampson, former city council member of Clatskanie in Columbia County.
The title as listed in the petition information is: “Establishing the right to carry concealed firearms without permit.†The proposed text is as follows: “PARAGRAPH 1. Section 27, Article I of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, is amended to read: Sec. 27. (1) The people shall have the right to bear arms for the [defence] defense of themselves, and the State, but the Military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power. (2) The right described in subsection (1) of this section includes the right to carry, without a permit, a concealed firearm.â€
Says Pawloski, “Constitutional Carry is an important right for the safety and security of all Oregonians. The failures of leadership in Oregon are endemic. With ballot initiatives, the people of Oregon act as our own legislators under the Oregon Constitution, and it’s time we take the lead on this subject.â€
McQuisten concurs. “We’ve watched so many over-the-top gun-grab attempts in Oregon erode our Second Amendment rights. We shouldn’t be asking permission from the government to protect ourselves.â€
“Gathering this many signatures is a daunting task,†added Sampson. “But I think Oregonians are ready for this change in the same way that more than half of our U.S. states have been.â€
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After the prospective petition paperwork is approved by the Secretary of State’s office, the chief petitioners will be issued a signature sheet template to begin collecting at least 1,000 sponsorship signatures, which are necessary to receive a ballot title from the Oregon Attorney General’s Office. After that step is achieved, the process of gathering the actual signatures necessary for the initiative to appear on the 2024 ballot will begin.
Additional statements will be released, along with official website information, when the gathering of the first 1,000 signatures begins.
Today, Senator Bill Hansell (R-Athena) announced that he is not running for reelection for State Senator of District 29 in 2024.
Hansell released the following statement:
“I did not realize it at the time, but in the fall of 1981, Margaret and I made a decision that would set the course of my life for the next 42 years. Now we are making another decision that will set another course for us. I am not going to run for reelection for State Senator when this term of office ends in 2024.
I am announcing this decision now, in order to give others in Senate District 29, who might be interested, time to decide whether or not to seek this office. Senate District 29 is the second largest district in Oregon, and I am confident there may be a number of individuals interested in running. I want to give them time to prepare, and I do not plan to endorse anyone before the May Primary in 2024.
It has been an absolute privilege and honor to serve as an elected official, first as an Umatilla County Commissioner for 30 years, and two and half terms thus far as a State Senator, which will be 12 years when I retire. I am very grateful for my wife Margaret, my family, my friends, and the Good Lord for the opportunity to serve for over four decades.
A previous senator who had my Capitol office left behind a written note on the bottom of one of the desk drawers, “Be a Statesman, not a Politician, it’s all about service.†I agree and this I have tried to do.
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Being an elected official has given me a platform to serve others, both on the local and state level. Using government to help others provides the motivation and the joy for what I do. For example, I received as much satisfaction helping a widow lady save her chickens by having the government trapper spend some time near her home as I do serving on the Joint Semiconductor Committee tasked with bringing billions of federal dollars and thousands of jobs to Oregon. Serving as a Commissioner or Senator has given me an amazing platform to help others. After I retire, I plan to continue to help other, I just won’t have this particular platform.
There is a time for everything, the Biblical Book of Ecclesiastes states. Now is the time I believe, to give someone else the platform and opportunity to serve in the Oregon Senate, just as the great people of Senate District 29 have enabled me to do.â€
The Oregon State Police has signed on to the National 30x30 Pledge aimed to bring more women into policing to improve public safety, community outcomes, and trust in law enforcement. The 30x30 Pledge is a series of low- and no-cost actions policing agencies can take to improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement.
The activities help policing agencies assess the current state of a department with regard to gender equity, identify factors that may be driving any disparities and develop and implement strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing. These actions address recruitment, assessment, hiring, retention, promotion, and agency culture.
The Pledge is the foundational effort of the 30x30 Initiative – a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States. The 30x30 Initiative is affiliated with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).
The ultimate goal of the 30x30 Initiative is to reach 30 percent of women in police recruitment classes by 2030 and to ensure policing agencies are truly representative of the jurisdiction the agency serves. While 30x30 is focused on advancing women in policing, these principles are applicable to all demographic diversity, not just gender.
