On this day, May 20, 1976, Trojan Nuclear Power Plant began operating, generating 1,130 megawatts, and operating until 1993, well before the end of its useful life. The plant was plagued with mechanical problems and, as time went on, public opinion against the plant began to pile up. Though two ballot measures were defeated in 1992 at great expense to PGE, the majority owener of the plant, PGE mothballed the plant a year later.
All Welcome.
Political Theme Discussions, Candidates, Legislators, Local speakers
Come early to order food and mingle.
Additional info announced on Jeff's KSLM show week-days, 6-7am.
Spark's Brewing Company, 1252 23rd ST. NE, Salem
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.
After months of advocacy, legislative lawmakers representing the Clackamas County area scored a major victory for local communities facing the impacts of tolling on I-205. Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) plans begin with two bridge tolls on Interstate 205. But plans for the next few years are per-mile tolls on all lanes of Interstates 5 and 205 and, if a replacement project gets underway, a toll for a new I-5 Bridge over the Columbia River.
Last week, Representative Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville) with Clackamas lawmakers introduced HB 3614, which would pause tolling until January 2026 and establish a committee to oversee ODOT’s tolling program. The bill was co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 31 legislators.
In response, the Speaker of the House, Senate President, and Co-Chairs of the Joint Transportation Committee announced the creation of a Special Subcommittee on Transportation Planning to oversee and monitor ODOT plans to mitigate the negative impacts of tolling on vulnerable communities. In order to make sure that any tolling program is carefully considered and incorporates the feedback from impacted communities, Governor Kotek placated lawmakers with a pause to all toll collections until January 2026.
Brendan Finn, Director of Urban Mobility and Megaprojects office at ODOT, reported on KGW News that a pause may get the issue out of people’s minds. If voters pass IP 4, it will put control in the hands of voters before a toll can be adopted by requiring voting by the residence within 15 miles of the tolling area.
“I know firsthand that our communities have not felt heard by ODOT, and that they feel their deep concerns were being ignored by the agency,†says Rep. Annessa Hartman (D-Gladstone), who has been appointed to serve on the newly formed Special Subcommittee on Transportation Planning. “Since being sworn into the legislature, I’ve advocated fiercely in the Capitol for our voices to be heard and for ODOT to pause, listen to our constituents and get this right. There is a lot of trust that needs to be rebuilt and I am proud to serve on this committee to give our districts a seat at the table.â€
The Subcommittee will meet through the interim to oversee ODOT’s plans to ensure safety, mitigate congestion, support our economy, reduce pollution, and ensure that the needs of local communities are being heard and incorporated into planning.
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“Families and local leaders in our communities have been justifiably frustrated with ODOT’s behavior,†says Rep. Jules Walters (D-West Linn). “This committee will give a voice to those frustrations, and the pause will give us time to ensure the agency hears them.â€
“Our communities should not disproportionately shoulder the cost of interstate infrastructure. A flawed tolling program would harm working families, individuals on fixed incomes, and businesses in my community. I don’t believe a toll should divide someone from their own town.†said Rep. Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville) “We have an obligation to ensure community voices are heard, legislative sideboards are in place, and that ODOT cannot proceed without truly taking our needs into consideration.â€
Oregon polls show that the majority of Oregonians don’t want tolling, except for a new I-5 bridge. As Finn reported, the timing of the pause is distracting – perhaps for more than tolling.
Editor’s note: This is the seventh in a multi-part series on How Your School Board Vote Affects Oregon Schools an OAA Voter Education Project
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills known as “soft skills†traditionally associated with conflict resolution and character education. It has evolved from being considered “wishy-washy†to being an integral part of educating the whole child.
The roots of SEL are as old as ancient Greece. Plato wrote about education in The Republic, proposing a holistic curriculum that requires a balance of training in physical education, the arts, math, science, character, and moral judgment. In 1988 an article in Scientific American featured a pilot program called the Comer School Development Program centered on James Comer’s speculation that the contrast between a child’s experiences at home and those in school deeply affects the child’s psychosocial development and that shapes their academic achievement. When the pilot showed promise in two poor, low-achieving, predominately African American elementary schools in New Haven, Connecticut, the movement took off with the pilot as the hub of SEL.
