Petitions filed to privatize Oregon liquor sales

The debate over privatizing the sale of liquor in Oregon has been an ongoing one. Opponents of privatization argue that it would raise prices, lose revenue for the state, harm current sales locations, and undermine the growing craft distillery industry. Do you think the benefits of privatizing liquor sales outweigh the possible costs?
www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/12/peti...rpt-2

The Oregonian has a round-up of new laws to affect on average Oregonians.

This is a BIG reason why I am running for Oregon House District 41 are all of these new "laws" or fees to take effect next week. Is THIS what you wanted from YOUR legislature? Hundreds of new laws passed by the Oregon Legislature on driving, teen tanning, animals and other issues go into effect Jan. 1, 2014. Here’s a roundup of some of those new laws: www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/oreg...river

SOMETIMES HEARING WHAT GOES ON IN SALEM JUST BURNS ME UP!!

Long-term care insurer fined by Oregon Insurance Division!! The Oregon Insurance Division announced it has fined Bankers Life and Casualty Co., one of the state’s largest long-term care insurers, $115,000 for improper claims handling. The Insurance Division directed Bankers Life to review 26,000 claims involving 2,069 policyholders as far back as Jan. 1, 2010 to find any other cases where the company owes benefits. The Chicago-based company also must change practices to ensure proper claims handling going forward, according to a news release from the state Insurance Division.

ObamaCare Gives The IRS Real Time Access To Your ATM Savings Account!!

ObamaCare Gives The IRS Real Time Access To Your ATM Savings Account To All Americans Savings Accounts!! WoW, and I thought Johnny Depp was a Pirate!

"FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN."

"FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN." Merry Christmas & blessings to all of you! Hope your day is filled with peace, love & joy.


https://chumly.com/n/21808b3

We Americans have a job to do, and it goes something like the following

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our
children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free —" Ronald Reagan

A Government Is The Most Dangerous Threat To Man's Rights!!

Vote Tim McMenamin For Oregon www.mcmenaminfororegon.com

Woman prescribed 19,000 oxycodone pills, sues Milwaukie doctor!!

A woman who was prescribed 19,000 oxycodone pills in two years is suing her former Milwaukie doctor for $1.5 million, claiming she became addicted to the massive doses of painkiller and endured an excruciating withdrawal.
Ann Raffaele filed suit this week against osteopathic doctor Edward Goering and Assured Pharmacy in Gresham, which the suit states dispensed the 19,000 pills without questioning whether it was medically justified.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/12/woma....html

Long-term care insurer fined by Oregon Insurance Division!!

The Oregon Insurance Division announced it has fined Bankers Life and Casualty Co., one of the state’s largest long-term care insurers, $115,000 for improper claims handling. The Insurance Division directed Bankers Life to review 26,000 claims involving 2,069 policyholders as far back as Jan. 1, 2010 to find any other cases where the company owes benefits. The Chicago-based company also must change practices to ensure proper claims handling going forward, according to a news release from the state Insurance Division.
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/health-care-inc/....html

Oregon health care official resigns!!

Carolyn Lawson stepped down as chief information officer of the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services for"personal reasons,” the agencies’ leaders wrote in a terse memo to Lawson’s staff and other senior officials.
www.statesmanjournal.com/viewart/20131220/NEWS/312...signs

Oregon has a "closed primary" meaning there are only the 2 major partys.

A reminder: if you aren't registered you can't vote in May and if you aren't registered Republican you can't vote for me. Oregon has a "closed primary" meaning only the 2 major partys. So even if you just register for the primary you can re register after. Help me change the party from the inside! Here's the link to register online: sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/voteinor.aspx

MILWAUKIE, Ore. (KOIN) -- Keith McDonley is "helping Santa" while giving away Christmas trees!!

The 26-year-old started this tradition four years ago. He sits outside his Milwaukie home every night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., dressed as Santa Claus. McDonley gives out cookies and cocoa to visitors, while collecting food donations for the St. Vincent de Paul charity. He collected about 500 pounds of non-perishable food in Christmas 2012. He hopes to beat that by about 200 pounds this Christmas season. Thank You Keith!! McDonley said he's hoping someday, when those families get back on their feet, they can do something nice for someone else. His tree lot, at 8212 SE Clackamas Road in Milwaukie, is open every night through Dec. 24.
www.koin.com/news/clackamas-county/free-christmas-...aukie

Rep. Carolyn Tomei endorsed by atheist, humanist PAC!!

What Does A Witness Say Before They Take The Stand In A Courtroom? Tomei has taken an oath of office nine times in her political career, but never taken the oath on the Bible or said "so help me God." Would You Trust A Politician Who Is Not Willing To Take Her Oath of Office Without Placing Her Hand On The Bible? She often invites poets, singers and non-religious speakers to give the opening invocation of House floor sessions. Towards the end of the 2013 session, Tomei gave the invocation by leading a singalong of "You Are My Sunshine." The PAC selected Tomei based on her voting record, answers to a questionnaire and personal relationships some in the organization have with Tomei, he said. "She's been a longtime advocate about the issues we care about, so we thought it'd be a good fit to make her one of our first endorsements," McNeill said.

Rep. Carolyn Tomei endorsed by atheist, humanist PAC

What Does A Witness Say Before They Take The Stand In A Courtroom? Tomei has taken an oath of office nine times in her political career, but never taken the oath on the Bible or said "so help me God." Would You Trust A Politician Who Is Not Willing To Take Her Oath of Office Without Placing Her Hand On The Bible? She often invites poets, singers and non-religious speakers to give the opening invocation of House floor sessions. Towards the end of the 2013 session, Tomei gave the invocation by leading a singalong of "You Are My Sunshine." The PAC selected Tomei based on her voting record, answers to a questionnaire and personal relationships some in the organization have with Tomei, he said. "She's been a longtime advocate about the issues we care about, so we thought it'd be a good fit to make her one of our first endorsements," McNeill said.

Rep. Carolyn Tomei endorsed by atheist, humanist PAC

Rep. Carolyn Tomei endorsed by atheist, humanist PAC:: What Does A Witness Say Before They Take The Stand In A Courtroom? Tomei has taken an oath of office nine times in her political career, but never taken the oath on the Bible or said "so help me God." She often invites poets, singers and non-religious speakers to give the opening invocation of House floor sessions. Towards the end of the 2013 session, Tomei gave the invocation by leading a singalong of "You Are My Sunshine." The PAC selected Tomei based on her voting record, answers to a questionnaire and personal relationships some in the organization have with Tomei, he said. "She's been a longtime advocate about the issues we care about, so we thought it'd be a good fit to make her one of our first endorsements," McNeill said. Is This The Type of Representation We Want in Salem?
www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/rep_...fault

Rep. Carolyn Tomei endorsed by atheist, humanist PAC

What Does A Witness Say Before They Take The Stand In A Courtroom? Tomei has taken an oath of office nine times in her political career, but never taken the oath on the Bible or said "so help me God." Would You Trust A Politician Who Is Not Willing To Take Her Oath of Office Without Placing Her Hand On The Bible? She often invites poets, singers and non-religious speakers to give the opening invocation of House floor sessions. Towards the end of the 2013 session, Tomei gave the invocation by leading a singalong of "You Are My Sunshine." The PAC selected Tomei based on her voting record, answers to a questionnaire and personal relationships some in the organization have with Tomei, he said. "She's been a longtime advocate about the issues we care about, so we thought it'd be a good fit to make her one of our first endorsements," McNeill said.

Rep. Carolyn Tomei endorsed by atheist, humanist PAC

What Does A Witness Say Before They Take The Stand In A Courtroom? Tomei has taken an oath of office nine times in her political career, but never taken the oath on the Bible or said "so help me God." She often invites poets, singers and non-religious speakers to give the opening invocation of House floor sessions. Towards the end of the 2013 session, Tomei gave the invocation by leading a singalong of "You Are My Sunshine." The PAC selected Tomei based on her voting record, answers to a questionnaire and personal relationships some in the organization have with Tomei, he said. "She's been a longtime advocate about the issues we care about, so we thought it'd be a good fit to make her one of our first endorsements," McNeill said. Is This The Type of Representation We Want in Salem?
www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/rep_...fault

Oregon health exchange technology troubles run deep due to mismanagement!!

"Shut it down," said Rocky King, Cover Oregon's executive director. "Let's not waste anybody else's time here." OHA's advisors said a systems integrator was necessary. "The state does not have the development resources with the requisite experience," consulting firms Wakely Consulting Group and KPMG wrote in a joint March 2011 report. They added that the integrator could lead to "significantly lower" overall costs. In July 2011, OHA was poised to follow that advice. It solicited a systems integrator to oversee the exchange work. But that month Oregon Health Authority Director Bruce Goldberg hired Carolyn Lawson to become chief technical officer of OHA. Four months into the two-year exchange project, Lawson changed its entire makeup. She launched a sweeping reorganization of the team working on it, and canceled the solicitation for a systems integrator deciding it would save the state money, documents show. The state would be its own systems integrator.
www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2013/12/oregon....html

Have you wondered why no hospitals are speaking out against the craziness surrounding Cover Oregon?

We now know why...Legal Expert Bruce McCain on Cover Oregon’s Non-Disparagement Agreement: Cover Oregon is making their community partners sign a non-disparagement agreement. That means that those community partners are not allowed to speak in a negative fashion about Cover Oregon, or they risk losing their funding. Legal Expert Bruce McCain joined me on the program today to talk about this unprecedented move…
larslarson.com/legal-expert-bruce-mccain-on-cover-...ement

Just off the phone. A Cover Oregon employee who does 10 hour days locked out of computer all day required to stay.

