Give Oregon Kids the Power of Educational Choice, Like Kids in Florida
By Kathryn Hickok Denisha Merriweather failed third grade twice. Today, she is finishing…
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Taxpayers Aren’t at Fault for Oregon’s Abysmal Graduation Rate
By Kathryn Hickok Willamette Week recently reported that, sadly, Oregon has the third-lowest…
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Don’t Allow the Skimming of Medicaid Funds for Unions
By Aaron Withe and Steve Buckstein Each year, hundreds of millions of dollars…
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Winning Is Not the Only Thing That Matters
By John A. Charles, Jr. Last Friday the Republican-controlled Senate passed a 479-page…
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Oregon Ranks 8th Worst in Regulatory Burden on Lower-Income Occupations
By Kathryn Hickok Oregon ranks 8th in the nation in “burdensome” occupational licensing laws,…
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Straightforward policy reforms can reverse Oregon’s lower-than-average incomes and high cost of living
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Oregon’s economy seems to be chugging along, yet many…
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This Thanksgiving, Are You Part of the One Percent?
By Steve Buckstein You may not have learned this in school, but prior…
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Vote NO on Health Care Tax Measure 101
By Steve Buckstein Oregonians will have the opportunity in January to vote No…
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Tolling People on to Portland’s Highways
By John A. Charles, Jr. Earlier this year the state legislature passed a…
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Military Families Want Flexible Education Options for Their Kids
By Kathryn Hickok EdChoice recently conducted a groundbreaking survey of military-connected families seeking…
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Kate Brown’s Attention Deficit Disorder
By John A. Charles, Jr. The most serious problem facing Oregon right now…
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Oregon’s affordable housing crisis can be attributed to restrictive land use policies
By Lydia White Affordable housing advocates are quick to criticize Portland City Council’s…
Read Blog DetailWin $15,000 for a video telling your school choice story
Choices in Ed Video Competition Entry Deadline is December 1, 2017 Dear School…
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Metro’s New Plan to Keep Voters out of Chehalem Ridge Nature Park
By John A. Charles, Jr. On October 19 the Metro Council adopted an…
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Why Protesters of Betsy DeVos Can’t Understand What She’s Talking About
By Steve Buckstein What would you do if you read an article about…
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Choice Thinking: Why does the public ignore, distort or reject school choice facts and arguments?
by Richard Meinhard, Ph.D. and Steve Buckstein September 10, 2001 (contact information updated…
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When Is a Health Care Tax Not a Tax?
By Steve Buckstein Oregon state legislators who voted for you to pay higher…
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“Shuffling” Is for Playing Cards, Not School Kids
By Kathryn Hickok Portland Public Schools is redrawing the boundaries of more than…
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Timber Conservation and Oregon’s Constitution Shouldn’t Be at Odds
By Lydia White Last week the Idaho Department of State Lands and the…
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Too Late to Fix PERS by Fooling Oregonians
By Scott Shepard Governor Kate Brown’s task force, assigned to find ways to…
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On 25th Anniversary, Charter Schools Have Much to Celebrate
By Kathryn Hickok America’s charter school movement celebrates its 25th anniversary this month….
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Health Care Tax Would Hurt Middle Class
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Many Oregonians are now spending as much on health…
Read Blog DetailYou Can Stop New Health Care Taxes
By Steve Buckstein The Oregon Health Authority has finally removed nearly 55,000 people…
Read Blog DetailGovernor Brown Wants Oregonians to “Take One for the Global Team” over CO2
By John A. Charles, Jr. Oregon Governor Kate Brown has announced her intention…
Read Blog DetailWhose Money Is Your Oregon Kicker Refund?