Social emotional learning and emotional skills was the subject of several studies and the focus of organizations such as CASEL (Collaborative to Advance Social and Emotional Learning). Then under new leadership the group's influence grew all the way to supporters of SEL in congress in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, through H.R. 2437, the Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning Act of 2011.
Preparing children to be responsible, productive, and caring citizens is a timeless pursuit that are goals of education. How best to do this in our school system is a relatively recent and still evolving area of study and practice, and it's the main question the SEL movement seeks to answer.
Oregon’s initiation goes back to 2015 when parents first got a look at the Common Core curriculum asking grades K-3 their feelings about their mother when asked to do a chore, and third-graders were asked to write opinion pieces. From that point, SEL has been viewed as suspect. Described as the process through which we learn to recognize and manage emotions, care about others, make good decisions, behave ethically and responsibly, develop positive relationships, and avoid negative behaviors, it has never materialized as such.
That same year the Comprehensive Sexual Education Act was passed requiring recognition of a child’s sexuality of choice as affirmation of their identity. Schools were weaving social and emotional development into various parts of the school day intermixing it with identity, which became gender identity in 2021.
Where SEL appeared to be an important step in a child’s development, suddenly turned and became a nightmare after almost two years of lockouts to structured schooling. By the time students returned to classrooms, the legislature had defunded resource officers, and adopted equity practices that allowed destructive organizations under the name of “inclusion†to infiltrate schools. The ugly head of “comprehensive sexuality education†emerged in the form of Rape Culture that empowered girls to show up to school half naked.
The true benefits of SEL were buried when in 2016, the State Board of Education approved the Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) creating standards by combining the Human Sexuality Education Law (2009), the Healthy Teen Relationship Act (2012), the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Law (2015), and taking advantage of other laws. It replaced the model of abstinence-only education, and didn’t recognize a belief system forcing an opt-out method as the only option for parents. However, in order to graduate, the student is still expected to know sexual education. The Board claims “the standards do not promote sexuality or impose a set of values, but they do admit they empower students to recognize, communicate, and advocate for their own health and boundaries.â€
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John Oakley Beahrs, retired psychiatry professor stated in testimony that HB 2023 (2019) mandated coercive indoctrination into identity politics under the false guise of liberal education. It “replaces actual history with indoctrination that grossly alters it, and coercively mandates instructing in but one viewpoint – one that’s favored in today’s Oregon, but neither universal nor necessarily in the public interest. In other words, LGBTQ figures are featured because of their sexual preference and gender identity, not their relation to the subject being taught. Because the subject matter is part of every subject, the law implies parents cannot opt their children out.â€
Some say parents piggybacked on the inflammatory debate over critical race theory making SEL the next controversial concept. Conservatives are saying it is just another effort to indoctrinate kids with liberal ideology. What they see is an attack against children from all sides. Diversity has confused young students to the extent that SEL has lost its way. The controversy has centered on social-emotional “screeners†being used to guide school-wide programs sponsoring Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs, using schools to promote a LGBTQIA+ agenda while identifying students who are ripe for transitioning.
Every school district wades through a deluge of social-emotional curricula to find one that works. The activation of parents across the state is going to be demanding on school boards to dig into what they are adopting and not depend on the state or district administrators for the end-all answers.
Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project lists the candidates and those responding to the survey on their website.
Following the resignation of Secretary of State Shemia Fagan under a cloud of ethical misjudgements, Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers issued the following statement.
“This is a resilient agency, with strong division leadership and internal systems that can withstand change. We are ready to continue the important work of the Secretary of State’s office during this transition.
“My first priority is to make sure Oregonians receive the customer service they deserve. This agency does such critical work, and it’s our job to put Oregonians first during this transition.
