Tax Reform Hearings
After the defeat earlier this month of yet another ballot attempting to provide adequate funding for schools and other essential services, it is interesting to note that the Oregon Legislature's Tax Reform Committee is in the middle of a series of special hearings around the state to hear the opinion of citizens, local community leaders and business owners on how to reform the tax system in Oregon.
The schedule of the hearings includes stops in Beaverton on March 2nd and in Portland on March 3rd. The complete schedule can be found on the web site of the
Citizens for Oregon's Future. On the same site we can also find some interesting data on the current tax system and the potential impact of many possible options on revenue.
Read more!
Tillamook 50/50 initiative
It is that time of the year again, when the petition gatherers begin to come out to ensure plenty of initiatives on the ballot in November.
There is going to be one rather interesting initiative looking for signers in the coming weeks. The Tillamook 50/50 strikes a remarkable balance between the needs of conservation of one of the rare temperate rainforests in the Nortwest, with the need for economic development and job growth in the area. Maybe I am biased, but a proposal that balances ideas that will appeal to pro-environment voters with ideas that will appeal to pro-business voters is refreshing, in this very polarized day and age.
In short, the initiative wants to have long term restoration on 50% of the area in the Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests to be a native old growth forest. The remaining 50% will be used for a sustainable timber production. The interests of communities depending on water from the state forests (including a significant part of the Portland metro area) and the preservation of wildlife are also part of the plan.
More information on the initiative can be found on the web site of the
Tillamook Rainforest Coalition.
Read more!
Debate among republican CD1 candidates
The three republicans who are running for the chance of challenging David Wu in the Novemmer election for the Oregon congressional district 1, are going to participate in a debate organized by the Washington County Public Affairs Forum. The debate will be held in Beaverton on Monday March 1 at noon, and it will last one hour. For details and location, visit the
Washington County Public Affairs Forum - Speakers Page.
Read more!
Oregon League of Conservation Voters scorecard
The OLCV (
Oregon League of Conservation Voters) is in the midst of evaluating the primary candidates, and their position on environmental issues. Endorsements will come out of this process, probably in the next few weeks.
The OLCV also has a
scorecard for the 2003 session for all state representatives and state senators. Personally I like it a lot when organizations representing specific constituencies or positions publicly rate candidates and our representatives in Salem. It is a wonderful example of democracy in action.
Read more!
Nader runs as an independent
An AP wire article on
kgw.com has some comments from Oregon voters regarding Nader running as an independent. Since he will not be the candidate of the Green party, he will have to collect over 15000 signatures to be on the ballot, not impossible but not an easy task. It would be 1/5 of the number of voters who cast a ballot for him in 2000. My feeling is that his support even in Oregon is almost non-existent, based on what I hear from Nader voters. Things may change if Democrats insist on nominating a stuffy insider like Kerry.
Chances are, Nader will be irrelevant in this election year.
Read more!
Look like gay marriage and gay rights may be a 2004 campaign theme even here in Oregon. A proposal to define marriage as being between a man and a woman may be on the ballot in November, according to
News From 365Gay.com.
It will be interesting to see how the issue of denying equal rights for gays and lesbians tilts the balance in a battleground state.
It may be time to donate to the
Human Rights Campaign.
Read more!
Welcome
Welcome to ORP. I will be posting news, information and commentary on Oregon politics and elections.
I will post more on me later.
Read more!