Currently, women make up only 12 percent of sworn officers and 3 percent of police leadership in the U.S. This underrepresentation of women in policing has significant public safety implications. Research suggests that women officers:
Use less force and less excessive force
Are named in fewer complaints and lawsuits
Are perceived by communities as being more honest and compassionate
See better outcomes for crime victims, especially in sexual assault cases
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“This pledge means that the Oregon State Police is actively working toward improving the representation and experiences of women Troopers in our agency, “said Superintendent Casey Codding. “We are honored to be among many in the nation to make this critical commitment, and we look forward to working with and learning from agencies across the country who share our priority.â€
More than 250 agencies – from major metro departments including the New York City Police Department to mid-sized, rural, university, and state policing agencies – have signed the 30x30 Pledge. The Pledge is based on social science research that greater representation of women on police forces leads to better policing outcomes for communities.
“We are grateful to the Oregon State Police for being one of the first in the nation to commit to being a part of this growing movement,†said Maureen McGough, co-founder of the 30x30 Initiative, Chief of Staff of the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law, and former policing expert at the U.S. Department of Justice. “We believe strongly that advancing women in policing is critical to improving public safety outcomes. We look forward to having more agencies follow Oregon State Police’s lead by signing the pledge and improving the representation and experiences of women in policing.â€
Oregon PERS one of the top performing funds in 2022
The Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund (OPERF) was recognized as one of the top performing funds in 2022 among pension plan peers whose portfolios are larger than $10 billion.
Ranked 2nd out of 50 qualifying plans for returns generated in calendar year 2022, Treasury managed to navigate volatile markets and minimize risks to end the year with a small loss of -1.1%. Over that same period, the average portfolio in the peer group lost nearly 10%. OPERF is managed by the Oregon State Treasury in accordance with policies and allocation targets set by the Oregon Investment Council. The fund closed 2022 with a value of $91.9 billion.
OPERF's strong performance amongst peers extends beyond 2022. Over the last 20 years, the fund's performance ranked first out of 42 peers, with an annualized return of 9.4%.
Treasury's Investment Division manages OPERF to meet long-term obligations for more than 200,000 beneficiaries and short-term operational needs, such as over $425 million in monthly retirement payments to Oregonians.
"Our fiduciary responsibility to manage the state's pension fund in a responsible manner that delivers results for Oregon's public employees — our teachers, firefighters and public health nurses — is one that Treasury, the Oregon Investment Council, and our partners take very seriously," said State Treasurer Tobias Read, who sits on the Oregon Investment Council. "We're committed to managing a portfolio that meets our beneficiaries' needs today and in 30 years."
Despite a tumultuous 2022, which saw record-high inflation and global economic uncertainty wipe out much of the returns pension funds across the country generated in 2021, OPERF's performance was the byproduct of Treasury's long-term strategic focus and oversight of Oregon's public employee pension fund.
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Treasury's Investment Division manages OPERF to generate sustainable returns and perform in various market conditions, evident by the fund generating 20% returns in a strong market year like 2021 and proving resilient in down market years like 2022. The latter results in billions of dollars remaining available for key services like education, housing, and addiction treatment instead of higher pension fund contribution rates for employers.
"I'm proud of our team's performance in a year like 2022 just as much as 2021. Our investment decisions are designed to help us benefit when the market is booming and to also be capable of weathering downturns and market volatility, to limit losses," said Treasury's Chief Investment Officer, Rex Kim.
The peer ranking report released by Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service factors in performance data for tax-exempt pension plans across the country. OPERF has consistently landed near the top of the peer rankings, most recently achieving the top ranking for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
The Oregon State Treasury improves the financial well-being of all Oregonians. We provide low-cost banking, debt management, and investment programs for governments and empower Oregonians to invest in themselves and their loved ones through the Oregon College Savings Plan, Oregon ABLE Savings Plan, and OregonSaves. Treasury also facilitates the state's Unclaimed Property Program.
When OPERF is able to out perform its obligation, it reduces the deficit on taxpayers. So why did Representative Khanh Pham (D-Portland) with ten others sponsor HB 2601, which would force the Treasury to neglect its fiduciary responsibility for the whim-of-the-moment trend of legislators?
Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) testified, “This bill makes a damaging assumption that the retirement funds of public employees belong to the State of Oregon. That assumption is both dangerous and wrong. This money belongs to public employees...Oregon Courts have affirmed over the past thirty years that the money in the public employee retirement fund belongs to public employees, not to the state or state lawmakers. We cannot and should not do anything to usurp their decision making authority about how their money is invested and that would lead to a decline in their earnings or their retirement future.â€
Oregon Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 853-A, ending the policy to reimburse travel expenses for out-of-state, highly paid state workers at taxpayer expense. Introduced by Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend), it is the only piece of legislation this session sponsored by all 30 Senators and has an impressive bipartisan list of sponsors in the House.
"It is important for us to be equitable in our policies as it relates to financial matters, and that we be sensitive to Oregon taxpayers," said Knopp on the Senate Floor. "Today we get to pass the most bipartisan bill of this session. It would be great if there were other bills that follow suit having such consensus and collaboration. I appreciate [my colleagues] for signing on."
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Meliah Masiba, Legislative Director, Department of Administrative Services, reported that out of Oregon 41,543 employees, 6,780 work remotely. Of those 6,348 are in-state and 432 are out-of-state remote workers.
SB 853-A, now awaiting its first reading in the House, is part of the Senate Republican Caucus's Equitable Oregon agenda. It can be found under 'Promoting Freedom & Prosperity for All Oregonians'.
Public invited to demobilization ceremony after overseas deployment.
The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is headquartered in Idaho and consists of Soldiers from the four western states of Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. The Hermiston Unit is one of five armored brigade combat teams in the U.S. National Guard and one of 16 in the United States Army.
More than 75 Oregon Army National Guard Citizen-Soldiers, assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, along with maintenance support members from the 145th Brigade Support Battalion, are scheduled to conduct a formal demobilization ceremony on March 5, 2023, at the Hermiston Community Center, Oregon, at 10:00 a.m.
The Oregon Soldiers were combined with two Army National Guard Companies from the Montana Army National Guard's 163rd Infantry Regiment, as part of TASK FORCE GRIZ, supporting the United States Central Command. In addition, service members from Idaho, Nevada, and Florida made up the total force supporting OPERATION SPARTAN SHIELD, strengthening defense relationships, and building partner nation abilities in the region.
These Citizen-Soldiers were initially mobilized on Nov. 4, 2021. Prior to their overseas deployment, the unit, under the command of Army National Guard Capt. Sean Popravak, first conducted additional specialized training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and departed for Qatar in early January 2022.
“Our mission was to be a mobile, armored reaction force to deter malign foreign influence and reassure allies within the Middle East of the United States' continued commitment to the region,†said Popravak.
“While deployed, we participated in Eager Lion, a multinational military exercise involving 29 other partner nations in Jordan,†Popravak said, describing some of the highlights of the nearly yearlong mobilization. “It was an exciting and rewarding experience exchanging military expertise and improving interoperability among our forces through various training scenarios and live fire events.â€
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Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Reed and Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, are scheduled to welcome home and serve as the presiding officials on behalf of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, during their official welcome home ceremony.
The Hermiston Community Center is located at 415 S. Hwy. 395, in Hermiston, Oregon 97838. The ceremony is open to the media and community members who desire to welcome the unit service members home.
Students get first hand experience catching criminals.
The FBI Teen Academy program provides an opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors to learn about careers in law enforcement within the FBI and beyond. The Portland Division will hold their summer camp July 11 to July 14, 2023.
Applicants chosen for the program actively engage with FBI agents and leaders in the Bureau to learn about case studies, crime prevention, evidence gathering, and investigative techniques related to criminal activity. The Teen Academy allows students to delve deeply into levels of law enforcement unavailable to them in a general classroom setting.