Despite initially denying the existence of the Confidentiality Agreement, the government actors at the Oregon Health Authority have moved into dangerous territory by requiring, as a condition of obtaining taxpayer grants, that a grantee refrain from making"any false, misleading, deceptive, libelous, defamatory, or obscene statements, written or oral,” about a private-sector company doing business with the state. This issue would not be as troublesome if Oregon Insurance Exchange LLC dba Cover Oregon required its private sector contractors to refrain from disparaging its goods, services or products. The State of Oregon, by and through its Oregon Health Authority, is running interference for Oregon Insurance Exchange LLC dba Cover Oregon by requiring current or potential grantees receiving or seeking taxpayer money to refrain from disparaging Cover Oregon, a private sector business. This is probably not the best example of a"public-private” partnership.
oregonoracle.com/cover-oregon-cover-up

Fox's Red Eye on Cover-Up Oregon

Cover Oregon is officially a NATIONAL laughing stock: Red Eye, the late-night talk show on Fox News, takes aim at the failed website.

While the media have been predictably slow to criticize Cover Oregon Now we Know Why!!

Third party status reports on the Cover Oregon implementation indicate the state knew as early as November 2012 that it would never meet its planned and announced October 1 deadline. Meanwhile, the state was entering into contracts with"community partners” who would do the groundwork required to implement Cover Oregon. When it became apparent that Cover Oregon would not only fail to meet its October 1 deadline, but also fail to even go live online, the state realized it had a public relations catastrophe on its hands that even a $28 million ad campaign could not cover over.
oregonoracle.com/cover-oregon-cover-up

Cover Oregon Cover Up!!

In September of this year, Rocky King, then Executive Director of Cover Oregon, warned state legislators at a joint committee that the planned October 1 roll-out of the program would not go as planned."It’s not going to be a beautiful implementation,” confessed King, in what should earn King the"Understatement of the Year” award. Indeed, the implementation of Cover Oregon has been an unmitigated disaster, despite $300 million of federal tax dollars poured into the program.
oregonoracle.com/cover-oregon-cover-up

Are you getting ready for our big Friday?

Northwest Armory will have a special Smith & Wesson Corp. event showcasing their handguns and rifles including one of the most popular handguns on the market, the Shield. Crimson Trace will be here with special offers. Northtech Defense will be unveiling their new uppers, and limited edition rifles. Lars Larson will be doing a live broadcast on Friday December 13th from Noon to 6pm.

Are you getting ready for our big Friday?

Northwest Armory will have a special Smith & Wesson Corp. event showcasing their handguns and rifles including one of the most popular handguns on the market, the Shield. Crimson Trace will be here with special offers. Northtech Defense will be unveiling their new uppers, and limited edition rifles. Lars Larson will be doing a live broadcast on Friday December 13th from Noon to 6pm.

Unless Congress acts, Unemployement Benefits will end on Dec. 28

When much of the country was facing substantial unemployment, the federal government approved emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) benefits to help displaced workers weather the recession.
Now, those benefits are due to expire before the end of this month, cutting off 20,900 Oregon workers, about 157 of which live in Crook County. The EUC program provides unemployed Oregonians up to 73 weeks of additional benefits beyond the 26 allotted by the state in four tiers. The program has faced similar deadlines in the past, at which time Congress voted to extend the program. Continuing the benefits beyond Dec. 28 will again require approval from lawmakers.
portlandtribune.com/ceo/162-news/203853-federal-em...xpire

Oregon Mall Shooting Stopped By Licensed Gun Carrier!!

"But the people of Oregon are smart enough to know that we are not looking to take people’s guns away; to deprive them of their rights..." The quote above is from, if course, Ginny Burdick, who promoted a bill that would have banned virtually all modern firearms and allowed the police to search your home without a warrant. Yet the "media" printed her quote with a straight face. No questions, no follow up.

INCREASING THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFECTIVENESS By Wally Hicks

Proposal: Put Oregonians Back to Work in State Forests. Estimated jobs over five years: 2,108.
Details: Increase sustainable harvesting in Oregon State Forests. Require that 95 percent of new growth in timber be harvested. Timber jobs generated under this plan would pay an estimated $41,848 annual salary (per the Depts of Forestry and Employment). Proposal would pump an additional $441 million into the private sector through personal income growth over five years and generate $33 million in new tax revenue over five years (per the Legislative Revenue Office).
www.facebook.com/wally.hicks.5


https://chumly.com/n/2121d0b

Oregon signs up just 44 people for Obamacare despite spending $300 million!!

Oregon, once touted as a model for President Obama's health care law, signed up just 44 people for insurance through November, despite spending more than $300 million on its state-based exchange. The state’s exchange had the fewest sign-ups in the nation, according to a new report today by the Department of Health and Human Services.
washingtonexaminer.com/oregon-signs-up-just-44-peo...=rss#

The reason I got into this race was to make sure our children aren't robbed of their futures.

Check out my segment on the Lars Larson show from last Friday. We talked about generational theft and why the Republican Party is going to take the youth vote in Oregon in 2014. The reason I got into this race was to make sure our children aren't robbed of their futures. They deserve the same opportunities we had growing up in America.

NO Fourth Term For Kitzhaber!

Join the Multnomah County GOP in finding real solutions. Here at Multnomah County Republican Headquarters, we caught wind of Governor Kitzhaber's press conference scheduled for this morning where he's expected to announce his intentions to run for an unprecedented fourth term. While we applaud the call to public service and honor anyone willing to step up, we think it's about time he return to the private sector. After all, term limits should have kicked in, except for the loophole that the law only covers consecutive terms. In any event, we welcome Kitzhaber into the race, which finds a strong Republican challenger who's already been campaigning for many months - Rep. Dennis Richardson is giving him a run for his money by citing math, facts and credible budget predictions (none of which are strong suits for Kitzhaber). - See more at: www.multnomahgop.org/no-fourth-term-for-kitzhaber#....dpuf

Oregon gives Intel a Nike-like tax deal. Wish I had A Deal Like That!!

Kitzhaber announced Friday that he's signed a 30-year agreement promising that any changes to Oregon's corporate tax structure won't affect Intel. In exchange, the computer chipmaker says it will expand a semiconductor plant in Hillsboro and create at least 500 jobs.
www.kgw.com/home/Oregon-gives-Intel-a-Nike-like-ta....html

Thank You To All Who Came Out To Kick-Off My Campaign!!

A Big Thank You To Everyone who came out to The Bomber Museum to Celebrate Pearl Harbor Day and my Campaign Kick-Off For State Representative House District 41. You All Made It A Very Special Day for Myself and the World War II Veterans That Came To Show Their Support!! Congratulations To Maxine Walker for Winning The Monthly Monday Flowers For The Next Year!






https://chumly.com/n/210c829

Thank You To All Who Came Out To Kick-Off My Campaign!!

A Big Thank You To Everyone who came out to The Bomber Museum to Celebrate Pearl Harbor Day and my Campaign Kick-Off For State Representative House District 41. You All Made It A Very Special Day for Myself and the World War II Veterans That Came To Show Their Support!! Congratulations To Maxine Walker for Winning The Monthly Monday Flowers For The Next Year!






http://chumly.com/n/210c75f

Oregon schools pack in most students per teacher in history!!

Oregon's student-teacher ratios, long some of the highest in the nation, rose to dramatic new highs of about 22 students per teacher in 2012-13, the state reported last week. Check out the exact numbers in my chart below.
The national average for 2011-12, the most recent figure available, was 16 students per teacher, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That suggests that Oregon teachers, on average, shoulder about 35 percent more students than the typical U.S. teacher.
www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/12/ore....html

SEIU's Proposed Hospital Ballot Measures Getting National Attention!

Service Employees International Union's proposed 2014 ballot measures in Oregon and California may be the vanguard of a national movement. Although it is unclear how many if any of those measures will make the ballot, The Wall Street Journal reported today the measures may be in part a tactic to organize more hospital workers. Meg Niemi, president of the Oregon SEIU local backing the initiatives in that state, said it hasn't otherwise been able to improve the affordability and quality of health care through cooperation with the industry. She said the union isn't seeking a neutrality agreement, but is interested in organizing members. SEIU played a supportive role in passage of the Affordable Care Act and is helping Oregonians enroll for health insurance under Cover Oregon. An argument might be made that poor judgement like that, and since the Obamacare/ACA (and Kitzhabercare) in Oregon is first and foremost about medical care rationing, is the best argument for voting against anything the SEIU tries to put on the ballot.
www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30969-seius_proposed_h....html

Oregon schools, get ready for the Cadillac tax Editorial

The mandates of the Affordable Care Act, once so pleasantly abstract, are raising visceral questions about fairness and affordability. How can Oregon school districts dodge the Cadillac tax in ways that are fair to teachers? How should they structure total compensation to keep the teaching profession attractive? Also, how can they offer good health insurance in ways that are fair to the taxpayers footing most of the bills? There aren’t easy answers, which is precisely why communication is so important. Embracing the popular parts of Obamacare was easy. This is the hard part.
www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/12/orego....html

CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF AT THE BOMBER ON PEARL HARBOR DAY!!