“This is an unfortunate situation, but a change of leadership will allow agency staff to continue their good work with less distraction moving forward.â€
The Secretary will continue in her official duties until Monday, May 8, at which point Deputy Secretary Cheryl Myers will take on oversight of the agency until a new Secretary is appointed by the Governor. The Deputy has the power to perform any act or duty of the Secretary of State pertaining to the office of the Secretary (ORS 177.040) and is well positioned to help the agency maintain stability and continuity of operations during this transition.
All SOS divisions have consistently reported to Oregon’s Deputy Secretary of State over the last two years. In her role, Deputy Myers will continue her oversight of the agency and will collaborate with the Governor’s Office on a plan to onboard the Governor’s appointment to replace the outgoing Secretary Fagan.
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Deputy Myers' professional background includes public policy, organizational leadership, economic development, public education/youth advocacy, and a history of assisting organizations to construct equitable cultures and embed collaborative practices. Her prior public service roles include Director of Economic & Business Equity in the Governor’s Office, Chief of Staff for the Higher Education Commission and as Operations & Engagement Director for Educator Advancement in the Chief Education Office and 8 years as an elected school board member. She is well positioned to help the agency maintain stability and continuity of operations during this transition.
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“I am confident that the ethics investigation will show that I followed the state’s legal and ethical guidelinesâ€
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced her resignation today, effective Monday May 8.
The Secretary will continue in her official duties until Monday, May 8, at which point Deputy Secretary Cheryl Myers will take on oversight of the agency until a new Secretary is appointed by the Governor. The Deputy has the power to perform any act or duty of the Secretary of State pertaining to the office of the Secretary (ORS 177.040) and is well positioned to help the agency maintain stability and continuity of operations during this transition.
The Oregon Elections Division and Oregon’s 36 county elections officials are fully prepared to administer the May 16 Special Districts Election. The Elections Division will work with counties to complete the normal activities involved with administering local elections.
The following is a statement from Secretary of State Shemia Fagan:
“While I am confident that the ethics investigation will show that I followed the state’s legal and ethical guidelines in trying to make ends meet for my family, it is clear that my actions have become a distraction from the important and critical work of the Secretary of State’s office. Protecting our state’s democracy and ensuring faith in our elected leaders – these are the reasons I ran for this office. They are also the reasons I will be submitting my resignation today. I want to thank the incredible staff in the Secretary of State’s office for their hard work and Oregonians for the opportunity to serve them. It has been a true honor to serve the people of Oregon.
“At this time, I believe it is in the best interest of our state for me to focus on my children, my family, and personal reflection so that the Secretary of State staff can continue to offer the exemplary customer service Oregonians deserve.â€
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek -- who will appoint Secretary Fagan's replacement -- said, “This morning, Secretary Fagan informed me of her decision to resign. I support this decision. It is essential that Oregonians have trust in their government. I believe this is a first step in restoring that trust. During the upcoming appointment process, my office will do everything possible to support the hard-working staff in the Secretary of State’s office and ensure this will not disrupt the May 16 election.â€
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The Governor’s office will initiate the process to identify and appoint a replacement. Deputy Secretary Cheryl Myers will serve as acting Secretary of State in the interim.
“Secretary Fagan found herself in a web of ethical violations and it finally caught up to her. It is critically important that statewide elected officials exercise good judgement at all times. It is clear that Fagan has broken Oregon’s trust beyond repair. It’s time to return integrity to the Secretary of State’s office,†said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend).
“Today’s resignation of Secretary Fagan reflects the level of corruption occurring in state government. Since the beginning of the year, I have said we need a transparent process. The level of abuse Secretary Fagan flaunted from her official position is just another example the extreme measures of one-party rule in Oregon,†said House Republican Leader Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville). “We encourage the Governor to use this opportunity to appoint a person who can restore trust and ethics in the Secretary of State’s office. Additionally, we suggest due diligence and thorough vetting in the consideration of potential appointees.â€
The only Columbia River bridge between Astoria and Portland
The Lewis and Clark Bridge between Rainier and Longview, Washington will close for up to eight days beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 16 for bridge deck repairs.
