Steve Buckstein

Steve Buckstein helped found Cascade Policy Institute in January, 1991 and served as its president until 2004. As Senior Policy Analyst, he writes and speaks both in Oregon and nationally on several policy areas, including tax and budget issues, health care reform, education reform and Social Security reform. Prior to founding Cascade, Steve coordinated the 1990 general election campaign for a citizens’ initiative which would have provided educational tax credits to every student in Oregon so they could choose public, private, religious or home schooling. Steve served on the board of Oregonians for Cost-Effective Government in 1987 and 1988 and was a 1988 candidate for Oregon State Treasurer. In 2007 Governor Ted Kulongoski appointed Steve to the Task Force on Comprehensive Revenue Restructuring where he represented taxpayers. In 2012 Secretary of State Kate Brown appointed Steve, as an opponent of Ballot Measure 85, to the Explanatory Statement Committee charged with writing an impartial explanation of the measure for the Voters' Pamphlet. The measure ultimately passed. Steve was an investment broker in Portland for 20 years prior to founding Cascade. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics and his Master’s of Business Administration from Oregon State University. On his Facebook page Steve lists his favorite quotation, which may help explain much of what goes on in governmental bodies at all levels: "A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business." — Eric Hoffer, "The True Believer", 1951