BRUNCH BUFFET AT THE BOMBER Saturday, December 7th – 10am to 2pm Tim Mcmenamin reserved the Bomber Museum. To Honor Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and all Veterans. Proud to be an American.
Catered Buffet by The Bomber Restaurant. Tickets $25 – Contribution to McMenamin for Oregon
Gather for Patriotic Songs and Music. Bonnie Kiggins on Keyboard and Cliff Hutchison on Snare Drum
Door Prize: One Year Flower Subscription. Surprise vase of flowers delivered once a month – value $300
Location: 13515 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie 97222 Wear your Red, White and Blue and Bring a Veteran!

Girl, 11, told not to sell mistletoe, but begging is fine!!

At Portland's Saturday Market, begging is okay and so is protesting, but to work you need a permit. This weird rule was recently used to stop eleven-year-old Madison Root from selling her handmade mistletoe ornaments at the market. Ms Root has been trying to raise money to help pay for her braces.
Do you think the Saturday Market should get rid of this rule entirely or just make an exception for entrepreneurial kids?
www.katu.com/news/local/11-year-old-told-not-to-se...ile=y

Gallup survey rated MD's as the third most-trustworthy profession, below only nurses and Pharmacists.

A 2012 Gallup survey rated medical doctors as the third most-trustworthy profession, below only nurses and pharmacists. State legislators with pharmacy backgrounds shape health care policy. Although no pharmacists are in Congress, 46 pharmacists currently serve in state legislatures across the country. The November elections may bring as many as 12 new pharmacists to their state legislature; 6 pharmacists are running in 4 of the 25 states now without pharmacist legislators. A majority, 36, are Republicans; 10 are Democrats.
www.mcmenaminfororegon.com
www.pharmacist.com/pharmacists-politics-0

Campaign Kick Off and BRUNCH BUFFET AT THE BOMBER To Honor Pearl Harbor Day and all Veterans!!

BRUNCH BUFFET AT THE BOMBER Saturday, December 7th – 10am to 2pm Tim Mcmenamin reserved the Bomber Museum To Honor Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and all Veterans Proud to be an American
Catered Buffet by The Bomber Restaurant. Tickets $25 – Contribution to McMenamin for Oregon.
Gather for Patriotic Songs and Music. Bonnie Kiggins on Keyboard and Cliff Hutchison on Snare Drum
Door Prize: One Year Flower Subscription. Surprise vase of flowers delivered once a month – value $300
Location: 13515 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie 97222
Wear your Red, White and Blue and Bring a Veteran

Campaign Kick Off and BRUNCH BUFFET AT THE BOMBER To Honor Pearl Harbor Day and all Veterans!!

BRUNCH BUFFET AT THE BOMBER Saturday, December 7th – 10am to 2pm Tim Mcmenamin reserved the Bomber Museum To Honor Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and all Veterans Proud to be an American
Catered Buffet by The Bomber Restaurant. Tickets $25 – Contribution to McMenamin for Oregon.
Gather for Patriotic Songs and Music. Bonnie Kiggins on Keyboard and Cliff Hutchison on Snare Drum
Door Prize: One Year Flower Subscription. Surprise vase of flowers delivered once a month – value $300
Location: 13515 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie 97222
Wear your Red, White and Blue and Bring a Veteran

Director of OHA Rocky King Request 12 weeks Medical Leave While Board May Vote On His Job!!

Cover Oregon exchange director Rocky King has requested 12 weeks of family leave, leaving OHA director Bruce Goldberg as interim head. Cover Oregon exchange director Rocky King has requested medical leave as of today, the day the board may vote on his job.
inagist.com/all/407622508062724096

SHOULD OREGON HAVE A SALES TAX!!

Democrats have a proposal to do just that. Oregonians may have rejected it nine times, but lawmakers aren’t giving up on a sales tax. Instead, a 5 percent sales tax is part of a proposal lawmakers are using to build a blueprint for tax reform. The proposal, shared with The Oregonian by Sen. Mark Hass, also projects that its reforms would create 55,405 new jobs and raise $488 million a year in net tax revenue. Rep. Vicki Berger, R-Salem, said she’s doubtful that voters will want to talk sales tax any time soon."I think it is a very difficult conversation with the voters,” Berger said."Particularly at Christmas time when they’re all enjoying shopping at our outlet malls, which have no sales tax, and we’re celebrating this big influx of outside money that would dry up if we had sales tax.”
www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/oreg...rpt-2

CAMPAIGN KICK OFF BRUNCH BUFFET AT THE BOMBER Saturday, December 7th – 10am to 2pm

Tim Mcmenamin reserved the Bomber Museum To Honor Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and all Veterans
Proud to be an American. Catered Buffet by The Bomber Restaurant. Tickets $25 –
Contribution to McMenamin for Oregon. Gather for Patriotic Songs and Music.
Bonnie Kiggins on Keyboard and Cliff Hutchison on Snare Drum.
Door Prize: One Year Flower Subscription Surprise vase of flowers delivered once a month – value $300
More Raffle Prizes To Bennifit The B-17 Alliance Group!
Location: 13515 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie 97222
Wear your Red, White, and Blue! Bring a Veteran!

Kaylee Davidson Gets Third Runner Up At Miss Oregon Teen USA Pageant!!

Kaylee Davidson you may not have won The Miss Oregon Teen USA Pageant but You are the Best Third Runner Up I have ever seen. It was a pleasure supporting your run. You make Milwaukie Oregon Proud!

SOMETHINGS UP!! WHO JUST UNFRIENDED ME??

COMMON CORE STILL BAD NEWS

We want the best for our kids and Common Core does Not even come close to that.
LIKE if you support better, more localized education standards.
blog.heritage.org/2013/11/22/cracks-core-massachus...ocial

Which Side of The Fence are You On? By Jeff Foxworthy.

If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one. If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat. If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone. If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church. A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation. If a Democrat is down-and-out he wonders who is going to take care of him. If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it. If a Democrat decides he needs health care, he demands that the rest of us pay for his. If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh. A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended".

Duniway Home Tour is Friday December 6th!!

Timothy McMenamin shared Sellwood Westmoreland Business Alliance's photo.
Tickets are available at: New Seasons- Sellwood; Sweat Pea's; Chrisman Picture Frames; Otto's
Jill's Hallmark Woodstock; Duniway Elementary School
For more information www.duniwayhometour.org

Portland-to-Milwaukie Orange Line station gets Earth Cast For $1,000,000

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) - The Portland-to-Milwaukie light rail line now has sculptures installed at one of its future stations. The cost of this one sculpture is One Million Dollars. Do You Think Tri-Met and Metro are growing beyond their means?
www.koin.com/news/multnomah-county/orange-line-sta...48367

McMenamins Old St. Francis School

Just in time for the holidays, the busy-as-elves McMenamins brewers have created another wonderful gift for your taste buds. The 2013 version of Kris Kringle is a hearty and robust ale with a big and bold malt complexity as well as an intense and flavorful hop profile. This"winter warmer” highlights the rich, toasty, aromatic and chocolaty malt flavors as its very sturdy foundation. Generous amounts of four different hop varieties were added in five different additions, which delivers a magnificent and massive hop assault. Kick off the holidays with this jolly old ale!

McMenamins Old St. Francis School

GROWLER MONDAYS here at The Old St. Francis School - Every Monday | Main Pub Only Bring any growler you have (as long as it’s the standard two-quart size), and for $7 we’ll fill it up with our special beer of the day. (Note: a growler resembles a jug, is typically glass, and should have a lid).
This Monday fill your gowler with Ultra Sonic IPA. Ultra Sonic IPA
The Ultra Sonic IPA incorporates a couple of new hops from the new 2013 crop. Horizons and Ultra hops were used in abundance to create a floral and hoppy presence in this IPA. A mild malt body exists; yet it is the hops that tend to take the lead with this brew. A mellow finish to the drink allows a piney touch of bitterness but doesn’t linger too long. An IPA for those looking for an Ultra Hop experience.

Umbrella Parade & Tree Lighting 2013

Event Title: Umbrella Parade & Tree Lighting 2013
Date/Time: Sat, Dec 7th 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Location: Parade staging at Walldorf School at 3:30pm
Contact Beth Ragel with further questions: (503) 786-7568 or RagelB@MilwaukieOregon.gov
www.milwaukieoregon.gov/citymanager/umbrella-parad...-2013

Get tips for making the most of your parent-teacher conference

Parent/teacher conferences are Monday and Tuesday. Here are some tips to make the most of them from PPS (available in six languages). www.pps.k12.or.us/news/9300.htm

State must spend millions for Federal ID law!!

Oregon would need to spend $16.3 million during the next six years to upgrade security measures for its driver’s licenses, or the federal government could refuse to recognize Oregon IDs for things like boarding a plane. The law requires states to save images of birth certificates and to re-verify Social Security numbers each time a person renews his or her ID. The most expensive budget item — with a price tag of about $7.3 million — is the imaging and storage of all the legal documents Oregonians will have to turn over to employees at DMV field offices.
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20131121/NEWS/311...D-law

DMV needs to store copies of birth certificates, passports to comply with federal law!!

SALEM -- Oregon would need to spend $16.3 million over six years and store copies of birth certificates and passports to comply with a federal law intended to guarantee the security of state driver's licenses and identification cards, a panel of state lawmakers heard Wednesday. If the state doesn't comply, Oregon driver's licenses and ID cards could be refused as identification needed to board airplanes or enter federal buildings, U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials told the Oregon Department of Transportation.
www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/oreg...river

Nike gives $280,000 to support same-sex marriage in Oregon.