The crossing between Rainier, OR and Longview, WA is the only Columbia River bridge between Astoria and Portland
During the closure, crews from Combined Construction, Inc. will replace two bridge expansion joints and a fractured floor beam. Pedestrians, bicyclists and emergency responders will be able to cross the bridge during the closure except during a small window when the floor beam is being replaced.
Closure of the only bridge across the Columbia River between Astoria and Portland may create hardships for communities along the Columbia River and require residents to reschedule medical and other important appointments. Check Tripcheck.com for more information.
The bridge must be closed to ensure a long-lasting repair and for the safety of travelers and construction crews in the work zone. To set the new expansion joints in place, crews will pour concrete which needs four days to cure and strengthen, without movement and disturbance from moving traffic. The replacement of the floor beam also requires no traffic on the bridge.
“There is no good time to close a bridge, and the vital importance of the Lewis and Clark Bridge to Washington and Oregon communities cannot be overstated,†said WSDOT Southwest Region Administrator Carley Francis. “Our goal is to do this repair work right and re-open the bridge to travelers as soon as safely possible.â€
Construction work taking place before and after the closure will be done at night using single-lane closures and alternating traffic across the bridge. The five-week construction schedule of nighttime lane closures and a bridge closure of up to eight days shortens the construction timeline for this $1 million preservation project. It also avoids months of daytime single lane closures that would create congestion throughout Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon.
On April 12, bridge inspectors discovered a fractured floor beam resulting in an emergency 12-hour closure. Prior to that discovery, the bridge was scheduled to close for up to six days for expansion joint replacement work. The closure has been extended to accommodate the additional work of installing a new floor beam.
Construction schedule
Construction is estimated to begin the week of June 12 and travelers should expect traffic delays or detours for approximately five weeks.
The full closure of the Lewis and Clark Bridge for up to eight days begins at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 16.
Emergency vehicles – including only ambulances with active critical medical needs or law enforcement emergency response – can use the bridge during the closure except when crews install the new floor beam. The timing of this work will be communicated in advance.
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Due to safety, no park and ride facilities are available.
Before and after the closure, crews will reduce travel across the bridge to one lane each night beginning at 8 p.m. and alternate traffic through the work zone.
There will be no single lane closures during the Fourth of July holiday weekend -Friday, June 30 – Tuesday, July 4.
For the safety of travelers and the construction crew, the work zone will have reduced speed limits.
Plan for longer travel times During the following times travelers should expect longer delays and congestion due to nighttime single lane closures:
8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Friday.
8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Friday to Saturday.
8 p.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday to Sunday.
Plan ahead for lengthy detours
During the closure, all traffic crossing the Columbia River will detour to either U.S. 101 Astoria-Megler Bridge between Astoria and Megler, WA or the Interstate Bridge on Interstate 5 between Vancouver and Portland.
Ferry service
The Wahkiakum County Ferry between Cathlamet, Washington and Westport, Oregon will run twice an hour 24 hours a day while the bridge is closed. This ferry has extremely limited capacity. Its use should be reserved for urgent matters that do not require an ambulance. Travelers should also be prepared for lengthy wait times and long lines.
Medical access
Depending on where people begin and end their travel, using the detour routes can add upwards of two and a half hours of travel time. People who use the SR 433 Lewis and Clark Bridge to access scheduled medical services should plan their travel time with this in mind and contact their providers to confirm or reschedule their appointments.
“Government attorneys are required to write bill summaries in clear and simple languageâ€
Oregon State Senator Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook) made a point of order on the Senate floor that HB 2285 fails to meet readability standards laid out in subsection 5 of Senate Rule 13.02 and Oregon Revised Statute ORS 171.134. This bill, and many others, are unlawful and we will not pass them.
