Editor’s note: This is the first of a multi-part series on the impact of your vote for School Board Candidates, an OAA Voter Education Project

Ask any voter or parent and you’ll find they are confident that they elect school boards to represent them, they are allowed to give input, and influence decisions on what is taught in public schools. In odd number years, the third Tuesday in May, May 16, 2023, voters mark their ballots to elect roughly half of Oregon’s school boards.

Months prior, organizations and groups search for candidates that are willing to fulfill the responsibilities and commitments expected of school board members, including policies, rules and curriculum, teacher standards, and collective bargaining.

Parents have basis for assuming their school board will function as parents wish and in the best interest of their children. ORS 332.072 tells them “the legal status of school districts as corporate bodies, and the district school board is authorized to transact all business coming within the jurisdiction of the district and to sue and be sued. Pursuant to law, district school boards have control of the district schools and are responsible for educating children residing in the district.”

Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Project is once again sponsoring candidate surveys that touch on the nitty-gritty of what school boards face. Mostly based on current and past legislation, it exposes the trending in the legislature on issues that have become contentious in school board meetings. One such bill was SB 1521 passed in 2022, which prohibits a school board from dismissing a superintendent for following any federal, state or local requirement even if it is at the option and against the school board policy.

As is noted in ORS 332.072, parents can sue school board members for violation of laws. Such laws as:

• ORS 329.025 requires listing characteristics of the school system that emphasizes involvement of parents and the community in the total education of students.
• ORS 329.125 school districts are to provide opportunities for parents or guardians to be involved in establishing and implementing educational goals and to participate in decision-making at the school site.
• ORS 336.082 assures development of a nondiscriminatory curriculum.
• ORS 336.067 gives special emphasis on respect for all humans, regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, sex or disability.
• ORS 336.465 the right of parents, guardians and residents to examine instructional material to be used in any class, course, assembly or school-sponsored activity.

One thing the “pandemic” has told parents is how much in the dark they have been. Are there really “public” schools when they are not open to the public and are not accountable to the public? Schools are run by government, they are regulated by government, they are funded by government, they are compelled by government, they are government schools. Perhaps what is missing was best stated in the Journal of Counseling and Development. “Research indicates that when a collective group of school, family, and community stakeholders work together, achievement gaps decrease.” (p. 408, Bryan & Henry, 2012)

As the 2023 legislature progresses, attention is drawn away from school board elections. As legislators discuss bills such as SB 292, school board members are reminded of the requirement to file a statement of economic interest by April 15, 2023. SB 292 proposes to give board members in districts less than 1,650 students extended time to file. If passed, HB 2002 will be the most serious issues facing school boards affecting parents relationship with their student, and parents will be looking to school boards for support.

Parents cannot ignore that their rights are in peril. In this series we will highlight issues that school boards face and what voters need to know to reform school policies.

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In 2016, Oregon adopted new health education standards. Beginning in kindergarten, students are taught about media influence on health and ways to prevent diseases. This was three years before COVID-19 was detected in the U.S.

Students are also taught the many ways to express gender - and how to communicate with preferred pronouns with people of all sexual orientations.

At meetings and public hearings early on, as the curriculum was being developed, there was very little concern from parents. Perhaps the biggest blessing coming out of the pandemic is that parents learned what their children are being taught and how overly sexual the curriculum is that is being implemented. It opened their eyes to the whole realm of education and how much it had changed in a short time.

School board elections are crucial for education reform. Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project lists the candidates and those responding to the survey on their website.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-04-19 18:30:11

Last Update: 2023-04-20 15:29:23

The Rich States, Poor States report sponsored by the state legislative group, The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), has released their assigned grades for the best economic climate in the country. Utah took top spot for the 14th time with low and flat taxation, no unfunded pension problems, light regulation, and a right to work law makes Utah an ideal destination for business, capital and families.

The three authors of the report are CTUP co-founders Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore and ALEC vice president Jonathan Williams.

Predictably, the big losers are the blue state meccas New York, Illinois, Vermont and California with Oregon slightly above at 43. Our neighbor to the north dropped to 34 like a rolling stone, Washington just adopted a first-ever capital gains tax.