Nike has thrown its support behind the campaign to overturn Oregon’s ban on same-sex marriage by donating $280,000 to the cause through the creation of a political action committee. The PAC, called the Nike Equality PAC, plans to focus its efforts on collecting donations from Nike employees and Nike-affiliated companies. The news was first reported by the Portland Business Journal, which notes that the company donated $100,000 to start the PAC and its executives donated the remaing $180,000.
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20131120/NEWS/311...regon

Have tuition hikes priced Oregonians out of higher Education?

The wave of new students who enrolled at Oregon's seven public universities when the economy soured is coming to an end. The state's public universities released data last week that show less than a 2 percent gain in enrollment, below the 3-to-5 percent gains in the four years after the economic crash. According to Oregon University System data, the cost of 15 credit hours increased by an average of 73 percent at the state's seven public universities between the 2005-2006 to the 2013-2014 academic year. At Portland State University, tuition rose 74 percent during that time period to $2,205; at the University of Oregon, tuition rose 90 percent to $2,760; and at Oregon State University (Corvallis campus only), tuition rose 64 percent to $2,292.
www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2013/11/19/enrol....html

Reminder Obamacare passed without a single Republican vote!!

Back in 2009 and 2010, Democrats controlled the White House and the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rammed Obamacare through without a single Republican vote. The Washington Post said of the Obamacare fight at the time"It has inflamed the partisanship that Obama pledged to tame when he campaigned for the White House and has limited Congress’s ability to pass any other major legislation.” In December 2009, the U.S. Senate voted 60 to 39 for Obamacare. The Washington Post reported"The Senate bill passed without a single GOP vote.” In March 2010, the U.S. House voted 219 to 212 for Obamacare. 34 House Democrats and all of the House Republicans voted against Obamacare. The NO votes were the only bipartisan votes.
oregoncatalyst.com/25561-reminder-obamacare-passed...alyst)

The penalty for not getting health insurance is more than you think!!

Under health reform, beginning in 2014, if you lack minimal essential coverage (such as an employer plan) and you don't fall under one of nine exemptions, you need to get health insurance. Otherwise, you face an annual penalty - one the U.S. Supreme Court deemed a tax. Just how high of a tax? That's the source of a lot of confusion, partly because the formula for calculating it is complicated. Your penalty will likely be more than $95. In fact, if you're single and make more than $19,650 next year, you'll owe more. And in future years, you'll owe considerably more, depending on your income. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the penalties would generate $7 billion in revenues by 2017 and $9 billion by 2021.
www.oregonlive.com/finance/index.ssf/2013/11/skipp...river

Nike forms PAC to Support Same Sex Marriage!!

Nike Inc. has formed a PAC to support marriage equality and seeded it with $280,000 from the company and its executives. The Nike Equality PAC will raise funds from Nike-affiliated donors and support marriage equality. The PAC will work closely with the Oregon United for Marriage campaign, a coalition of businesses and individuals working to earn same-sex couples the right to marry. Nike isn't a newcomer to supporting equal rights. It extended benefits to domestic partners in 2000. It supported non-discrimination legislation in 2005. If Nike Already Supports SS benefits to domestic partners and non-discrimination then why The Push For Same Sex Marriage?
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/threads_and_lace....html

Manager of $4B Portland hedge fund arrested in prostitution sting!!

James A. Bisenius, the founder and CEO of the nearly $4 billion Portland hedge fund Common Sense Investment Management, was arrested last week in a prostitution sting. The firm is by far the largest money manager in Oregon.
Bisenius was one of nine people arrested in the sting at a Tigard-area hotel. He will remain CEO of Common Sense.
www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2013/09/04/james....html

Salem forum to discuss increased logging on O&C lands

Conservation groups Oregon Wild and Friends of Marion County are hosting a public forum this evening centered on a bill that would increase logging on the state’s Oregon and California Railroad lands. Speakers will include economists, environmentalists and business owners opposed to the O&C Trust, Conservation, and Jobs Act, which passed the U.S. House on Sept. 20. Environmental groups, like Oregon Wild, have said the bill would be destructive for public lands, damage watersheds and water quality, along with wildlife and salmon habitat.
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20131120/NEWS/311...lands

Tax Means Public Employees’ Benefits Board (PEBB) changes likely!

State workers’ health insurance is likely to undergo substantial changes in coming years or the state is going to owe millions of dollars in federal taxes, according to Public Employees’ Benefits Board analysts. The Affordable Care Act imposes a 40 percent excise tax on insurance plans that are too"rich,” which means the premiums are more expensive than a set level. It can cost no more than $850 per month to insure an individual and no more than $2,291 per month for a family plan under the law, and it doesn’t matter how the employer and employee split those costs. It’s the total that counts. Employers whose plans are above those levels must pay the tax or find a way to avoid it, which often means cutting benefits.
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20131120/NEWS/311...eck=1

Which Side of The Fence are You On? By Jeff Foxworthy

If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one. If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat. If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone. If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church. A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation. If a Democrat is down-and-out he wonders who is going to take care of him. If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it. If a Democrat decides he needs health care, he demands that the rest of us pay for his. If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh. A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended".

Tim McMenamin for Oregon Campaign Kick-off Brunch at the Bomber!!

Tim reserved The Bomber Museum (13515 SE Mcloughlin Blvd,, Milwaukie, Oregon 97222) on Saturday, December 7th (from 10AM to 2PM) to honor Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and All Veterans - Catered by The Bomber Restaurant Music and Patriotic Songs. Door Prize and more. Contribute $25 on line and you will be called to confirm your attendance and pick up your ticket at the door or call Kay Bridges, Campaign Treasurer 503-671-0218.
Patriotic Songs with Bonnie Kiggins on Keyboard and Cliff Hutchison on the snare drum. Just like we did at the Multnomah County Fair. $25 in www.mcmenaminfororegon.com is your Brunch ticket. We will call you with your ticket # which you can pick up at the door. That's also your entry for the Door Prize - Vase of flowers once a month for a year. If you can't attend ... designate your Brunch ticket for a Veteran and we will see that a Veteran has Lunch on YOUR ticket. REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR and honoring all our Veterans.
www.facebook.com/events/1395387247369278/?ref_news...gular

BUCHAL ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR OREGON'S CD3 CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AGAINST BLUMENHAUER!!!

At the monthly meeting of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Oregon, of which he is Chair, James Buchal announced his intention to compete for the Third District Congressional seat presently held by Earl Blumenauer, saying:"Oregonians are tired of politicians who pretend they are friends of the working man, and then act like puppets of the banking institutions that are destroying this country. For me, Representative Blumenauer’s recent vote in favor of H.R. 992 was the last straw. Thanks to Congress, banks can gamble with the deposits ordinary Americans trust them to hold, and then stick it to the taxpayers if they lose their bets. And in H.R. 992, Representative Blumenauer voted to even allow foreign banks to belly up to that trough. ...

MAX Green Line ships gangs to Clackamas County, survey suggests.

An uptick in gang banging around Clackamas County is tied mostly to gangsters based in Portland -- some who take TriMet's Green Line trains to Clackamas Town Center, according to a new survey. The survey lays some of the increase to recent transportation-system improvements, specifically the MAX light-rail line to Clackamas County that opened in 2009. Despite relatively few incidents on the trains themselves, deputies said they have seen an increase in graffiti tagging and thefts in the area, the telltale signs of gang activity. The majority of criminally active street gangs in Clackamas County are connected to outside gangs, most commonly from Portland.
www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2012/....html

How Your Oregon State Legislators Voted on Healthcare!

Can anyone guess who was the only Oregon Republican legislator to vote exactly the same as Democrat House leader Tina Kotek on Healthcare? Hint, he's running for U.S. Senate against Merkley. From the President right down to your local County Commissioner. Here are their voting records for your consideration. They are all party to the greatest transformation of the American Republic form of government to Communism. The chart links to your Oregon State Legislators and their voting records on this important issue.
pacificfreedomfoundation.org/oregon-state-legislat...hcare

Multnomah County Republicans register more new voters in 1 day at Gun Show than Cover Oregon enrolls in 45 days!

During The Rose City Gun & Knife Show 1 - Sat 11/16/2013 Multnomah County Republicans register more new voters in 1 day at the Gun Show than Cover Oregon enrolls in 45 days. Massive crowd at the opening of the show. 2 1/2 Castle Doctrine Petition signature sheets filled out so far. Getting lots of "Thank You's" for having a booth here and gathering signatures. People really feel the need for this Castle Doctrine.

Financial elder abuse still high in Oregon. Only Multnomah County has a record that's worse!

A comprehensive study of elder financial abuse found that the problem remains high in Southern Oregon.
The study lumped Jackson and Josephine counties together and found that the region has the second highest percentage of statewide financial elder abuse cases in the state, behind Multnomah County. "Financial exploitation of individuals over the age of 65 and with physical disabilities is the most commonly investigated type of abuse that community adult protective services addresses in Oregon," said Marie Cervantes, director of OAAPI, in a news release. The study found that financial exploitation in Oregon takes many forms aside from stolen money, including theft of medications, jewelry, vehicles, real estate, food stamps, ATM cards and personal property. What's most troubling for financial detectives is that most of the local crimes against elders are committed by family members, Mak said.
www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20...80304

Is "Cover Oregon" really "bury Oregon"?

