Can-do unions compete to reduce cost of government
Union workers in Patient Business Services at Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU)…
Read Blog DetailYear: 2003
Do you believe in Santa Claus?
Do you believe in Santa Claus? By the time most of us stop…
Read Blog DetailHalfway There: Measure 5 and the Road Ahead
Preface Watershed events often become dividing lines in history. Twenty-five years ago, Californians…
Read Blog DetailODOT embraces congestion
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) just announced its intention to increase traffic…
Read Blog DetailTo build a greater sense of community
Until the February 3, 2004 vote on recalling the legislature’s $1 billion tax…
Read Blog DetailImproving Public Schools Requires Changing the System
Despite reform efforts, school performance is improving slowly, if at all, and continues…
Read Blog DetailCan you hear us now?
As Yogi Bera said, “this is like deja vu all over again.” Last…
Read Blog DetailAttorney General begs for more federal regulation
On October 23 the Attorneys General for 12 states, including Oregon, joined with…
Read Blog DetailDoctors cut prices!
A movement is afoot that is driving health care costs down. Among the…
Read Blog DetailEminent domain can’t pay for memories
At 70-years old, Bob Lowery isn’t anxious to sell the home he and…
Read Blog DetailOregon’s hunger ranking: Much ado about nothing
Oregon can no longer claim the dubious honor of being the “hungriest state…
Read Blog DetailWhy are health care costs going down?
People are becoming smart shoppers when it comes to health care. That’s helping…
Read Blog DetailWho’s responsible for your children’s education?
Who is responsible for your children’s education? One hundred fifty years ago the…
Read Blog DetailThe gridlocking of Portland
Last week the Texas Transportation Institute released its annual congestion rankings, and named…
Read Blog DetailDo I hear $75,000? $65,000 plus benefits?
Competitive bidding has been successfully employed around the world to help reduce the…
Read Blog DetailHow unfriendly to small business can Oregon get?
The Small Business Survival Committee just released its 2003 Small Business Survival Index,…
Read Blog DetailCheck your wallets
During the 2003 session of the Oregon legislature, TriMet submitted legislation authorizing the…
Read Blog DetailThe Mythical World of Transit-Oriented Development: Steele Park in Washington County, Oregon
Introduction During the past decade, Portland-area planners have embraced Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) as…
Read Blog DetailA fine-tooth budgetary comb
On September 9, Alabama voters rejected a $1.2 billion tax increase. Some 67…
Read Blog DetailFreedom to trade promotes peace
When goods don’t cross borders, armies will, warned 18th Century French statesman Frederic…
Read Blog DetailIs Oregon Really the Hungriest State in the Nation?
If numbers don’t lie, Marie and her two little boys should be going…
Read Blog DetailTakin’ it to the streets — again
What do you think about the recent politician-approved three-year “temporary” state income tax…
Read Blog DetailStop the highway slaughter
The tragic deaths of eight young firefighters this week on Highway 20 near…
Read Blog DetailRegulation leads to blackouts
Advocates of government regulation are crowing over last Thursday’s biggest-ever electricity blackout in…
Read Blog DetailOregon spendaholics must learn fiscal responsibility
The Statesman Journal has a counter on its website tallying the taxpayer burden…
Read Blog DetailPERS reforms are not "forcing" people out
The mass exodus of Oregon public employees—due to pending changes in the Public…
Read Blog DetailPeaceful revolution and recalling politicians
John F. Kennedy once remarked, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make…
Read Blog DetailNow Playing: Tax to the Future
Why should doing something that is legal today land you in jail tomorrow?…
Read Blog DetailAn alternative to tuition increases
The Oregon Board of Higher Education approved a change that allows state universities…
Read Blog DetailLincoln County schools clean up
Salem-Keizer School District board members just learned that they could have reduced expenses…
Read Blog DetailEuphemisms and American Revolutions
Former Oregon Gov. Vic Atiyeh just testified in Salem about fixing the state’s…
Read Blog DetailA qualified teacher in every classroom
A June 22 Oregonian story reported that a significant number of Oregon middle…
Read Blog DetailOregon’s Animal Farm
The legislature and governor have signed off on reforms to Oregon’s extravagent Public…
Read Blog DetailMetro Brew: More pork, less mobility
On June 12 a powerful Metro committee, JPACT, will decide how to spend…
Read Blog DetailRoughing the kicker
A move is afoot in the Oregon legislature to increase taxes by watering…
Read Blog DetailProductivity and benefits: The missing education links
A recent document from the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) trumpets that…
Read Blog DetailPass a tax, reject an opportunity
Multnomah County voters just approved Oregon’s only local income tax, primarily to help…
Read Blog DetailAnother wild pitch: Sports teams and economic development
Proponents of a taxpayer-supported baseball stadium in Portland argue it and a team…
Read Blog DetailBusiness collects taxes, but doesn’t pay them
As Multnomah County voters make up their minds about the new county income…
Read Blog DetailZoning: It’s all about power
Wilsonville Mayor Charlotte Lehan and Metro President David Bragdon are both complaining. Why?…
Read Blog DetailBe aware of choices during Hunger Awareness Week
According to a United States Department of Agriculture survey, Oregon is the hungriest…
Read Blog DetailThe Mythical World of Transit-Oriented Development: Light Rail and the Orenco Neighborhood, Hillsboro, Oregon
Executive Summary During the past decade, Portland-area planners have embraced Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)…
Read Blog DetailEducation freedom advances
The Oregon State Senate recently advanced education freedom by eliminating mandatory testing of…
Read Blog DetailShow us the leadership
With April Fool’s Day just passed, Governor Kulongoski is poised to break his…
Read Blog DetailBusiness of the City
The Mayor of Oregon’s largest city delivered her annual State of the City…
Read Blog DetailGreat selection, low price; why discriminate against large stores?
The Sandy, Oregon, Planning Commission held a hearing last week on a proposal…
Read Blog DetailSell government assets for a "win/win" situation
Some assumptions concerning public policy are false. “If government doesn’t do it, nobody…
Read Blog DetailLegislature should reject TriMet tax request
TriMet, Portland’s transit agency, is seeking authorization from the state legislature to raise…
Read Blog DetailRemove mandates and health insurance will be more affordable
More Oregonians should be able to afford health insurance. To help achieve that…
Read Blog DetailDon’t follow Portland school district’s lead
The recent deal between the city, county and school district and teachers’ union…
Read Blog DetailNo plan(ners) required
A Portland newspaper editor recently implored in print, “We need a plan, people,…
Read Blog DetailDon’t adopt the "Daughter of 28"
Close on the heels of Measure 28’s failure Portland and Multnomah County officials…
Read Blog DetailPaving the rails with gold
Since the voter defeat of Measure 28, public officials in the Portland region…
Read Blog DetailNew approach to education can reduce achievement gap
Oregon education officials recently revealed what many have long known – the public…
Read Blog DetailThe fatal conceit of selective tax breaks
Oregon legislators are eager to review existing tax breaks. The thinking is, some…
Read Blog DetailKitzhaber doubts power of government?
After holding various political offices for 22 years, former Governor John Kitzhaber recently…
Read Blog DetailMeasure 28: No cure for Oregon’s ailing economy
Many proponents of Measure 28 advocate it as the key to bolstering Oregon’s…
Read Blog DetailFor a better road system: electronic tolling
The Oregon Road User Fee Task Force recently became the object of scorn…
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