Article IV, Section 21 of the Oregon Constitution requires every legislative act to be “plainly worded, avoiding as far as practicable the use of technical termsâ€. Subsection 5 of Senate Rule 13.02 requires all measure summaries to comply with ORS 171.134 which requires all measure summaries prepared by the Legislative Assembly to “be written in a manner that results in a score of at least 60 on the Flesch readability test.â€
“Government attorneys are required to write bill summaries in clear and simple language so every Oregonian can understand what their elected representatives are doing in the Legislature. This is made clear in Senate Rules, in Oregon’s Constitution, and further clarified in statute. We will not conduct business until a remedy is agreed upon. Transparency and accountability are required for our system to thrive. We have been very clear about this since the start of session and our commitment was further exemplified in today’s point of order,†said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend).
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The Honorable Gary Wilhelms, former member of the Oregon House of Representatives (1973-1979) and 1979 House Republican Leader issued the following statement:
“As the House Minority Leader in 1979, I remember this bill. I cast one of 31 bipartisan votes in the House to pass SB 543, putting this rule in statute. Transparency prevailed then as it should today. The law is the law, and I’m glad the Senate Republican Caucus is attempting to enforce this statute today.â€
The Oregon Senate is standing in recess until there is a legal ruling from the presiding officer.
Oregon House Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) has now urged the Legislature to advance HJR 16, which proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to establish an impeachment procedure for statewide elected officials. Oregon is currently the only state in the nation without such a procedure.
“Recent events illustrate, yet again, the importance of having an impeachment procedure on the books as a check against negligence and abuse of power by public officials,†said Representative Boshart Davis. “While I recognize that investigations need time to play out, members of both parties have already expressed their dismay and concern over the emerging situation with Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and the impact this is having on public trust. The Legislature must have the ability to remove a statewide elected official when necessary.â€
Previous attempts to establish an impeachment procedure received bipartisan support, with now Governor Tina Kotek and Congresswoman Val Hoyle voting in support. Representative Boshart Davis is joined by Representatives Jami Cate (R-Lebanon), Bobby Levy (R-Echo), and Anna Scharf (R-Amity) in sponsoring HJR 16.
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“This has been a bipartisan issue in the past and it should be again this year,†concluded Representative Boshart Davis. “Regardless of how ongoing events play out, it’s clear that Oregon should join the 49 other states by moving forward with establishing an impeachment procedure.â€
HJR 16 is currently in the House Committee on Rules, where it has yet to be granted a hearing.
Editor’s note: This is the sixth in a multi-part series on the impact of your vote for School Board Candidates, an OAA Voter Education Project
Times have changed since the days of having a school nurse in a small room near the school office. She would typically provide band aids when needed and call parents if a child was feeling ill. She was probably also responsible for eye checks and so on. These days many schools have doctors and counseling offices at the school. According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) School Based Health Centers (SBHC) have existed in Oregon since 1986 and there are currently 81 operating centers. Centers are located on school property to provide easy student access. Appointments are encouraged, but not required.
OHA suggests the purpose of SBHCs is to provide a wide range of primary medical care and mental health services for all students regardless of insurance status. Convenience is also listed as a benefit. Parents miss less work and students miss less school when they don’t have to take the time to drive across town for an appointment.
Having a health center on school grounds may save money and be convenient, but Oregon consent laws are creating concerns for many parents. Their children can go to the health center for various services without their knowledge.
Roseburg High School has a student health center through Aviva Health. On their consent form they cite the current Oregon age of consent law: “Privacy and authorization to give consent for
treatment: According to Oregon Law (ORS 109.610, ORS 109.640, ORS 109.675), a student age 15 may give consent for any medical or surgical treatment; age 14 may give consent for mental health treatment; and a student of any age may give consent for treatment of sexually
transmitted disease and birth control. The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) may restrict a parent/guardian’s access to a student’s medical records without permission by the student."
Having SBHC’s so easily accessible, a 15-year-old student can walk down the school hall and be seen by a doctor, diagnosed, and treated and then return to class without parents knowing anything about it. A 14-year-old might see a counselor during lunch hour and get advice that
parents might not agree with.