KGW Straight Talk: 'Cover Oregon' website problems & answers...First 14 mintues of this video are about Cover Oregon. Summary:
$300 million to build the website and systems. $21 million dollar ad campaign.
Had 2 years to complete this website and systems. "Website not up live yet". "We're all to blame".
Hired 400 temporary workers to process the paper applications, approximately $4 million cost, this was in their contingency plan. Need 100,000 individuals to enroll to make Cover Oregon viable. They are confident they will reach that number in 2014.
www.kgw.com/on-tv/straight-talk/Cover-Oregon-websi....html

Oregon receives an F- on Public Reporting of State Education Dept School Funding

Oregon’s Department of Education provides more than ten years of Actual Operating vs. Capital Expenditures Per Student reports. The reports contain operating per pupil expenditure data, but fail to provide total per pupil expenditures. Oregon is missing the most recent year of per pupil expenditures. Oregon’s Statewide Annual Report Card includes a table that allows citizens to compare changes in per pupil expenditures over time, though the figures are limited to three years at the state level and they are not adjusted for inflation.
"Oregon does not provide average salary data at the district level nor any average employee benefits".
www.cato.org/cracking-books/oregon

Lawsuit Claims Oregon Department of Human Services Falsely Inflated"Healthy Kids Connect” Enrollment!!

Portland, Ore. ― A former state employee has filed a $6.7 million whistleblower lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), saying she lost her job after pointing out financial irregularities and inflated enrollment projects for the state’s Healthy Kids Connect program."Proponents of the program and DHS projected that the additional tax revenues would provide health insurance coverage to 80,000 Oregon children by the end of the 2009-11 biennium. However, with only a few months remaining in the biennium, the program has yet to enroll 26,000 more children to reach its projections.” The complaint filed with the Marion County circuit court shows that as early as November 2009, there was evidence that the DHS projections were inflated:"The press release draft stated Healthy Kids had a target enrollment of 80,000 kids. Plaintiff relied on three internal sources and the data revealed there were not 80,000 uninsured kids in the state.”
cascadepolicy.org/blog/2013/02/08/press-release-wh...lment

Challenges from the Center for Media and Democracy!

PORTLAND, ORE. – A self-described"progressive watchdog group” has launched a questionable campaign to discredit limited government, free-market oriented public policy research groups across the country, including Oregon’s own Cascade Policy Institute. Taking a page out of the late Chicago community organizer Saul Alinsky’s book, Rules for Radicals, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) is personally attacking both those who work for and those who help fund these organizations. Oregonian senior political reporter Jeff Mapes wrote a story yesterday about CMD’s claim that Cascade Policy Institute"…and dozens of like-minded think tanks around the country receive major funding from secretive national donors to push a conservative agenda.” Charles noted in conclusion,"The timing of this attack is almost comical given the disastrous rollout of ObamaCare. Now more than ever, the country needs public policies that respect the dignity of individuals to run their own lives. Cascade will continue to be the leading voice for self-governance in Oregon, and we welcome financial support from donors regardless of where they live.”
cascadepolicy.org/blog/2013/11/14/press-release-ca...cracy

Appeals court tosses out ‘right to farm’ challenge!!

A constitutional challlenge to Oregon's "right to farm" law, which protects farmers from lawsuits over common industry practices, has been thrown out of court. However, the legal question could still be resurrected. The Oregon Court of Appeals has thrown out a lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the state’s"right to farm” law.The law protects farmers and foresters from litigation over trespass or nuisance claims arising from common industry practices, like herbicide spraying.
www.capitalpress.com/article/20131114/ARTICLE/1311...19938

Flunk Factories The ugly truth about Portland’s high schools.

Portland’s four-year high-school graduation rate of 63 percent is 14 points lower than Beaverton’s, 12 points lower than Hillsboro’s and six points lower than Salem’s. That puts Portland at the bottom of the barrel in a state that has the fourth-lowest high-school graduation rate in the nation. Portland’s rate of graduating minority and low-income students is also worse when compared with other districts. The problem is not a lack of money. Portland’s per-pupil spending is, on average, 19 percent higher than the three other aforementioned Oregon districts’ and 24 percent higher than Long Beach’s."The bias toward alternative education and special-interest groups is actually cutting the programs that are working for diverse populations,” says Lainie Block Wilker, a Northeast Portland activist who has tried to reverse the district’s effort to drive students away from Benson.
www.wweek.com/portland/article-21514-flunk_factori....html

Population of Oregon inmates with mental health issues surges!

One in three inmates in Oregon prisons have mental health issues, and their numbers are growing, according to data from the state Corrections Department. The agency's latest inmate profile, published monthly, counted 4,672 inmates who need mental health treatment. That's up 17 percent from five years ago, when the count was 3,991. The monthly profiles are posted on the agency's website without comment, but they provide rich details about Oregon's prison population. The latest numbers are a snapshot as of Nov. 1 for 14,707 inmates. The total sent to prison for sex abuse jumped 12 percent in five years, moving that crime to the No. 2 spot from No. 4.
Substance abuse plays a key role in landing inmates in prison, the data show. Currently, 10,618 inmates have substance abuse issues. That's 7 out of 10. Some 2,800 inmates are in prison for drug charges, although 1,977 have other charges as well. The number of inmates in for drug charges grew 21 percent the past five years.
www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ss...river

Oregon Veterans Not Allowed To Take Veterans Day Off!!

Few Oregon veterans have benefited from a new law that spells out how they can ask businesses for Veterans Day off, the sponsor of the legislation says. The Salem Statesman Journal reports that many public employees get the day off, but for many veterans in the private sector, it's another working day. The Legislature passed a measure in April. It allows veterans to ask private-industry employers 21 days in advance for the day off. It gives employers a variety of options, such as giving the employee the day off either paid or unpaid, offering a different day off, or rejecting the request.
www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ss...river

Cover Oregon Health exchange ranks last in enrollment in US!!

Oregon's health exchange ranks last of 12 state-based insurance exchanges in enrollment, according to a new analysis. In Oregon, officials defend their decision to not open for online enrollment, saying the website is producing inaccurate determinations on tax credits and other government assistance. The technical problems have prompted a massive push to enroll Oregonians by Dec. 15 using old-fashioned application forms. The small business portion of the Oregon exchange is also not functioning.So far, the Oregon exchange has cost more than $140 million in federal grant money.
www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2013/11/cover_...river

Will You Be My Daddy?

A Troubled Boy Was Asked A Pointed Question From The Drill Sergeant. Nobody Expected!! (TruthSeekerDaily) During an episode of the series,"Boot Camp My Pre-Teen,” a troubled boy was asked a pointed question from the Drill Sergeant. The answer he gave is priceless, and made the Sarge skip a beat … or 3. - See more at: truthseekerdaily.com/2013/11/a-troubled-boy-was-as....dpuf
truthseekerdaily.com/2013/11/a-troubled-boy-was-as...video

Marijuana Measure gets $50,000 from Porn, Condom King!

The latest tycoon to ante up for a proposed 2014 marijuana legalization measure already backed by billionaires Peter Lewis and George Soros has a fascinating backstory. Philip Harvey gave $50,000 to New Approach Oregon, according to a Nov.1 filing, adding to the heft of the campaign backed by the groups who succeeded with legalization in Colorado and Washington last year. Harvey has built an empire by leveraging Americans' taste for pornography and sex toys to pay for birth control for tens of millions of people in the third world. He is the founder and president of DKT International, a Washington, D.C. non-profit that distributes condoms and other birth control devices in 19 third-world countries, making DKT what the company's website says is " the largest private provider of contraceptives and family planning services in the developing world."
www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30885-porn_condom_king....html

Just how many people will get subsidies on Cover Oregon?

Kaiser researchers estimate that about 337,000 Oregonians ultimately could buy insurance through Cover Oregon. Of those, about 187,000 will meet the financial requirements to receive tax credits. People are eligible for tax credits if they make between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s between $11,490 and $45,960 for a person living alone, or between $23,550 and $94,200 for a family of four. Most of these tax credits will go directly to the insurance plan chosen by the person. In exchange, the insurer will deduct the amount of the credit from the person’s monthly premium bill.
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/health-care-inc/....html

Broken Homes, Broken Boys!!

Signs that the nuclear-family meltdown of the past half a century has been particularly toxic to boys are not new. Liberals often assume that these kinds of social problems result from our stingy support system for single mothers and their children. Provide more maternity leave, quality daycare and healthcare, goes the thinking, and a lot of the disadvantages of single-parent homes would vanish. But the link between criminality and fatherlessness holds even in countries with lavish social welfare systems. A 2006 Finnish study of 2,700 boys, for instance, concluded that living in a non-intact family at age 8 predicted a variety of criminal offenses. If the trends of the last 40 years continue — and there's little reason to think that they won't — the percentage of boys growing up with single mothers will keep growing. No one knows how to stem that tide. But by understanding the way family instability interacts with boys' restless natures, educators could experiment with approaches that might improve at least some lives.
www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-hymowitz-...7Usig

Just how many people will get subsidies on Cover Oregon?

Kaiser researchers estimate that about 337,000 Oregonians ultimately could buy insurance through Cover Oregon. Of those, about 187,000 will meet the financial requirements to receive tax credits. People are eligible for tax credits if they make between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s between $11,490 and $45,960 for a person living alone, or between $23,550 and $94,200 for a family of four. Most of these tax credits will go directly to the insurance plan chosen by the person. In exchange, the insurer will deduct the amount of the credit from the person’s monthly premium bill.
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/health-care-inc/....html

Metro To End Single Family Homes!

Metro’s vision of ubiquitous apartment bunkers means that the region will slowly become a childfree zone, because few parents wish to raise their children in vertical housing. Portland parents, and those who hope to become parents, should ask hard questions about why the Metro Council thinks this is a great leap forward for livability.
oregoncatalyst.com/25472-metro-singlefamily-homes....alyst)

Meet some frustrated Oregonians whose insurance was cancelled!!

