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