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If parents are concerned now, consent laws are likely to become even more extreme very soon. There is currently a bill (HB 2002) in the legislature that is on the fast track to being passed. If this bill is signed into law, it will enable minors of any age to receive reproductive services (i.e.,
emergency contraception and medication abortion) without the consent or knowledge of their parents. When the legal counsel was questioned regarding this bill, she confirmed that it also makes provision for students of any age to receive gender-affirming care. Parents will only be notified and involved in their child’s care if the minor authorizes the disclosure in writing.
Representative Jami Cate (R-Lebanon) states “HB 2002 allows a child to bypass parental consent for "gender affirming care" at any age, and above 15 years for sex-altering surgeries. Keep in mind, a child needs parental authorization in Oregon to get their ears pierced or a tattoo under the age of 18.â€Â
Representative Ed Diehl (R-Turner) said, "I received confirmation this week from Legislative Legal Council that House Bill 2002 specifically exludes detransition treatments from insurance coverage. With this bill, Medicaid and private insurance are mandated to cover treatments when your “gender identity†and sex don’t align. But, if you believe you have made a mistake and want a procedure to align with your sex, coverage will not be mandated. The wording in the bill is intentional." Fox News reported on Oregon's extreme bill.
Getting cold medicine at a school health center probably has little consequence, but getting an abortion or starting gender-affirming care are very serious matters. The consequences of which will stay with them for the rest of their life. Children are not mature
enough to reason and make life-altering decisions on their own, so they naturally turn to adults for guidance. SBHCs make it easy for youth to turn to people that may not have their best interests at heart.
To codify the issues in HB 2002 and services provided at SBHCs, the legislature wants voters to amend the Oregon Constitution to provide protections for abortion, gender affirming care, as well as same-sex marriage. SJR 33 guarantees equality of rights that cannot be denied or abridged of equal rights by any law, policy or action that discriminates, in
intent or effect, based on health decisions for pregnancy outcomes, gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender, giving the legislature the power to enforce.
Parents have the responsibility and right to make decisions that they feel are best for their children and across the state they are demanding involvement and are looking to school boards to listen to their concerns and represent them.
Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project lists the candidates and those responding to the survey on their website.
“I look forward to the work ahead to help ensure these investments yield visible, measurable resultsâ€
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Housing and Community Services have announced that funding contracts for the Homelessness State of Emergency have been signed and funding will start being distributed to the regional multi-agency coordination groups.
On February 24, the Governor launched emergency response infrastructure, made up of seven regional MAC groups across the state tasked with effectively distributing emergency funds.
The legislature passed the Affordable Housing and Emergency Homelessness Response Package on March 21. On April 10, the Governor announced the emergency funding allocation across the seven MACs tied to specific outcomes.
“The housing crisis demands urgent action on an unprecedented timeline. I am grateful to the providers, local and county leaders who quickly assembled to form the MACs, the legislature for passing the package early with bipartisan support and broad stakeholder input, and to communities across Oregon embracing this call to action,†Governor Kotek said. “I look forward to the work ahead to help ensure these investments yield visible, measurable results across our state by the end of the year.â€
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Six of the seven regional MACs have finalized contracts to receive emergency funding to execute the Governor’s emergency order, which specifies the dollars will be used to prevent nearly 9,000 people from becoming homeless, rehouse more than 1,200 households, and create over 600 new shelter beds in emergency areas by end of the year. Due to a local policy that requires the Clackamas County commission to approve the contract before it is signed, Clackamas County’s contract is expected to be executed next week.
“If forced to do so, we will move forward on our ownâ€
In light of recently published admissions in the Willamette Week who laid out major ethics violations against Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, House and Senate Republican Leaders are calling for her resignation.
“She must resign,†said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp and House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson in a joint statement. “This appears to be an ethics violation and if it isn’t then Oregon’s ethics laws are broken. An elected official cannot take funds for personal use from someone they regulate.â€
The Secretary of State oversees audits for the State of Oregon. In no way could the top elected official ethically work a ‘side gig’ for a company engaged in the industry in which the Secretary is responsible for auditing and regulating.