Not to be surprised why Greater Idaho is so popular, it came in number 4 for economic outlook behind Arizona, North Carolina and Utah. The new rankings also reveal that, as proven by the 2020 Census data, Americans “vote with their feet” by moving from high-tax to low-tax states.

Oregon, on the other hand, has been on a decline since the report’s inception in 2008, when it ranked 35th for economic outlook. The next year the legislature sessions went to annual Oregon sessions, and the economic outlook hit bottom at 45th by 2015 and has stayed between 41 and 44 ever since. Despite Oregon’s economic outlook currently being at 43, the economic performance is ranked 13th. Why such a desperate outlook? So what changed to start the decline?

The personal income tax and marginal corporate income tax obligations stayed stable until 2019, but property tax took a big leap in 2009 and again in 2010 corresponding with a drop in the economic outlook. The culprit seems to be all the remaining tax burdens ranked at 42 costing $21.85 per $1,000 spent made up of fees, hidden sales tax and gas taxes that rose as economic outlook declined over the years.

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Influencing factors begin with Oregon ranking 50 in estate tax levied. The outlook ranked 49 for personal income tax progressivity valued at $38.28 per $1,000 and the marginal personal income tax rate at 14.69%. The marginal corporate income tax rate ranked 48 at 15.73%. The property tax reform ranks 35 at $31.57 per $1,000.

In the early 20th century, Oregon acquired a national reputation for its progressive program of direct participation by the electorate in the legislative system. This direct legislation came to be known as the "Oregon System." The progressive tradition of direct legislation and the state's fiscal conservatism are defining characteristics of the Oregon political system. Constitutional requirements along with voter insistence that tax measures be referred to them has meant the Legislative Assembly must work closely with the electorate to gain support for tax increases.

Even though the constitution restrains taxes, the economic ranking indicates this direct legislation hasn’t always been used wisely. Voters have not guarded their constitutional rights, and legislators have used loopholes to manipulate and impose hidden taxes that has depressed the state’s outlook.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-04-19 18:23:54

Last Update: 2023-04-19 17:24:09

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners met on April 12 to decide the fate of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Roseburg City Councilor Ellen Porter was among the last members of SWAC when it was put “on hold due to covid-19 safety measures”. Porter inquired about her current status on SWAC.

Ellen Porter then testified that Douglas County Commissioner Tom Kress stated in a memo that the SWAC “will be dissolved after it provided advice to the Board that was deemed to be of no value in 2019” and “valueless advice was too close all but 4 transfer stations and to double the disposal fees.“

Councilor Porter’s testimony corrects Kress’s memo by stating; “A more accurate accounting of the facts during those meetings was that the County staff and consultant recommended that the SWAC agree with their conclusion that seven of the 11 transfer stations be closed and disposal fees be increased to at least $89/ton if not $97/ton. Carisa Cegavske summed it up so well in the Jan 11, 2019 front page article of the News Review.”

Councilor Porter continued; “We had numerous public meetings about the issue and they were well attended by concerned citizens. These citizens were strongly opposed to the closure of so many transfer stations, more so than their concern with increased disposal fees. Concern was greatest regarding the transfer stations in South County and Glide. The SWAC agreed with the public and chose to advise the Board to not close the large number of transfer stations recommended by County staff and their consultant.”

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Councilor Porter concluded by saying; “As a long term SWAC member, I disagree with a decision to dissolve the function as it provides much needed transparency associated with this public resource… that decision should be based on an accurate accounting of the facts, rather than the inaccurate assessment recently provided to members of the public.”

Members of the public spoke, too. Michaela Hammerson testified saying; “I don’t believe there has been sufficient public discourse about disbanding this and changing our laws here in Douglas County. I would appeal to you that before we make a decision like this we first involve the community and allow them to have public discourse. We have over the last few years really seen that the community and the public and American people in general are very interested in being a part of their own self-governance.”