Last week, Scott Grout called his health insurance company to"confirm all was good for 2014” and he could keep his plan. No such luck. "They informed me that my current plan will be canceled,” said Grout, who lives in Portland."They sent no notice of this. I pro-actively called and was told that I was to be auto-rolled onto a much more expensive plan.” Grout is one of 145,000 Oregonians who buy health coverage on the individual market and have received cancellation notices in recent weeks. Their policies don’t meet the Affordable Care Act’s more robust coverage requirements, which go into effect in January. Grout used to pay $305 a month for his family of four and the plan covered all preventive care and 65 percent of out-of-pocket expenses. The cheapest new plan he could find through Cover Oregon costs $648 a month, with only 50 percent of expenses covered. Grout basically wants a catastrophic policy, but that’s no longer possible under the Affordable Care Act (unless you’re in your 20s).
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/health-care-inc/....html

Meet some frustrated Oregonians whose insurance was cancelled!!

Last week, Scott Grout called his health insurance company to"confirm all was good for 2014” and he could keep his plan. No such luck. "They informed me that my current plan will be canceled,” said Grout, who lives in Portland."They sent no notice of this. I pro-actively called and was told that I was to be auto-rolled onto a much more expensive plan.” Grout is one of 145,000 Oregonians who buy health coverage on the individual market and have received cancellation notices in recent weeks. Their policies don’t meet the Affordable Care Act’s more robust coverage requirements, which go into effect in January. Grout used to pay $305 a month for his family of four and the plan covered all preventive care and 65 percent of out-of-pocket expenses. The cheapest new plan he could find through Cover Oregon costs $648 a month, with only 50 percent of expenses covered. Grout basically wants a catastrophic policy, but that’s no longer possible under the Affordable Care Act (unless you’re in your 20s).
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/health-care-inc/....html

NAMI-CC Peer & Family Support Group New Location!!

Closing Gaps in the Private and Public Mental Health Care System. Dr. Ryan Melton will be discussing the role that counselors can play in supporting the needs of individuals who suffer from serious mental health concerns and those of their families.
He introduces his project which uses professional counselors to fill the gaps (often in creative and innovative ways) not met by the current system delivery model. In Milwaukie 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. for those who have experienced a suicide death. Faith on the Hill Church 3615 SE Hill Road Milwaukie, OR 97267 Behind the Oak Grove Fred Meyer.
6 :30pm dinner - 7:00pm program - 8:00pm support groups"Come for all or any portion of the meeting”
hosted.verticalresponse.com/734282/8930b997e7/2828...3a3a2

Broken Homes, Broken Boys!!

Signs that the nuclear-family meltdown of the past half a century has been particularly toxic to boys are not new. Liberals often assume that these kinds of social problems result from our stingy support system for single mothers and their children. Provide more maternity leave, quality daycare and healthcare, goes the thinking, and a lot of the disadvantages of single-parent homes would vanish. But the link between criminality and fatherlessness holds even in countries with lavish social welfare systems. A 2006 Finnish study of 2,700 boys, for instance, concluded that living in a non-intact family at age 8 predicted a variety of criminal offenses. If the trends of the last 40 years continue — and there's little reason to think that they won't — the percentage of boys growing up with single mothers will keep growing. No one knows how to stem that tide. But by understanding the way family instability interacts with boys' restless natures, educators could experiment with approaches that might improve at least some lives.
www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-hymowitz-...7Usig

Marijuana Measure gets $50,000 from Porn, Condom King

The latest tycoon to ante up for a proposed 2014 marijuana legalization measure already backed by billionaires Peter Lewis and George Soros has a fascinating backstory. Philip Harvey gave $50,000 to New Approach Oregon, according to a Nov.1 filing, adding to the heft of the campaign backed by the groups who succeeded with legalization in Colorado and Washington last year. Harvey has built an empire by leveraging Americans' taste for pornography and sex toys to pay for birth control for tens of millions of people in the third world. He is the founder and president of DKT International, a Washington, D.C. non-profit that distributes condoms and other birth control devices in 19 third-world countries, making DKT what the company's website says is " the largest private provider of contraceptives and family planning services in the developing world."
www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30885-porn_condom_king....html

NAMI-CC Peer & Family Support Group New Location!

Closing Gaps in the Private and Public Mental Health Care System. Dr. Ryan Melton will be discussing the role that counselors can play in supporting the needs of individuals who suffer from serious mental health concerns and those of their families.
He introduces his project which uses professional counselors to fill the gaps (often in creative and innovative ways) not met by the current system delivery model. In Milwaukie 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. for those who have experienced a suicide death. Faith on the Hill Church 3615 SE Hill Road Milwaukie, OR 97267 Behind the Oak Grove Fred Meyer.
6 :30pm dinner - 7:00pm program - 8:00pm support groups"Come for all or any portion of the meeting”
hosted.verticalresponse.com/734282/8930b997e7/2828...3a3a2

Metro To End Single Family Homes!

Metro’s vision of ubiquitous apartment bunkers means that the region will slowly become a childfree zone, because few parents wish to raise their children in vertical housing. Portland parents, and those who hope to become parents, should ask hard questions about why the Metro Council thinks this is a great leap forward for livability.
oregoncatalyst.com/25472-metro-singlefamily-homes....alyst)

Oregon school performance ratings

The state created a five-tier rating system designed to give slightly more than half of schools one of the top two ratings.
Level 5 schools: These 114 schools performed in the top 10 percent statewide.
Level 4 schools: This is the broadest performance category, covering 557 schools that ranked from the 90th percentile down to the 44th%
Level 3 schools: These 356 schools performed below average to well below average.
Level 2 schools: These 113 schools performed in the bottom 15 percent statewide. The federal government considers these schools in serious need of improvement.
Level 1 schools: These 54 schools rank in the worst 5 percent, and the feds consider them in dire need of improvement. They have low test scores, low student growth, poor achievement by low-income students or, for high schools, atrocious graduation rates.
www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2013/10/ore...photo

Marijuana Measure gets $50,000 from Porn, Condom King

The latest tycoon to ante up for a proposed 2014 marijuana legalization measure already backed by billionaires Peter Lewis and George Soros has a fascinating backstory. Philip Harvey gave $50,000 to New Approach Oregon, according to a Nov.1 filing, adding to the heft of the campaign backed by the groups who succeeded with legalization in Colorado and Washington last year. Harvey has built an empire by leveraging Americans' taste for pornography and sex toys to pay for birth control for tens of millions of people in the third world. He is the founder and president of DKT International, a Washington, D.C. non-profit that distributes condoms and other birth control devices in 19 third-world countries, making DKT what the company's website says is " the largest private provider of contraceptives and family planning services in the developing world."
www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30885-porn_condom_king....html

Broken Homes, Broken Boys!!

Signs that the nuclear-family meltdown of the past half a century has been particularly toxic to boys are not new. Liberals often assume that these kinds of social problems result from our stingy support system for single mothers and their children. Provide more maternity leave, quality daycare and healthcare, goes the thinking, and a lot of the disadvantages of single-parent homes would vanish. But the link between criminality and fatherlessness holds even in countries with lavish social welfare systems. A 2006 Finnish study of 2,700 boys, for instance, concluded that living in a non-intact family at age 8 predicted a variety of criminal offenses. If the trends of the last 40 years continue — and there's little reason to think that they won't — the percentage of boys growing up with single mothers will keep growing. No one knows how to stem that tide. But by understanding the way family instability interacts with boys' restless natures, educators could experiment with approaches that might improve at least some lives.
www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-hymowitz-...UHZaX

Blumenauer to address Willamette River Superfund Clean Up and Hemp Production

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-CD03) Is hosting two interactive forums this week. Both events are free and open to the public. The first one was yesterday (Tuesday) on International Water and Sanitation. He has been working on"Water for the World” legislation that would significantly improve access to clean water and sanitation. Seriously, Rep. Blumenauer? With Coliform Bacteria in the Willamette River, Muddy water coming out of our neighborhood faucets, and the two polluted industrial properties along the Willamette River where NW Natural buried tar left over from gas plants that stopped operating in 1956. The company’s most recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission shows its liability for the Superfund cleanup is at least $43 million. His wife, Margaret D. Kirkpatrick, is senior vice president and general counsel for NW Natural. The utility last year awarded her $769,080 in total compensation. Then your second forum this Saturday November 9th at 10:00 AM on Industrial Hemp in Oregon. "It’s time to start growing industrial hemp in Oregon". Representative, it's time for you to get off your bike, remove the bow tie, roll up your sleaves and start to do the work that Oregonian's elected you to do 41 years ago in 1972!! Please Rep. Blumenauer lets have safe, clean drinking water here in Oregon and stop smoking the pot for now. If Hemp was a viable cash crop other countries around the world would be growing it. Thank You.
www.wweek.com/portland/article-21174-muddy_waters.....html

Portland Pregnancy Resource Centers and Supporters

A big thanks to everyone who helped to make the gala, on Saturday night a great success. If you Instagram, please follow us @prcpics (to see more pictures from the event) or Twitter with us @PRCPortland. Thank you to everyone who has been listening and calling in to support the Portland Pregnancy Resource Centers, Supporters today during the Radio-Thon on 93.9 KPDQ. A gift of $45 provides an ultrasound for a PRC client. Please make sure to tune in from 4-6pm for the Georgene Rice show as she concludes the event. With much gratitude, we are pleased to report that we exceeded our goal for the Portland Pregnancy Resource Centers, Supporters radiothon (over $13,000). We have been blessed by the process and our relationship with Georgene Rice and the people at KPDQ.
www.portlandprc.org

Portland Parents Pushing For More High School Class Time

Do You Have A Student In a Portland Public High School??
A group of Portland parents is asking Oregon education officials to determine whether the state’s largest district is meeting minimum instructional time for its high school students.
Portland Public started a block schedule at its high schools two years ago. It meant students were often in free periods or study halls, rather than in academic classes.
Parents pushed back last spring, so the Portland school board spent money to add high school teachers and cut back on study hall time.
Unsatisfied parents have now filed a complaint with the state, claiming Portland is still falling short. District officials say they want to do more, but say they’re not forced to legally, because the study halls count as instructional time.
www.opb.org/news/article/portland-parents-pushing-...-time

Fast Times At Portlnd Public High Schools!!