By Steve Buckstein and Kathryn Hickok State economists have confirmed that individual Oregon…
Read Blog Detail“Worker’s Choice” Would End the Unions’ “Forced-Rider” Problem
By Kathryn Hickok and Steve Buckstein This is National Employee Freedom Week (August…
Read Blog DetailTime to Stop Forcing Union Membership
By Steve Buckstein and Kathryn Hickok This week (August 20-26) is National Employee…
Read Blog DetailThe Right to Choose or Reject Union Representation Respects Workers
By Kathryn Hickok Why do many workers choose to opt out of union…
Read Blog DetailOregon Takes a Big Step to Battle Opioid Overdoses
By Steve Buckstein For a variety of reasons, many Americans are becoming addicted to…
Read Blog DetailPortland’s latest attempt to centrally plan transportation patterns is backfiring
By Jessica Miller Portland has a longstanding history of attempting to socially engineer…
Read Blog DetailCascade Policy Institute Endorses Referendum 301 to Stop New Health Care Taxes on Oregonians
August 2, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Steve Buckstein (503) 242-0900 [email protected]…
Read Blog DetailOregon’s New Health Care Taxes Are Unjustifiable
By Lydia White Soon after the Oregon Legislature passed a bill expected to generate $550…
Read Blog DetailLet Parents Wield School Spending Power
By Kathryn Hickok Are we missing the trees for the forest in Oregon…
Read Blog DetailMoving Beyond Symbolism
By John A. Charles, Jr. Last week Governor Kate Brown gave a speech…
Read Blog DetailOregon’s new minimum wage law will hurt the people it aims to help
By Lydia White Just prior to Oregon’s July 1 minimum wage* increase from…
Read Blog DetailStop Health Care Taxes dot com
By Steve Buckstein The Oregon legislature just passed, and the Governor signed, a…
Read Blog DetailFloor Memo Regarding Bond Funding for the Elliott State Forest
TO: Members of the Oregon Legislature FM: John Charles for Cascade Policy Institute…
Read Blog DetailWhen Government Gets It Backwards, Reread Jefferson
By Steve Buckstein Two hundred and forty-one years ago this July 4, the…
Read Blog DetailAre Smartphones in Class a Problem or an Opportunity?
By Steve Buckstein To hear some teachers talk, you would think before smartphones…
Read Blog DetailCritiquing Minimum Wage Laws Is About Protecting the Working Man (or Woman)
By Lydia White A team of researchers from the University of Washington produced…
Read Blog DetailTrump’s apprenticeship message to young adults: “There is dignity in every honest job”
By Kathryn Hickok President Donald Trump stressed the dignity of work in a…
Read Blog DetailFreedom in Film: Shane (1953)
By Kathryn Hickok “That’s the trouble with this country. There ain’t a marshal…
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Transportation Finance Isn’t as Complicated as Legislators Make It
By John A. Charles, Jr. Some members of the Oregon Legislature think you…
Read Blog DetailWho says Oregon pays public school teachers more than other states? The National Education Association, that’s who!
By Steve Buckstein As Oregon legislators wrestle with how much money to spend…
Read Blog DetailTestimony in Favor of SB 437 – The Educational Opportunity Act: “The Power of Choice”
By Kathryn Hickok Director, Children’s Scholarship Fund-Oregon Dear Chairman Roblan and Members of…
Read Blog DetailEducation Savings Account Informational Hearing Testimony in Favor of SB 437
Before the Senate Education Committee By Steve Buckstein Cascade Policy Institute Chair Roblan…
Read Blog DetailThe Paris Agreement Was Symbolism over Substance, Leaving Was the Right Call
By John A. Charles, Jr. President Trump made the right call last Thursday…
Read Blog DetailTestimony on SB 847 Regarding Management of Common School Trust Lands
Testimony of John A. Charles, Jr. President and CEO, Cascade Policy Institute Regarding…
Read Blog DetailTestimony in Opposition to HB 2720 A Regarding Virtual Charter Schools
By Steve Buckstein Co-Chairs Monroe and Smith Warner and members of the Joint…
Read Blog DetailStatement regarding President Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris accord on climate change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: John A. Charles, Jr. (503) 242-0900 PORTLAND, Ore….
Read Blog DetailThe Case of the Missing Transit Money
By John A. Charles, Jr. Last week the TriMet Board adopted a budget…
Read Blog DetailOregon Legislature Should Give Kids a “Ticket to the Future” Today
By Kathryn Hickok and Steve Buckstein Derrell Bradford has spent his adult life…
Read Blog DetailWho says Oregon spends $13,230 per public school student? The National Education Association, that’s who!