Terry Noonkester testified; “Eliminating the Solid Waste Advisory Committee is the loss of a committee to represent the people of Douglas County, the loss of a hearing process to hear the peoples grievances and the loss of transparency.”

After the three testimonies opposing the vote to cancel SWAC were heard, the Commissioners had their turn to give their reasons for abolishing SWAC.

Commissioner Kress informed Councilor Porter that she and all previous SWAC members were termed-out. He spoke on the elimination of the SWAC hearings saying, “…we are not doing that, that is what we are doing here today… The BOC, before we can come to any decision have to deliberate in front of the people and allow people the opportunity to say their piece.”

The commissioners office has verified that the public is not allowed to request for items to be put on the BOC agenda. Public comments during BOC meetings are allowed only as they relate to an item on the agenda.

Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman stated; “This concept of eliminating a hearing, literally, when the Advisory Board Committee was doing this work, oftentimes the voice of the people got filtered before it got to us, that is problematic, I like this format much better, were we are hearing directly from the people...”.

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Commissioner Freeman continued with, “When you get an advisory committee that seems adversarial, it doesn’t really work well… It became that, when the members of the advisory committee went directly to the newspaper and said things that weren’t true. An example of that, we have heard that again here today.” Freeman addressed several problems of issues that were “left out” rather than anything contradicting the article.

Commissioner Freeman emphasized that the Board of Commissioners did not vote on waivers, "that did not happen, we did not vote on those waivers”. However, their county employee, Director of Solid Waste Scott Adams, made two of those decisions regarding the Safeway and the Windmill waivers. Freeman claimed that it was SWAC’s idea to give the Director the authority to make those decisions.

Douglas County Commissioner Chris Boice stated that SWAC member Dick Heard told the county that they needed to charge $140 a ton immediately or they would not met financial requirements. That was contradicted by the Carisa Cegavske article that stated “Committee member Dick Heard suggested the number should be adjusted to $97 right away.”

Commissioner Boice addressed a statement by Ellen Porter saying “The fact that you quote the News Review Article and present it as Gospel to me is a little bit humorous because I have not known them to get the story completely accurately (sic) very often.”

The COB meetings, and this public hearing embedded within the COB meeting, are not structured to allow for rebuttal to the commissioners statements.

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Larry Spielbusch, a former chairman of SWAC contributed the following comment; “There would not be a Roseburg Landfill if not for the involvement of the SWAC, solid waste operations, public works engineering, county commissioners and numerous private consultants that convinced the DEQ that a landfill could exist where it is now with the proper controls. For the current BOC to state the SWAC is “useless” is absolutely incorrect and flies in the face of over 50 years of work by a large number of intelligent individuals that provided numerous hours of work to insure we could operate a landfill in Douglas County. This current BOC has no desire to hear what the public has to say and the current solid waste staff/engineering are by far inferior to what existed in the past.”

Neither of the Commissioners, Tom Kress nor Tim Freeman, have ever attended a SWAC meeting. The BOC unanimously passed the amendments to the Douglas County Ordinances that will strike all references to the SWAC from the County Code as of July 12, 2023. SWAC no longer exists.


--Terry Noonkester

Post Date: 2023-04-18 11:19:55

Last Update: 2023-04-18 11:38:18

Oregon Senate Republicans attempted to withdraw seven pieces of legislation from committee that would help relieve Oregonians saddled with inflationary costs and tax burdens. This procedure allows for a floor vote on bills a committee chair doesn’t act on.

Thanks to a decade of failed policy and never-ending tax increases passed by Oregon Democrats, Tax Day has become more and more daunting for Oregonians. Even as we pay among the largest share of taxes of any state in the nation, Senate Democrats refused to consider the entire ‘Affordability’ Package.

“As elected leaders, it’s critical that we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars and that we show our constituents the value of the strategic investments we make,” said Deputy Leader Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), who moved to withdraw from committee SB 990, a measure returning the Kicker in the form of a check instead of a credit.