“We have been continually calling for oversight into the OLCC and this industry. And yet, another turn of government misuse is apparent today. Democracy will die in darkness if we don’t hold elected officials accountable,†said House Republican Leader Breese-Iverson.
The House and Senate Republican Caucus’ along with the Senate Independent Caucus will be holding their first Oversight and Accountability Committee meeting this Thursday, May 4th.
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The Oversight and Accountability Committee was first requested over a week ago in a letter to the Presiding Officers of both the Senate and House Chambers. Sadly, these requests have gone unanswered.
“We have tried to work with our colleagues across the aisle to defend democracy in Oregon and hold our agencies and officials accountable. Democrats have remained silent, if forced to do so, we will move forward on our own,†said Senate Republican Leader Knopp.
Oregon House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) and
Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) penned an op-ed in The Oregonian on
House Bill 2002 B, which according to many observers, seems to allow the State to knowingly and forcefully strip away parental rights.
The op-ed reads as follows:
"Field trip permission slips. Tattoos and piercings. Contact lenses. These are just some of
the examples in which parents are required to provide consent for their children in the
state of Oregon."
"However, a bill in the Oregon Legislature would knowingly and forcefully strip away
parental rights. House Bill 2002 B expands the use of taxpayer dollars for irreversible
sex-changing treatments and procedures – including sterilization for those as young as
15 – without parental consent. Private insurers under this measure must cover these
procedures, allowing minors to undergo treatment on their parents’ insurance without
their knowing. Yes, you are reading that correctly."
"In addition, this legislation will allow a minor at any age to have an abortion without
parental knowledge or consent. A doctor may not disclose this information to a child’s
parent unless the child provides explicit written permission – stripping away a parent’s
right to know."
"Make no mistake, Oregon law already permits a minor at age 15 to have an abortion
without parental consent up until the moment of birth. Our fear with removing the age
limit for parental consent is that it leaves children on their own to deal with the
consequences of what might have been a crime, or at the very least a significant event
deserving of parental guidance. Lawmakers may very well be aiding and abetting
pedophiles and sex-traffickers who can pressure kids into telling doctors that a
boyfriend got them pregnant to avoid criminal repercussions."
"In less than an hour of debate in a recent Joint Ways and Means committee meeting and
with minimal time for questions, Democratic leadership forced a vote on this bill
knowing there would be no further opportunity for public comment than the one
hearing held in March."
"During the committee meeting, the Ways and Means Democratic co-chairs audibly
gasped when Legislative Counsel confirmed that 10-year-olds would be able to get
abortions without parental knowledge – despite co-chair Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-Portland) boasting they were
“intimately involved with the development of this bill.â€"
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"Republicans had a multitude of questions that were left unanswered. We asked about
the estimated fiscal impact on the health care insurance premiums for Oregonians. The
answer? We will have to pass it to find out."
"However, as budget committee staff confirmed, we do know that House Bill 2002 B
vastly expands the types of irreversible sex-changing treatments and procedures funded
by Oregon taxpayers. These services will be offered through the Healthier
Oregon program, which provides health coverage to low-income individuals who would
qualify for Medicaid except for immigration status and who “live in Oregon.†According
to the Oregon Health Authority, there’s no time requirement to establish residency.
"We believe it should be standard practice to know how much something costs before
approving it. Nothing about this bill or the approach taken by Democratic leadership is
fiscally responsible. This is a long and complicated bill. It needs more input, not less."
"Don’t be fooled, this is not an abortion or equality issue – this is a parental rights issue."
"This is the state of Oregon effectively telling you that the government understands the
needs of your child better than you do. This is an extreme attack on the sacred
relationship between a parent and a child."
"House Bill 2002 B is scheduled for a vote on the House floor on Monday, May 1. Please
call your state representative and state senator and make your voice heard.
Parents – the time to take a stand is now."