“We are excited to be able to offer the FBI’s Teen Academy program again this year,†said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “It’s a great opportunity for these kids to learn about the FBI, engage with our Special Agents and develop leadership skills. We try to make this week-long program beneficial and useful for the students but we get so much out of it ourselves, hearing from this next generation of what their concerns are and how the FBI can do better, it’s a great opportunity for everyone.â€
Students will learn about how criminals are captured, hear from FBI agents about actual cases, and learn how to raise their self-awareness online and watch for cyber-predators. Graduates of the Teen Academy program develop a keen understanding of how the FBI interacts with local law enforcement agencies and how participants can raise crime prevention awareness in their communities. In addition, hands-on instruction by FBI experts and other law enforcement agents allows students to understand the importance of communication between national and local agencies.
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FBI Teen Academy members engage in group activities ranging from small group exercises to hands-on simulations. Participation is free to the applicants chosen, and volunteer organizations provide supplies for the events. As a result, students learn valuable life skills and increase their knowledge and understanding of how law enforcement agencies interact around the country.
Teens can submit their application to outreach.pd@fbi.gov by Friday, April 14, 2023.
The Oregon State Senate voted overwhelmingly to enforce students with disabilities’ right to attend school full time. Senate Bill 819 will require informed and written parental consent before a student can have a shortened school day. It also requires the Oregon Department of Education to enforce the law and empowers the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to investigate and hold superintendents accountable for refusing to restore equal access to schools for students with disabilities.
Today, nearly 1,000 students with disabilities in districts across the state have been placed on a shortened day for whom a full school day is difficult due to endurance or other factors, in accordance with OAR 581-022-1620.
In at least one case, students receive as little as 25 minutes a week of instruction for years on end. If SB 819 is signed into law, beginning on March 27, parents of these students can file a written objection to their student’s shortened day schedule. The district must return the student to full time school within 5 school days. Failure to do so can lead to loss of state school funds and discipline for the responsible administrator.
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Director Colt Gill, Oregon Department of Education said, “ODE would require additional resources to implement the investigations required by this bill in order for each eligible child to have an educational program that enables the provision of free appropriate public education (FAPE).â€
“Students with disabilities have had the right to full time public education since the 1970s. It is inexcusable that many districts routinely deprive students of the chance to learn reading, math and social skills by shutting the schoolhouse door in their faces,†said Senator Sara Gelser Blouin (D-Corvallis).
“Today, the Oregon State Senate sent a clear message: There is no excuse for school districts to violate the civil rights of students with disabilities, and the Oregon Department of Education is expected to enforce state and federal law. With rapid action from the House and Governor, Oregon students will be able to realize the promise of a free and appropriate public education next month.â€
The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The Board of Commissioners will function with six members until the Governor appoints a seventh member to the Commission, and that designee is approved through the Oregon Senate appointments process.
Operations and maintenance costs for commuter rail are high.
House Bill 2662 drew attention during a hearing on February 21 that would require the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), in collaboration with Tri-Met and Portland & Western Railroad to study extending the Westside Express Service (WES) commuter line to Salem. Representative Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville), bill sponsor, testified, “Southwest Portland Metro Regions are among the fastest growing communities in the state. As our region grows and changes, we know we need to be proactive and thoughtful about identifying and investing in public transportation solutions.â€
Economist Stephen Moore, FreedomWorks, reports on Committee to Unleash Prosperity that Oregon’s liberal paradise, Portland, can now officially be labelled a basket case. Moore wrote, “Here is what we are learning from our spies in Portland and various recent news reports. They are now calling the city an ‘anarchic wonderland.’ But it turns out normal people don’t much like anarchy. Years of riots, lawlessness, tent cities, high taxes, woke government and homeless people everywhere is chasing residents away from this former mecca of progressive governance.â€
One local media outlet in the city told Moore, “The city has switched from attracting new arrivals to repelling its current citizens. In Portland, many liberals are dodging stray bullets, losing catalytic converters to thieves and sidestepping tents. Then they open their tax bills.†And we’re not talking about the summer of the 2020 riots.
A recent analysis of the U.S. Postal Service by the National Association of Realtors data released shows that Seattle and Portland metro areas are leading the West Coast in net move-outs. Census Bureau data confirms that Portland has lost population three years in a row.
Miles Pengilly, TriMet State Government Affairs Manager, testimony raised concerns related to extending WES including increasing the frequency and hours of service. The frequency of WES service is limited because WES ridership is low and the operations and maintenance costs for heavy commuter rail are high.