“For decades, the majority party has failed to make Oregon more affordable for working families. In fact, they’ve done the opposite,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend), who moved to withdraw from committee SJM 1, a measure urging Congress to adopt a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“Today, because of partisan politics, this body failed to make a meaningful difference in the pocketbooks of Oregonians when we had the chance,” said Deputy Leader Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City), who moved to withdraw from committee SB 446, a measure establishing a refundable income tax credit of $1,000 per qualifying child.

“Democrats have turned the Senate into a legislative graveyard where good bills go to die,” added Knopp. “It is said that the only two things we are guaranteed in life are death and taxes. It turns out, this is also true of the Democrat-controlled Senate.”

Today, Oregon (and Massachusetts) residents will pay the largest share of their income in taxes. Oregon consistently lands in the top 5 most expensive states to live in, and top 5 most expensive states to retire in.

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Meanwhile, Oregon has experienced one of the nation’s largest increases in homelessness and a major housing affordability crisis. Performance in Oregon schools continues to plummet despite record spending. Oregon ranks worst in nation for prevalence of mental illness and access to care. The drug overdose death rate is among the highest in the nation and the crime rate lands in the top 10.

The complete ‘Affordability’ Package Senate Democrats rejected.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-04-18 11:15:44

Last Update: 2023-04-18 17:29:30

Constitutional Carry for Oregon (CCFO) has now submitted the required 1,000 “sponsorship signatures” to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, completing the next step in the process to get IP-21 on the ballot.

In total, CCFO submitted 1,345 signatures. CCFO says that provide a significant buffer should some signatures prove invalid.

IP-21 seeks to amend the Oregon Constitution, establishing the right to carry concealed firearms without a permit. At present, 26 U.S. states are already constitutional carry states.

After the Secretary of State’s Office validates the sponsorship signatures, which may take up to ten days, the Attorney General’s Office will generate a ballot title.

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Barring legal challenges to that title, the process of gathering the 160,551 signatures for the initiative to appear on the November 2024 ballot will begin thereafter.

CCFO has until July 5, 2024, to submit signatures.

Constitutional Carry for Oregon is a grassroots volunteer effort.

The three chief petitioners are: Joel Pawloski, a retired Army Lt. Colonel in Marion County; Kerry McQuisten, the former mayor of Baker City in Baker County; and Jean Sampson, former city council member of Clatskanie in Columbia County. More information can be found on their website

--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-04-17 15:36:06

Last Update: 2023-04-17 18:10:51

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek submitted a list of state board and commission appointments to the Oregon Senate for confirmation. The Senate Committee on Rules is scheduled to consider the nominations on May 9th.

The Governor makes appointments to over 250 Boards and Commissions representing a broad range of areas and issues for the State of Oregon. This also includes most major state agencies and departments headed by policy-making boards which are appointed by the Governor.

Members of Oregon State Boards and Commissions are vital participants in statewide decision-making and dedicated individuals have the opportunity to participate in developing a wide variety of important governmental policies. Major issues range from consumer protection, economic development, education, conservation, and health care — all of which are critical to the ongoing success of the State of Oregon.

“The individuals I am nominating today bring robust and diverse backgrounds, and a commitment to our state,” Governor Kotek said. “I am grateful for their willingness to serve.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-04-14 22:06:18

By the end of 2024, the Oregon Department of Transportation plans to toll both the Abernethy Bridge and the Tualatin River Bridges on I-205. Tolls could be as high as $2.20 each way on each bridge, or $8.80 round-trip across both bridges. That’s just the first phase.

By the end of 2025, ODOT expects to impose tolls along the entire lengths of both I-5 and I-205 from Wilsonville to the Washington state border. After that, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program plans to charge tolls to cross the Columbia River on both I-5 and I-205.

Cascade Policy Institute is sending out notices to comment on ODOT’s tolling plans. Federal law allows anyone to comment on an Environmental Assessment. If the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) receives sufficient comments that demonstrate the negative impacts of ODOT’s tolling plan, then the agency may not approve the tolling plan.

Cascade writes: Under federal law, states must get permission from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to charge tolls on Interstate highways. One of the steps is publishing an Environmental Assessment that details the potential environmental and economic impacts of a federally funded project. ODOT recently published its Environment Assessment of the Abernethy and Tualatin River bridge tolls.