This week's Willamette Week reports that: Portland Public Schools created an eight -period class day; "limited most students to seven class periods spread over two days" and that now fewer than half of high school students attend class for a full day. This sounds almost too crazy to be true. More importantly, it sounds to me like a fact that might finally wake up Portlanders to the truth that their Democratic leadership has destroyed the schools. Does anyone have children in Portland public high schools who can comment on this? by James Buchal.
www.wweek.com/portland/article-21455-fast_times_at....html

Clackamas County Commissioners Demand I-205 Diversion Estimates

The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners wrote Gov. John Kitzhaber today with a warning: If they don't get good estimates on how tolling the Columbia River Crossing might affect Interstate 205, they'll officially oppose the project. The letter (PDF), dated today, says the commissioners have asked Kitzhaber three times in five years for how tolling Interstate 5 would affect I-205 and "have failed to release satisfactory answers." As WW reported, consultants CDM Smith have been preparing an investment grade analysis for tolling the $2.7 billion CRC. Emails obtained by WW show that state officials have long known that tolls on I5 would fill I-205 to capacity. The Oregonian reported last week that the commissioners were likely to send a "letter with teeth" regarding the proposed Oregon-only Interstate 5 project to replace bridges into Washington state, expand interchanges on both sides of the river and extend MAX lines to Vancouver.
www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30867-clackamas_county....html

October Chaos for Cover Oregon!!

Three weeks after launch, Oregon’s online health insurance exchange Cover Oregon hasn’t enrolled a single person. $82 million has been spent on a website which has received more than 430,000 visits and 3.7 million page views, and yet still cannot process applications. One would think functioning websites wouldn’t be too much to ask for the official ObamaCare rollout, the date of which was the focus of both national and statewide awareness campaigns. October’s online chaos seems to bode ill for the future of Americans’ health care experiences. Hopefully, people will rethink having increased centralized government control over a health care system which comprises nearly one-fifth of the U.S. economy.
oregoncatalyst.com/25349-october-chaos-cover-orego...alyst)

Damascus Voters Could Dismantle Government!!

Damascus residents voted to become a city in 2004. That was two years after the Metro regional government included Damascus in the largest urban growth boundary expansion in state history. Those two changes meant a new Damascus city council had to draft a long-term plan for how the city would grow. Chris Hawes says regional plans to develop Damascus were flawed from the beginning. He says building city neighborhoods across the rocky hills and valleys of Damascus is so expensive, that it might never happen. And that makes city property taxes unnecessary. Dissolving the city would save taxpayers money, he argues. "The net would be a $2.53 per thousand of assessed value savings, which is about $600 or so for a house that’s assessed at $200,000.”"Metro needs to be dealt with,” says Anderson. "The city is going to be better able to deal with it. If we go back to county control, then we’re just relying on the county commissioners to make some of the decisions that we’ve already stepped through, and are we going to be happy with the people who are going to run the plan process at the county.”
www.opb.org/news/article/damascus-voters-could-dis...ment-

Bob’s Red Mill will open a new distribution center in Clackamas next year!!

Glad The Retail Store is staying in Milwaukie. Love their breakfasts!! Bob’s Red Mill will open a new distribution center in Clackamas next year, the company announced Tuesday. In the past few years, Bob's Red Mill has registered double-digit growth, according to company spokeswoman Ashley Sherrick. The new 125,000-square-foot facility, with more than 30 loading docks, a railway connection and enough space to house 11,000 pallets, will help meet projected growth over the next five years, Sherrick said.
www.oregonlive.com/milwaukie/index.ssf/2013/10/bob...fault

Why Marriage Matters!!

A wealth of examples have been identified by legal scholars who have pointed out the conflicts that will arise between the rights of people who sincerely disagree with homosexual marriage, and the rights of homosexual couples to demand that the state enforce gay marriage whether people support it or not. These conflicts can result in people losing their jobs, professionals be stripped of their professional licenses or being fined by the state, and churches losing their tax exemptions. Most troubling is the impact on children, particularly as the public schools begin the process of indoctrinating them on the subject of homosexual marriage.
www.protectmarriageoregon.com/why-marriage-matters

Port exit may mean costly shipping for Oregon firms!!

A major shipping company’s decision to withdraw from the Port of Portland by January 2014 means local exporters will face higher transportation costs to move their products overseas, including processed foods and timber. South Korea-based Hanjin Shipping Co. announced Oct. 18 it will no longer carry containers out of Portland’s Terminal 6 due to rising handling charges and sagging longshore labor productivity. Value-added agricultural products like processed potatoes and onions are all shipped by container. If Hanjin leaves, Eastern Oregon exporters would have to pay more to truck containers to Seattle or Tacoma, which cost between $500 and $1,000 per container the last time ships were diverted in summer 2012."(Hanjin) is a significant loss to ports on the Columbia and Snake river systems,” River. Kim B. Puzey, general manager at the Port of Umatilla said."We are down to very little service now, almost nonexistent compared to what we had. Everyone here is having to make transportation adjustments that are significant to their bottom line.”
www.statesmanjournal.com/viewart/20131028/NEWS/310...firms

Columbia River Crossing Interim legislative committee appointed!!

House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney appointed a 24-member legislative committee to hold hearings on a revived Columbia River Crossing plan Friday. No date has been set for hearings, but the two Democratic leaders of the Legislature and Gov. John Kitzhaber agree that hearings should be forthcoming. Oregon Sen. Bruce Starr (left), R-Hillsboro, talks with Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, as the legislature wound down in July. Starr and Johnson are key votes in the Oregon Senate on transportation issues. Johnson says she wants more information before she votes on the Columbia River Crossing. The bridge project faltered in the summer when the Washington Senate refused to allocated $450 million for the bi-state plan. Since then, Oregon leaders have devised a scaled back, Oregon-led project that could move forward with only Oregon’s $450 million allocation.
www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/colu...river

Gov. Kitzhaber undermining rights of parents!!

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, who has said he'll announce his decision on seeking a second term by the end of this month, got some advice from Nike: Just Do It. Kitzhaber, who served two terms from 1995-2003 before returning to office in 2011, has said he's wrestling with whether to seek another term given his age -- he's 66 -- and the time he has to spend with his son, a high school sophomore. What about those of us who are not Lucky enough to spend time with Our Sons Due To The Kitzhaber Administration. If anyone should understand the fraud, abuse, corruption, and incompetance in the DHS and family court system it would be Gov. Kitzhaber. Yet, he remains silent on the biggest civil rights violations in Our History. My advice would be to bow out Governor. You have your PERS. You have your son. You don't want to deal with undermining the rights of parents (Oregon Watchdog). I would take your money and Run.

Cover Oregon still no enrollment; feds delay penalty deadline

Officials for Oregon's health insurance exchange on Thursday reported some progress, but acknowledged a major fix to the problem-plagued site may not happen this month as hoped.The website still has not enrolled anyone. Cover Oregon also released some statistics, after previously denying them to reporters: - So far, 4,260 paper applications to determine eligibility for assistance have been received. Also, agents and application assisters have created 2,459 electronic customer accounts so they can check eligibility for financial assistance once problems with the website are fixed. That's a total of 6,719 applications. Since some represent families, the applications represented approximately 11,500 Oregonians, officials said. In other news, the Obama administration gave six more weeks to individual consumers who otherwise faced a penalty if they didn't finish applying for coverage by Feb. 15, allowing it to be processed by March 15. Now they must finish applying by coverage by March 31 to avoid a penalty, according to Kaiser Health News.
www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2013/10/cover_...river

Surprising facts about local property tax!!

Portland spends 126 percent of what it collects in property taxes on public safety such as police officers and firefighters. To fill the gap and pay for other services, cities must rely on fees and other revenue. Oregonians started getting property tax bills last week and sticker shock came free with most envelopes. City councils across the state must ask voters to approve tax rate increases. Tax bills do go up based on increases in property value (generally limited to a 3 percent increase each year). There are plenty of other surprising aspects of Oregon’s property tax system, however, and a new report from the League of Oregon Cities highlights some particularly interesting ones. If you’re confused about where your property tax dollars might be going, you can start with the League’s report which is posted online. Still want more? You can read the comprehensive financial reports for your city online.
www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/surp...river

Cover Oregon's tax credit confusion!!