Pengilly recommends creating a state-chartered public corporation or some form of rail authority to extend and operate the WES line between Wilsonville and Salem, as TriMet is not the appropriate entity to oversee that project or operate that service.
Last year TriMet struggled with driver shortage, and the year before they altered schedules for lack of riders during the pandemic.
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Amtrak train from Salem to Portland costs $7 - $13 for a 1 hour and 30 minute ride, available four times a day. There is also a bus that runs the same route. To compete with drivers, the rates from Eugene to Portland were slashed 30 percent last December. Ridership dropped dramatically in April 2020 due to the pandemic closures. In 2021, the year ended regaining their 2020 ridership, but 2022 still ran 11 percent below pre-pandemic levels.
Amtrak’s experience trying to pry drivers from behind the wheel isn’t going to change with another train service, and if it divides ridership, it won't be sustainable for either. ODOT is also having conversations with Washington State Department of Transportation that would bring “ultra-high-speed ground transportation†(high speed rail or HSR). It is currently being discussed for a corridor between Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia. Representative Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene) introduced HB 2691 that would extend high speed rail from Seattle all the way to Eugene.
Another sign of unsustainability by ridership, Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Troutdale) sponsored SB 13, which allows commercial buses operated for 5,000 miles or fewer from the required registration of certain model year diesel engines to owners located in Multnomah, Clackamas or Washington County.
The push to get drivers off the road seems to be driven by cost. Lower cost to rider, higher gas prices, and then add tolling costs.
Representative Ben Bowman (D-Tigard) sponsored HB 3206, permitting an individual who is 16 or 17 years of age and registered to vote to cast a ballot in school district elections, including nomination and election of school directors. It requires the Secretary of State to establish a process by rule to ensure eligible individuals only receive a ballot for school district elections.
Currently, Oregonians must register 21 days before election day and must be a U.S. citizen, must be an Oregon resident, and must be at least 16
years old. Once registered, an individual will receive a ballot and instructions in the mail about two weeks before an election. Registered voters under the age of 18 do not receive a ballot until the first election that occurs on or after the voter’s 18th birthday.
Article VIII, Section 3 of the Oregon Constitution gives the Legislative Assembly authority to "provide by law for the establishment of a uniform, and general system of Common schools." House Bill 3206 permits an individual who is 16 or 17 years of age and registered to vote to cast a ballot in school district elections.
Representative Bowman presented testimony that the bill is based on Daniel Hart and Robert Atkins publication, "American Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds Are Ready to Vote." Interestingly, at the end (page 21) there is a note: "This body of research has led theorists to conclude that adolescents may lack the legal culpability of adults for some forms of criminal behavior (see Steinberg and Scott 2003)" The article's conclusion admits the claim for 16-year-olds to vote "rests upon the exploration of the notion of citizenship, in some of its legal meanings in the United States, as well as its connotations in political philosophy. Citizens should be entitled to vote, unless
there is good reason to imagine that they cannot fulfill their responsibilities as citizens or as voters." They point to the decline of children in the population as being underrepresented. They say voting is a tool to educate them on civic habits.
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Representative E. Werner Reschke (R- ) testified of the dangers inherit to permitting youth to vote while the legislature recognizes their immaturity in other areas. Reschke goes on to state that the expansion of rights with no corresponding responsibility is poor public policy. The 2019 the legislature amended Measure 11 offering special treatment to offenders age 15 to 17. Reschke asks, "Why? Because 15 to 17 year old's lacked a fully formed frontal lobe, a part of the brain that plays a major part in memory, judgement and other vital functions. If that is true, why do we want to consider those who are still adolescents to directly participate in such important adult decisions?" If brain function isn't an issue, then why not 6 year olds? Where does it stop?
“While deployed, we participated in Eager Lion, a multinational military exercise involving 29 other partner nations in Jordan,†Popravak said, describing some of the highlights of the nearly yearlong mobilization. “It was an exciting and rewarding experience exchanging military expertise and improving interoperability among our forces through various training scenarios and live fire events.â€