ODOT estimates the average household will pay $575 a year just for its first phase of tolls. That’s $575 that Oregonians won’t be able to spend on other things, with restaurants and retail establishments the hardest hit. ODOT estimates that its tolls will cause more than 750 people to lose their jobs and reduce wages by about $3 million a year.

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The transportation department projects that it will collect $132 million a year in tolls: $93 million a year from households and $39 million a year from freight carriers. At the same time, ODOT estimates that reduced traffic on I-205 will produce only $105 million in economic benefits from reduced congestion, environmental improvements, and economic activity. That means Oregonians will be $27 million worse off every year these tolls are collected.

This is not how congestion pricing is supposed to work. Done correctly, congestion pricing makes people better off because the value of the travel time saved is worth more than the tolls they pay. Somehow, ODOT got way off track and concocted a tolling scheme that charges outrageous tolls, doesn’t generate sufficient time savings, impoverishes families, and drives out employers.

If you wish to comment, send your comments to I205TollEA@odot.oregon.gov with "EA comments" in the subject line. The deadline for comments to be considered is Friday, April 21, at 4:00 pm. For more detail and other options for comments.


--Dollie Banner

Post Date: 2023-04-14 15:04:00

Last Update: 2023-04-14 21:47:44

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) and House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) released the following statement on the passage of HB 2002 out of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means:

“Tonight, during the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, despite uncertain facts and unanswered questions, Oregon Democrats passed the most extreme abortion and gender-altering legislation in our nation’s history.

The legislative manipulation witnessed tonight was too fast and too extreme for Oregon.

In less than an hour of debate in tonight’s meeting, without public input and minimal time for Q&A, Democrat leadership forced this bill through knowing that there will be no further opportunity for public input.

During the committee meeting, Democrat committee leadership audibly gasped when Legislative Counsel confirmed that 10-year-olds would be able to get abortions without parental knowledge under the legislation they were “intimately involved with crafting”.

One anonymous parent offered testimony, saying "I am convinced any bill that furthers this ideology, without seriously questioning why it is occurring and what made us all to drastically change our thoughts about such fundamental ideas as sex/gender and a child/teen being able to have informed consent, is not in our children’s best interest."

Legislative Director for the Muslim Religious Freedom Alliance, Abu Jalani offered, "We are in opposition to HB 2002 which as written would criminalize the act of parenting when a parent of a child advises or tries to prevent their child from seeking “reproductive healthcare”. It’s egregious that lawmakers believe parents shouldn’t have ultimate decision making in the healthcare of their children."

The statement from Republican Leadership continued:

As Democrat committee leadership stated tonight, Republicans “should have known this was coming” and prepared accordingly. We did know, we did prepare, we did come equipped with thorough questions. They simply could not answer them and would not give us more time.

If this policy was truly a well-crafted, well-vetted Democrat priority, why were government attorneys unable to answer the questions asked of them tonight with even an ounce of certainty?

Make no mistake - there are 73 days left in this Legislative Session. The time constraint argued by the Democrats is self-imposed. They are in the majority, and they set the agenda.

House and Senate Republicans will continue to stand for the safety of children and the rights of parents. This is a day we won’t soon forget.”

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-04-13 23:12:38

Last Update: 2023-04-13 23:42:00

Oregon Representative Anna Scharf (R-Amity) led 19 legislators from both sides of the aisle sending a letter to Governor Kotek requesting her consideration of private, member only golf courses as available land before taking farmland out of production.

Senate Bill 4, the Semiconductor Bill, passed out of the House on Thursday, April 6th and was signed by Governor Kotek. The bill dedicates $190 million to develop a grant and loan program to support semiconductor businesses looking to expand in Oregon, providing the opportunity for significant federal funding support provided by the CHIPS and Science Act that Congress passed and President Biden signed in August 2022. It also funds $10 million to help communities prepare land for manufacturing sites and $10 million for a University Innovation Research fund that will help public universities secure federal research grants.

During debate on the House floor, several members raised concerns about Section 10 of the legislation that provides the Governor broad authority over its implementation.