By Steve Buckstein Ever since Oregon’s property tax limitation Measure 5 shifted the…
Read Blog DetailKicker Envy 2017
By Steve Buckstein Individual Oregon income taxpayers may receive kicker refunds when they…
Read Blog DetailOvertaxed and Underbuilt
By John A. Charles, Jr. An Oregon Legislative committee is proposing a massive…
Read Blog DetailPresident Trump’s Environmental Agenda: An Insider’s Perspective
Cascade Policy Institute Hosts Lunch with Special Guest Speaker Myron Ebell President Trump’s…
Read Blog DetailEducation Savings Accounts Treat Kids Like the Individuals They Are
By Kathryn Hickok Six years ago, Arizona became the first state to pass…
Read Blog DetailTestimony Before the Oregon State Land Board Regarding the Potential Sale of the Elliott State Forest
By John A. Charles. Jr. The decision before you today is simply one…
Read Blog DetailOregon Land Board Should Take the Deal
By Lydia White At a time when Legislators threaten to slash government services…
Read Blog DetailChallenges to Free Expression and Academic Integrity on Campus
Join Cascade Policy Institute for an evening with special guest Dr. Jacqueline Pfeffer Merril,…
Read Blog DetailEducation Savings Accounts: Review and Evaluation of a Universal ESA in Oregon
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Education Savings Accounts deposit a percentage of…
Read Blog DetailOregon Politicians Support Better Roads, Just Not Here
By John A. Charles, Jr. Recently the Oregon Legislature held a hearing on…
Read Blog DetailThe Greatest Challenge to Traffic Safety? It’s Not Residential Speed Limits
By John A. Charles, Jr. Earlier this week the Oregon House of Representatives…
Read Blog DetailOregon Legislature Should Make It Easier for Individuals to Enter the Landscaping Business
Below is a letter being distributed to all members of the Oregon House…
Read Blog DetailProposed Oregon ESA Law Would Offer Students Choices While Breaking Even for Public Schools
By Steve Buckstein Senate Bill 437, under consideration this legislative session, would offer…
Read Blog DetailEducation Savings Accounts Can Help Students Without Hurting Public Schools
By Steve Buckstein School choice programs allow students to choose schools or other…
Read Blog DetailNew Report Analyzes Fiscal Impact of Proposed Oregon Educational Opportunity Act
— Education Savings Account (ESA) program awaits Senate action April 13, 2017 Media…
Read Blog DetailArizona’s Universal Education Savings Account Law: A “Breakthrough” in Education Financing for Students Today
By Kathryn Hickok Six years ago, Arizona became the first state to pass…
Read Blog DetailTestimony Regarding Senate Bills 432, 602, 608, 612 and 618
Testimony of John A. Charles, Jr. President & CEO, Cascade Policy Institute Regarding…
Read Blog DetailTestimony Regarding Senate Bills 432, 602, 608, 612 and 618
Testimony of John A. Charles, Jr. President & CEO, Cascade Policy Institute Regarding…
Read Blog DetailEducational Choice: An Economic Development Catalyst for Urban Neighborhoods
By Kathryn Hickok A case study on urban renewal suggests that private and…
Read Blog DetailTestimony Before the Senate Business and Transportation Committee in Support of SB 656, SB 657, and SB 659
Testimony of John A. Charles, Jr. President & CEO, Cascade Policy Institute Before…
Read Blog DetailSelling Bonds to Buy the Elliott State Forest Would Be a Breach of Fiduciary Trust
By John A. Charles, Jr. State Treasurer Tobias Read has announced that he…
Read Blog DetailHow Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning Policy Makes Development Less Affordable
By Lydia White The City of Portland’s inclusionary zoning* requirements have turned a…
Read Blog DetailLet’s Build Some Highways
By John A. Charles, Jr. Oregon stopped building new highways in 1983 when…
Read Blog DetailIt’s Finally Time to Sell the Elliott State Forest
By John A. Charles, Jr. At the February 14 meeting of the State…
Read Blog DetailNow Is the Time: Oregon’s Educational Opportunity Act, The Power of Choice
