Ask Karen Minnis

Karen MinnisOn Friday, the Speaker of the Oregon House Karen Minnis will be speaking and taking questions at the Portland City Club. Event details here.

If you could ask her one question, what would you ask? Discuss.

  • Yoram (unverified)
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    In poll after poll, Oregonians overwhelmingly support civil unions. In fact, one of the arguments to pass Measure 36 was that civil unions could be used instead of marriages.

    Why are you thwarting the will of Oregonians by not co-sponsoring the civil union bill? Why are you continuing the legacy of discrimination?

  • keyfur (unverified)
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    why aren't the democrats doing everything in their power to provide adequate funding for k-12 schools? and not just "no cut" funding, but truly adequate funding.

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    Q: How would you like a good, long vacation in Hawaii?

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    Given the tremendous support for the minimum wage in your district, why do you support efforts to cut wages for some Oregonians?

  • McBain (unverified)
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    Speaker Minnis - you have lead one of the most cutthroat, agressively conservative chambers in Oregon history. Is this influenced by your affiliation with Grover Norquist's American Legislatie Exchange Coucnil and, do you agree with Mr. Norquist that our state capitols need to become partisan war zones? Or, have you othe ideas on how to put Oregon back into the Oregon House instead of East Coast conservatives.

  • Nadbiter (unverified)
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    You appointed a person known to have problems following the law, Dan Doyle, to head a key committee. Hard work that brought up a mountain of new evidence demonstrated your misplaced decision-making. Why did you appoint Doyle given the knowledge of his problems?

  • LT (unverified)
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    Although we keep hearing "the voters have spoken on Measures 28 and 30" and thus there can be no new taxes, apparently the House leadership seems to think adding new tax breaks is an excellent idea. Just how do the House Republicans intend to pay for the cuts required by passing a capital gains tax cut which doesn't pay for itself? And why is the capital gains tax cut which does pay for itself still in Rules Committee?

  • go4th (unverified)
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    I have heard you say that the people have spoken on the issue of taxes. Why is it that they don't get to speak to majority (read republican) decisions to give large tax breaks to business which result in corporate growth and the shifting of wealth increasingly to the wealthiest in the country?

  • panchopdx (unverified)
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    Or how about:

    "Speaker Minnis, just how did you get to be so evil?"

    Does anyone know if there is a local creampie-throwing-hitman available for hire?

    Minnis is granting City Club members (i.e., people outside her district and political base) an unusual opportunity for insight. Word is that she has nixed running for Governor in '06 so it is curious that she'd waste any of her time speaking to the City Club.

    What's in this for her?

  • Sid Leader (unverified)
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    After failing an entire generation of Oregon schoolchildren, who can't wait to pay you back politically, isn't it time for you resign in utter disgrace? Or do we have to wait for your childhood story of mules and men to make the news?

  • Ruth Adkins (unverified)
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    Why do you want Oregon's children to fail?

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    Do you support the teaching of evolution in schools?

  • GoBigGay (unverified)
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    Do you think Basic Rights Oregon PAC is going to come after you in a big way and try to defeat you in 2006?

  • Brian Santo (unverified)
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    Blue Oregon has reported that you will not approve $5.4 bil for the K-12 budget because of your opposition to the OEA. Is this true? If not, explain why you refuse to fund K-12 at a level that merely maintains the status quo? Let alone at the $7Bil. level that everyone agrees is required to assure excellence in our schools.

  • gus (unverified)
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    Welcome Speaker Minnis:

    Not everyone agrees that public schools need $7 billion in the next biennium. Many believe a restructuring is long overdue at state, ESD and district levels.

    Can you comment on the state economist's budget forecast due out today. News articles this week reported increased April collections of Multnomah County's I-tax and federal government tax revenues.

    If the forecast is up, can we expect an appropriation of $5.4 billion or so for public schools?

  • christopher (unverified)
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    Speaker Minnis,

    How can Oregonians accept your claim that you value education when in your own personal life there is so little evidence to support your claim?

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    How do you get up in the morning?

  • Gonzo (unverified)
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    [off-topic namecalling removed]

  • Gullyborg (unverified)
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    Speaker Minnis,

    Do you think you would make a good governor?

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