Lawmakers wrote, “We raised concern that farmland has inadequate protections in the bill – frequently reminding our colleagues that once farmland is paved over, it is lost forever. We challenged the mindset that farmland is the only available option for the land needed in Senate Bill 4.”

In the letter, the lawmakers proposed two alternative suggestions to farmland, including Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course in North Plains and Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha.

• Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course in North Plains is 350-acres. It meets the 3-mile criteria and could easily be converted to a semiconductor support site, close to the Silicon Forrest. It is a member only course that caters to a few that can afford to join.
• The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha. Again, within the 3-mile parameter and close to many of the other smaller existing semiconductor supply chain companies. This 319-acre site charges $79 a day to play golf and holds weddings and events that only members can host.

“If we are going to look at open spaces and available land for semiconductors, we believe we should consider all open spaces – not just farmland,” wrote the lawmakers. “Large, open fields in the Willamette Valley are not purposeless. These fields are feeding our families, Oregonians, and the world. A member only golf course does not.”

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Governor Kotek gave a statement about the impact of the bill, “Oregon has been at the center of the semiconductor industry in the United States for decades. This bill is an absolutely essential tool for leading a coordinated effort with the private sector to ensure we can compete for federal funds to expand advanced manufacturing in Oregon. We are poised to lay the foundation for the next generation of innovation and production of semiconductors.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-04-13 15:40:39

Last Update: 2023-04-13 20:28:43

Todd Nash, a Wallowa County Commissioner and President of Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, has announced his intent to run for Oregon State Senate District 29 in the 2024 Republican Primary Election. Senate District 29 is currently represented by longtime and well-respected legislator Sen. Bill Hansell who announced on March 3, 2023 he would not seek re-election after his term expires.

“Eastern Oregon has been well represented by Senator Hansell and I intend to carry on that tradition to give rural Oregonians a voice in the legislature,” said Nash. “There are a multitude of issues that need to be addressed and challenges that need to be tackled that will require experienced leadership in natural resources, economic development, and community-based issues if we are going to ensure rural Oregonians have the representation they deserve. I will be that leader and the voice we need.”

Nash has lived in Enterprise since 1968. He was elected as Wallowa County Commissioner in 2016 and has served as President of Oregon Cattlemen’s Association since 2021. In addition, he has been active with Association of Oregon Counties as Co-Chair of the Natural Resource Committee and on the Public Lands Committee at National Association of Counties. He is also the immediate past Co-Chair of the Wallowa County 4/H FFA Fair livestock Sale where he served for 15 years.

His work in the community has been acknowledged often. He has been the recipient of the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce Award for Entrepreneur of The Year Award, Wallowa County Cattlemen of the Year Award and Honorary Cattlemen of The Year, the American Forest Resource Council’s Tillicum Award and many other state and local awards. Nash has been very active with the state legislature going back to 2010 helping to shape many state policies within farming, timber, ranching and natural resource issues. He has also worked with Oregon Department of Agriculture and is currently a State Weed Board Member.

In preparation for filing for the seat this September, Nash has opened a political action committee, developed an exploratory committee, and hired an Oregon campaign management firm.

“It would be an honor to represent the citizens of Senate District 29 in the legislature. I look forward to meeting with and listening to constituents throughout the district, learning their issues, and earning their trust and eventually their vote,” said Nash.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-04-12 15:36:34

Last Update: 2023-04-12 15:56:14

The group Constitutional Carry for Oregon has submitted the required 1,000 “sponsorship signatures” to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, completing the next step in the process to get IP-21 on the ballot. In total, CCFO submitted 1,345 signatures, providing a buffer should some signatures prove invalid.

IP-21 seeks to amend the Oregon Constitution, establishing the right to carry concealed firearms without a permit. At present, 26 U.S. states are already constitutional carry states.

The text of the amendment is simply:

AMENDS CONSTITUTION: Establishing right to carry concealed firearms without permit.

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.