By Steve Buckstein Oregon now has the chance to become an early adopter…
Read Blog DetailTestimony Before the House Committee on Health Care in Support of HB 2128
To: Chairman Greenlick and members of the House Committee on Health Care From:…
Read Blog DetailTestimony Before the House Committee on Revenue in Opposition to Tobacco and Inhalant Nicotine Tax Bills
To: Chair Barnhart and members of the House Committee on Revenue From: Steve…
Read Blog DetailThe Road to Success Travels Through 3rd Grade Reading
By Kathryn Hickok Denisha Merriweather failed third grade twice. Today, she is finishing…
Read Blog DetailOregon Taxpayers, Not Riders, Pay Most Costs of Public Transit Operations
By John A. Charles, Jr. In a recent interview with the Portland Business…
Read Blog DetailHow Legislators Can Balance Oregon’s Budget—Without Raising Taxes
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Despite an eight percent increase in general fund revenues,…
Read Blog Detail75th Anniversary of Roosevelt Order a Sober Reminder to Defend Constitutional Liberties
By Lydia White On Monday, government offices were closed in honor of Presidents’…
Read Blog DetailLand Board Votes to Sell Elliott State Forest
By John A. Charles, Jr. On February 14 the Oregon State Land Board…
Read Blog DetailCar Ownership Is Not a Crime
By John A. Charles, Jr. A bill has been introduced in the state…
Read Blog DetailParental Choice Champion Betsy DeVos Confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Education
By Steve Buckstein Opponents of Betsy DeVos tried everything they could to keep…
Read Blog DetailPolicy Picnic – February 23, 2017
Please join us for our monthly Policy Picnic led by Cascade Policy Institute’s Research Associate Lydia…
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Facing Reality – Suggestions to balance Oregon’s budget without raising taxes
Contributors: Jeff Kropf; Steve Buckstein, Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Summary Despite an eight percent…
Read Blog Detail“Facing Reality” Report Offers Solutions to Governor Brown’s $1.7 Billion Budget Hole Without Raising Taxes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Steve Buckstein (503) 242-0900 Jeff Kropf (541) 729-6229…
Read Blog DetailRenewable Energy Certificates Don’t Turn on Your Lights
By Allison Coleman Over the past two decades there has been a large…
Read Blog DetailOregon Leaders Must Reject ACA’s Medicaid Expansion
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Despite an eight percent increase in general fund revenues,…
Read Blog DetailThe Past, Present, and Future of School Choice in Oregon
By Steve Buckstein The vast majority of Oregonians attended public schools assigned to…
Read Blog DetailAn Oregon Education Solution Whose Time Has Come
By Kathryn Hickok Derrell Bradford has spent his adult life passionately advocating for…
Read Blog DetailAn Oregon Education Solution Whose Time Has Come
By Kathryn Hickok Derrell Bradford has spent his adult life passionately advocating for…
Read Blog DetailLimiting Government: A Goal That’s Always Worthwhile
By Lydia White As inauguration weekend unfolded, Republicans cheered with a gasp of…
Read Blog DetailThe Oregon Education Solution Whose Time Has Come
By Kathryn Hickok Next week is National School Choice Week, the world’s largest…
Read Blog DetailSurprise! Renewable Energy Mandates Are Actually Fossil Fuel Mandates
By John A. Charles, Jr. and Lydia White The Sierra Club and other…
Read Blog DetailCascade Policy Institute Welcomes Oregon’s 2012 “Mother of the Year” to Celebrate National School Choice Week 2017
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Steve Buckstein 503-242-0900 [email protected] Portland, Oregon to play…
Read Blog DetailKate Brown’s Math Problem
By John A. Charles, Jr. For the past 18 months, the Oregon Land…
Read Blog DetailBad Consequences of Public Policies Aren’t Really “Unintended,” Just “Unacknowledged”
By Steve Buckstein Decades of research and experience tell us that raising the…
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