The separation of powers in our Constitution is very clear!!

Back in 2009 (when the democrats had super majorities) we created the Oregon Health Authority as a new state agency. We also ceded to them a lot of the authority that historically belonged to the legislative branch. Along with that we created the insurance exchange (Cover Oregon) as a public corporation, which put them outside the control of the legislature. I think we are headed for a massive train wreck and it may be by design. The reason I say this is because our Governor, and many members in the legislature truly want the complete government takeover of the health care system and this may be the way to accomplish that. I will go into more details during the February Session on this issue. I will close this with a request. I know there are many people who are fed up with government. I know there are also many people to whom one particular issue is the most important to them. What I am asking is twofold. First, stay engaged. It is more important now than at any time I can remember for the people to hold politicians accountable. Secondly, expand your interest beyond your singularly most important issue. I still believe you can do a better job of running your life than the government can, and we are losing these essential freedoms.

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

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

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

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

A Graphic View of Poverty in Oregon!

Poverty continues to engulf too many Oregonians, and the latest data show things aren't getting any better. The Great Recession officially ended in June of 2009. Unfortunately, after more than two years of anemic economic recovery, poverty in Oregon was still worse in 2012 than at the depth of that recession. -OCPP Oreon Center for Public Policy because Facts Matter!
Last Friday Wall Street Journal editor James Taranto tackled head on several of the feminist 'myths' about children and poverty. Pointing out how children in the care of their fathers are less likely to end up on welfare roles.
Nearly 100 years ago in correspondence to friends Albert Einstein complained of being alienated from his children by his estranged wife. Kids need both parents; past, present and future.
www.ocpp.org/2013/09/19/graphic-view-poverty-orego...regon

How Can Oregon Reduce Public Assistance Fraud?

How can Oregon reduce public assistance fraud? That's the question an interim legislative work group is tackling after a May audit from the Secretary of State's office found that hundreds of Oregonians who were deceased, incarcerated, or won the lottery benefited from one of three public assistance programs intended for low-income individuals. "Part of it is privacy," Tomei said. "The other part of it is that you can't single out somebody who is using a Trail card. You can't treat them any differently than somebody using a credit card."
By Yuxing Zheng, The Oregonian updated August 22, 2013

How can Oregon reduce public assistance fraud?

That's the question an interim legislative work group is tackling after a May audit from the Secretary of State's office found that hundreds of Oregonians who were deceased, incarcerated, or won the lottery benefited from one of three public assistance programs intended for low-income individuals. "Part of it is privacy," Tomei said. "The other part of it is that you can't single out somebody who is using a Trail card. You can't treat them any differently than somebody using a credit card."
By Yuxing Zheng, The Oregonian updated August 22, 2013
www.oregonlive.com/politics