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After the Secretary of State’s Office validates the sponsorship signatures, which may take up to ten days, the Attorney General’s Office will generate a ballot title. Barring legal challenges to that title, the process of gathering the 160,551 signatures for the initiative to appear on the November 2024 ballot will begin thereafter. CCFO has until July 5, 2024, to submit signatures.

Constitutional Carry for Oregon is a grassroots volunteer effort. The three chief petitioners are: Joel Pawloski, a retired Army Lt. Colonel in Marion County, Kerry McQuisten, the former mayor of Baker City in Baker County, and Jean Sampson, former city council member of Clatskanie in Columbia County. More information can be found at www.ConstitutionalCarryforOregon.com.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-04-12 14:51:18

Last Update: 2023-04-12 15:21:42

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has announced how much funding each region within Oregon's homelessness state of emergency will receive from the state, as well as the specific outcomes local communities are expected to achieve with the emergency dollars.

On her first full day in office, the Governor declared a homelessness state of emergency and urged the legislature to pass an early investment package to meet specific goals in reducing unsheltered homelessness by January 10, 2024.

“Oregonians are demanding urgent action and accountability. That’s why this emergency funding is tied to specific, local action plans that will reduce unsheltered homelessness,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “The state will continue to provide technical assistance and partner with local communities to make sure this money makes a difference on the ground.”

Critics have pointed out that Governor Kotek has presided over the largest increase in homelessness in Oregon's history and that her hostility to housing providers has led to the housing shortage in Oregon. They also point out that the abundance of money allocated for homelessness hasn't seemed to solve the problem.

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The following funding amounts are based on many factors, including the appropriation made available by the legislature, detailed plans that local communities submitted, and a detailed formula developed by Oregon Housing and Community Services:

• Portland/Gresham/Multnomah County: $18.2 million to rehouse 275 households and create 138 shelter beds
• Eugene/Springfield/Lane County: $15.5 million to rehouse 247 households and create 230 shelter beds
• Central Oregon: $13.9 million to rehouse 161 households and create 111 shelter beds
• Salem/Marion, Polk Counties: $10.4 million to rehouse 158 households and create 79 shelter beds
• Medford, Ashland/Jackson County: $8.8 million to rehouse 133 households and create 67 shelter beds
• Hillsboro/Beaverton/Washington County: $8.0 million to rehouse 121 households and create 61 shelter beds
• Clackamas County: $4.4 million to rehouse 130 households.

HB 5019 appropriated $85.2 million for local homelessness emergency plans. OHCS will reserve $3 million to ensure the goals of the emergency order are achieved. An additional $3 million will be used for a statewide landlord incentive, available to landlords participating in local rehousing efforts. The requests from all regions within the emergency order totaled $98.8 million, so there were not enough funds to provide each region with its full funding request.

In addition, the early funding package included $33.6 million to help prevent homelessness for an estimated 8,750 households. This funding will be distributed statewide through existing eviction prevention programs.

Recognizing that unsheltered homelessness impacts communities in every part of Oregon, the legislature also approved $26 million to address homelessness in the counties that do not meet the threshold of the emergency order.

The Governor's Office reviewed the Community Plans and funding requests to ensure that each region has the resources and technical assistance they need to meet specific goals to reduce unsheltered homelessness in their community. OHCS is sending each region an announcement of its funding amount today and will include an updated timeline for finalizing grant agreements with the goal of funding being available to communities by April 28, 2023.

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“I want to thank everyone who has stepped up to help move this work forward – including staff at the state and local level who have been working diligently to make sure we have solid plans to quickly distribute these emergency funds,” Governor Kotek said. “This alone won’t solve this crisis, but it is a significant downpayment on our efforts. It will build the new, outcomes-oriented infrastructure we need to address homelessness heading into next year.”

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the state housing agency have supported the establishment of Multi-Agency Coordinating groups in emergency areas that will serve as the core infrastructure of the emergency response.

MAC groups have been providing the planning, coordination, and operational leadership to bring real, measurable improvements on the ground. They will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of funds, working with their communities to help move individuals and families into housing stability.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-04-12 14:24:09

Last Update: 2023-04-12 14:51:18