Endgame at the Legislature 2013: A Special Time

Paul Evans

Soon the 2013 Legislative Session will be history. It will have passed a passed a budget, reconstituted the form and function of several state agencies, and it will have considered thousands of policy proposals.

Between now and then we can expect a few last minute pitched fights and some endgame drama that can only occur when so many have so much time because so few are involved in the final negotiations. It is always a fun time to visit the Capitol to learn the context of battles past and present.

There will be a lot for Oregonians to talk about after Sine Die (the official end of the Session). Policy advocates will cheer or shake their heads – or both. Legislators and staff will review the Session for highlights that can be explained to a weary electorate. And agencies can take a brief pause to consider the anticipated and unanticipated consequences of the decisions made – and begin to plan the execution of a flurry of new laws.

By Paul Evans June 16, 2013

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All Republicans in Multnomah County should be ashamed of their county party today.

Kari Chisholm

It's hard to express how utterly tasteless, pathetic, and outrageous this is.

On December 11th, a gunman ran into Clackamas Town Center with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, killing two people and wounding another before killing himself.

Exactly six months later to the day, on June 11th, the Multnomah County Republican Party announced a fundraising effort that includes a raffle of an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle.

OK, I get it. Assault weapon raffles have become trendy among right-wing fringe organizations. I'm sure there's a certain amount of pride they're taking in tweaking liberals that are concerned about guns. Ha ha, you're so funny. (But really, is it still funny and original when you're the gazillionth group to pull this stunt?)

But this is just offensive. No matter what you think of our gun safety laws. No matter whether you think they're fine as-is, too restrictive, or not restrictive enough. To be raising money by gleefully raffling off an AR-15 on the same exact day that two people were killed by an AR-15, that's just disrespectful to the victims and to all those that knew and loved them.

By Kari Chisholm June 14, 2013

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What's the Strongest Defense Against Hunger?

Chuck Sheketoff

When the Great Recession struck, many Oregon families suddenly found themselves unable to put enough food on the table. And yet food insecurity rates in Oregon remained relatively unchanged.

Which do you think was primarily responsible for holding the line on food insecurity, the non-profit sector or the public sector?

The answer is not even close. A public structure, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program), is the most important line of defense against hunger in Oregon, especially in times of crisis.

Oregonians can be proud of having one of the most effective food bank networks in the country. Supported by generous Oregonians, the Oregon Food Bank Network performs a vital service in communities across our state. For the families who seek help from their local food pantry, these institutions can be the difference between having a meal and going hungry.

By Chuck Sheketoff June 14, 2013 Posted in open discussion.

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The association of Oregon businesses that's powerfully progressive

Jeff Golden

If you own or run a small business, I'm guessing you've had moments when you want to heave after hearing the National Chamber of Commerce or NFIB or any number of ranking Republicans declare what's "good for business."

You know, more deregulation, more or bigger upper-end tax cuts, and occasionally, from the more shameless ones, proposals to stuff even more corporate goodies into the tax code. Gotta make life fat for the "job-creators" if we want them to make life better for the rest of us.

If you're looking for a different voice out there on what's good for business, meet the Main Street Alliance of Oregon. They're one of the most vibrant chapters of a national movement of business people putting forward a whole different message: businesses succeed over time if they're grounded in communities of secure people who enjoy access to good health care, good education and genuine economic opportunity.

By Jeff Golden June 13, 2013

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Can we have an honest discussion about health care freedom?

By Vicki Dunaway of Depoe Bay, Oregon. Vicki works part-time as a substitute mail carrier and office assistant to a local nutritionist.

Being forced to pay a giant corporation for health insurance, as will be required under the Affordable Care Act, is certainly not my idea of freedom. On that I agree with the Tea Party. However, being forced to pay a giant corporation for health CARE, with or without the benefit of insurance, is not exactly the epitome of liberty, either. Nor is going deep into debt to a big bank to pay medical bills.

Face it. We no longer live in the days of big families and 40-year lifespans. In order to live long and healthy lives, we have to pay someone for medical care. Some are lucky enough to have old-fashioned employers that provide health insurance, but that group is shrinking rapidly. The rest of us are thrown out into the market jungle to fend for ourselves. After working and paying into health insurance plans for over 40 years, I had to drop my health insurance a year-and-a-half ago because the premiums for my high-deductible plan sucked up over one-third of my income; on top of that were the co-pays and deductibles, as well as the cost of helpful alternative therapies that are not covered at all.