Tim Knopp (R-Bend) is the state senator for District 27. Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) is the state representative for District 59.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth of a multi-part series on the impact of your vote for School Board Candidates, an OAA Voter Education Project
The Parents’ Rights in Education (PRE) is opposed to the teaching and promotion of Gender Identity beginning in kindergarten. Unfortunately, the Nashville, Tennessee school shooting this week is an outgrowth of the activism now present in most public schools across the country.
The Tennessee shooter, a confused young adult female, was in counseling. According to Nashville’s chief of police, John Drake, investigators believed the shooting stemmed from “some resentment†the suspect harbored “for having to go to that school†as a younger person. We want to know what advice she was getting.
School counselors and psychologists today, encourage parents to begin social transitioning in kindergarten. Parents are bombarded with the message their children should be encouraged to explore their “real identity.†I recently received a call from a concerned father whose five-year-old son was seen by the Philomath, Oregon grade school psychologist, who recommended Dad consider “social transitioning.†Although Dad and son discussed biological reality, his son was influenced by female siblings to wear long hair and feminine clothing. Dad needed to be reminded he is the father and has the right to mentor his son. What if he had not contacted PRE?
What seemed like an effort to protect individuals struggling with “gender dysphoria,†has rapidly developed into a highly volatile political issue, and minor children are the target. Parents’ rights to direct the education of their minor children, and manage their healthcare decisions, have been stolen and sacrificed on the altar of Gender Identity Rights. These are pseudo “rights†fabricated out of a false premise. Humans cannot medically change their sex.
The average voter is unaware of the purposeful solicitation and recruitment of minors by public school staff and volunteers to change their sex. Students are inundated with messages about their “gender identity†rights daily. National Education Association member teachers wear badges encouraging students to seek them out for one-on-one counseling about sexuality and gender identity. In addition, LGBTQIA++ activist teachers adorn their classrooms with Gay Pride, Transgender, and Black Lives Matter political flags and posters.
Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Clubs, a project of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, are now in K-12 schools. GSA Network is a political organization using local public school districts as distribution centers for their trans political agenda to “leverage the collective power of thousands of trans and queer young people in the United States who connect with us through our network. â€Parents are not informed of their child’s membership in these clubs. Abigail Shrier, author of Irreversible Damage, confirms the influence of these clubs in decisions students are making to explore gender transition.
PRE featured a parent speaker whose daughter was influenced to change her sex at age 14 because of her GSA Club’s friend’s decision to do the same. As independent journalists Colin Wright and Christina Buttons have documented, many teachers who serve as adult ‘advisors’ to these clubs are intentionally concealing the sexual and political nature of their activities from parents, deliberately misleading families with vague language about ‘acceptance, tolerance, diversity, and identity.’†If parents do not support their child’s “transition†at school, they will likely be reported to Child Protective Services.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The GSA Network has re-defined freedom, motivating “vulnerable trans and queer youth to advocate for racial and gender justice.†According to their new mission launched in March, Devising Freedom’s national strategy “will intentionally work to combat the harmful effects of anti-trans legislation and executive orders that have emerged in at least 22 states across the country, and continue to target young people in their schools, their homes, and their communities.†Their plan to “cultivate a strong, youth-led movement†and “cultivate a practice of visionary leadership,†should raise concern from anyone understanding the real meaning of freedom.
Families are shocked to learn they no longer have the right to be present when their children are counseled at school. The Oregon Department of Education recently announced the publication of a new and expanded document celebrating gender expansive students. Oregon, by passing HB 2002, plans to set up gender affirming clinics providing mental and physical treatments, including surgeries, throughout the state, serving anyone (even out of state visitors) questioning their biological sex, all on demand at taxpayer expense, and without parent consent.
School Administrators say the role of a school is “to guarantee each and every student (person) a feeling of acceptance, recognition, respect, affirmation, friendship, joy belonging, and safety.†Most students do not feel that way, and if possible, are leaving public schools because of the biased and discriminatory education policies obsessed with sexuality. Trans recruitment and indoctrination in K-12 schools stops here.
Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project lists the candidates and those responding to the survey on their website.
"Don’t be fooled, this is not an abortion or equality issue – this is a parental rights issue."