I can’t wait to sign my family up for one of the new Cover Oregon health insurance exchange plans. But even if we could sign up — and three weeks into its operation, the exchange is still not accepting applications — Cover Oregon’s confusion over how to determine income and eligibility for tax credits makes one wonder if they can ever get ObamaCare working. But perhaps Cover Oregon’s oddest misstep is that nowhere on the application is the term"MAGI” (or"modified adjusted gross income”) even mentioned — despite the fact that that it’s the law of the land in determining self-employed income eligibility under ObamaCare. By David Kline.
www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/10/a_cas...river

Tina Kotek goes to Hollywood!!

While some states are re-examining and even reeling back some film production incentives, Oregon lawmakers this year expanded theirs. Critics say the incentives mostly go to deep-pocketed production companies and that competition between states to land movies and shows is a race to the bottom. Yet another legal way for Dems to use our tax dollars to fund their campaigns. During this year’s regular legislative session, House Speaker Tina Kotek (D) voted for more Oregon tax breaks for Hollywood – increasing the fund for tax rebates by $4 million – from $6 million to $10 million. Now it’s time to collect on her cut of the $4 million. Today, Speaker Kotek is headed to Hollywood for a big shindig/fundraiser with the stars. She’ll be joined by the California Speaker of the House – also a Democrat. They’ll be hobnobbing with celebrities at the exclusive W Hollywood hotel – downing champagne and caviar, and chuckling about Speaker Kotek’s duplicity at supporting tax breaks for her Hollywood chums/ATMs after she and her Democratic colleagues demonized tax credits and deductions all session long as"giveaways for the rich”.
oregoncatalyst.com/25317-tina-kotek-hollywood.html...alyst)

Gov. Kitzhaber undermining rights of parents!!

Governor Kitzhaber has put himself in charge of Oregon’s Education System and Oregon’s healthcare network: the Oregon Health Authority. As a result of this double take-over, there is a Triple Threat to our children and their families. That threat includes the Network of School Based Health Centers (SBHCs); the grades K-12 Comprehensive Sexuality Education Standards that the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) promotes; and the Annual Adolescent Sexuality Conference in Seaside (ASC). And what makes this Triple Threat even more unreasonable is that the governor is using our money to pay for it!
oregoncatalyst.com/25291-gov-kitzhaber-undermining....html

Oregon Castle Doctrine Grab your pen. Sign the petition, share this post.

This is one of the most important petition initiatives to support by signing and sharing among Oregonians.
As it stands, right now, an intruder (or his family) could sue you if you defend your home or business. You may not be charged as a criminal, but you could be sued for financial 'damages'.
Oregon Castle Doctrine • If someone is trying to break into your home or office, you ought to be able to use whatever force is necessary to stop the intruder, without having to worry about being sued afterwards. At least 35 states do have such laws, and it is high time for Oregon to do the same.
www.facebook.com/oregoncastledoctrineact

Health Care Town Hall October 16, 630-8pm 10301 NE Glisan St.

Folks, please make a note of this important townhall meeting to be held this Wednesday evening regarding the Oregon Health Care Plan hosted by Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer. She will also be joined by Sen. Jackie Dingfelder and Rep. Michael Dembrow. One of the agenda items is to explore a"Single Payer” system. Is this a nudge or a push? We need to fill this event with conservative minded people that support individual choice and privacy with their healthcare. That don’t want"Navigators” and the IRS in the middle of their personal health matters and finances. Let’s use this opportunity to educate others about the concerns with Obama Care and to glean more information about the Oregon Health Care Plan. Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, Rep. Michael Dembrow and Alissa Keny-Guyer will be joined by Dr. Bruce Goldberg, director of the Oregon Health Authority Director, and David Barenberg from Cover Oregon, Oregon's new Health Insurance Exchange program. Rep. Keny-Guyer is the Vice Chair of the House Health Care Committee, she is delighted to see how these health initiatives are already starting to lower the cost of health care AND improve the health of our citizens. Please bring your questions and comments and make your voices heard. As always, respectfully and peacefully.

creatingentertainment.com

Creating Entertainment is your "go to" place for everyone to search for and discover the latest events and nightclubs around the area in a simple convenient manner. It is to provide a range of services from music, photography to video editing and everything in between. If you want to discover local nightclub events, a place to relax and lounge around with friends, or even new clothing lines, then this is the place to look. We provide full descriptions for each business and event advertised, along with pictures and social media links, all you have to do is read and click for more info! www.creatingentertainment.com

Is there a job for every unemployed Oregonian?

Even if every private employer with an open job in Oregon filled the position, there would still be a considerable number of unemployed Oregonians — at least that was the case this summer. That was the finding of the Oregon Employment Department's summer Job Vacancy Survey. In July, there were 157,300 unemployed Oregonians and 42,900 private-sector job openings. That pencils out to about 4 unemployed residents for every one job.
www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2013/10/is-there....html

Why Is Right to Work Right for Oregon?

Since the U.S. Supreme Court Beck decision in 1988, no American must join a union to hold a job. But in 26 states, including Oregon, workers still have to pay union dues. The plaintiff in that historic court case, Harry Beck, is now an Oregonian. He recently told Cascade that"Beck Rights are not enough. No one should be forced to pay dues to a union they choose not to join.” Come join Steve Buckstein to discuss this situation, and what Oregonians can do now to grant workers more employee choice. Cascade Policy Institute
Cost:Free Noon October 16, 2013 Cascade Policy Institute 4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd. Suite 103 Portland, Or. 97225
Sponsored By O'Donnell, Clark, and Crew.

The governor condemnes a proposed "right to work" initiative!

The people Oregonians elect to make laws, their legislators and the governor, enjoy an uncomfortable relationship with the initiative process, which allows citizens and interest groups to take proposed laws directly to voters. This natural tension is on full display these days, as Gov. John Kitzhaber plays whack-a-mole with a slew of proposed measures that predict a battle between business and labor interests in November 2014. The governor has been trying to convince those involved to stand down, because a business-labor spat will make tax reform – the governor's next big project – even harder to pull off than it would be normally. In true whack-a-mole fashion, however, two more proposed initiatives popped up recently despite the governor's efforts. Both are the work of public employee unions, and both respond to proposed initiatives that would make it more difficult for them to collect money. Kitzhaber might prevail eventually, but at the moment there's plenty of posturing and uncertainty. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. The state's powerful unions are worried by the possibility that voters will allow public employees to choose how to spend their wages. Jill Gibson Odell, co-sponsor of the right to work proposal.
www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/10/initi...river

Health Care Town Hall October 16, 630-8pm 10301 NE Glisan St.

Folks, please make a note of this important townhall meeting to be held this Wednesday evening regarding the Oregon Health Care Plan hosted by Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer. She will also be joined by Sen. Jackie Dingfelder and Rep. Michael Dembrow. One of the agenda items is to explore a"Single Payer” system (see 3rd paragraph from the end). Is this a nudge or a push? We need to fill this event with conservative minded people that support individual choice and privacy with their healthcare. That don’t want"Navigators” and the IRS in the middle of their personal health matters and finances. Let’s use this opportunity to educate others about the concerns with Obama Care and to glean more information about the Oregon Health Care Plan. Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, Rep. Michael Dembrow and Alissa Keny-Guyer will be joined by Dr. Bruce Goldberg, director of the Oregon Health Authority Director, and David Barenberg from Cover Oregon, Oregon's new Health Insurance Exchange program. Sen. Dingfelder, Rep. Dembrow and I will also mention legislation we have worked on to promote other ways to improve health and health care access, through exploring a SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM, promoting access to healthy food, limiting toxic exposure, and reaching out to under-served populations. Rep. Keny-Guyer is the Vice Chair of the House Health Care Committee, she is delighted to see how these health initiatives are already starting to lower the cost of health care AND improve the health of our citizens.
Please bring your questions and comments and make your voices heard. As always, respectfully and peacefully.
Carla Pletka, President Oregon 912 Project

Gov. Kitzhaber eyes divisive ballot measures

Gov. John Kitzhaber is negotiating to keep two sets of inflammatory initiatives from becoming ballot measures in 2014 so they don’t threaten his plans to reform the state’s tax system in 2015. One set of three initiatives would effectively turn Oregon into a"right to work” state. They would apply only to public employment, but public unions are larger and more well organized in Oregon than private sector unions. The other two would forbid the state from collecting union dues or political donations through members’ paychecks, which would make it hard to collect dues at all. The other set of initiatives would raise taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals. They were all filed by Patrick Green, long-time executive director of Our Oregon, a coalition of left-leaning groups, including nearly all Oregon’s prominent unions.
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20131013/NEWS/310...eck=1

Restricting honest consumers hasn't reduced meth abuse in Oregon!!

It seems that despite the best efforts of Oregon policy makers and law enforcement, methamphetamine (meth) abuse continues to ravage the Beaver State. Recent media coverage, including an Oregonian special report, has unveiled a newer, darker side of the Oregon drug scene: Mexican drug cartels trafficking meth into our state. In the past, they were on the fringe; more meth was produced locally. That has changed. They are now the dominant supplier. And the meth problem has become less predictable, more expensive, harder to spot and generally more violent. The infiltration of drug cartels is the logical outcome of the state's steady decline in local meth production. Since 2005, Oregon, along with surrounding Washington and California, began to see a drastic drop in the number of meth labs busted in the state. The vast majority of Oregon's decline in meth production took place prior to the passage of any prescription law. The fallacy of the Oregon experience has lived on long enough. It is time for policymakers across the country to understand that Oregon's prescription law for pseudoephedrine has failed to achieve its goals. Meanwhile, honest Oregonians who simply want to buy effective cold medicine over the counter have been forced to suffer due to tight restrictions on their personal freedoms.
www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/10/guest...river