State Legislators Created Their Own Pay Problem
By John A. Charles, Jr. State Representatives Karin Power (Milwaukie), Anna Williams (Hood…
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Portland’s Self-Inflicted Rental Housing Shortage
By Micah Perry According to a revised report from economic consulting firm ECONorthwest,…
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Nostalgia and NIMBYism Stand in the Way of Sheltering the Homeless
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. For more than a year, Cascade Policy Institute has…
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Better Late Than Never at the Expo Center
By Micah Perry For years, Portland residents have dealt with homeless individuals parking…
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Are Taxes Driving People Out of Portland?
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. The Census just released the latest population estimates and,…
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Fossil Fuels Are Not Going Anywhere
By John A. Charles, Jr. Many Oregon politicians have convinced themselves that we…
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Oregon Secretary of State Says No “Clear Purpose” for Mortgage Tax Deduction
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. This time they’re coming for your home. Earlier this…
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Portland’s Parking Price Hike Proves City Council Hates You
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Just five months ago, Portland City Council announced that…
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Legislators Can Work Less Instead of Asking for More Pay
By Micah Perry Everyone loves getting a raise. Our Oregon state legislators are…
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Metro’s Playing Farmville With Taxpayer Money
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. People in the Portland area love their parks and…
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Local governments seeking to ban natural gas are willfully ignoring Oregon voters.
By Rachel Dawson Think the natural gas industry is dying? The latest data…
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Bud Clark Was More Than “Whoop! Whoop!”
He Had the Right Approach on Homelessness By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Fewer than…
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Portlanders are fed up with homelessness, crime, and their elected officials.
By Rachel Dawson A recent poll by the Portland Business Alliance found that…
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Metro’s New Parks Took Too Long, Leave Too Much to Be Desired
By Micah Perry In December 2021, Metro, the Portland-area regional government, opened Newell…
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Don’t own an EV? Too bad. Oregon says you’ll pay for the infrastructure anyway.
By Rachel Dawson With the start of a new year, power customers will…
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Portland’s YOYO Approach to Solving Crime
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Just after dinner on New Year’s Eve, my oldest…
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Homelessness: Outdated Theories Lead to Doomed Policies
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. What if everything we thought we knew about homelessness…
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Fudged Numbers and a Failed Response
By Micah Perry It’s been more than six years since Portland declared a…
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Lincoln County’s Harmful Blame Game
By Micah Perry In a recent November special election, Lincoln County approved a…
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Innovation, not regulation, is the most effective way to control GHG emissions
By Rachel Dawson Governor Kate Brown has joined other state and national representatives…
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A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Shake Up Metro
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. With the retirement of Bob Stacey earlier this month,…
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Portland officials need an attitude adjustment when it comes to violent crimes
By Rachel Dawson Just over a year ago the Portland City Council cut…
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The Real Problem with Metro’s Parks and Nature Spending
By Micah Perry Over the course of more than 25 years, Metro’s parks…
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Save Your Money, Save the State: Keep the Kicker
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. A few months ago, Oregonians learned they will be…
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A Pile-Up in the Rose Quarter
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Apparently, “COVID time” is a real thing. A week…
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A Developer’s Departure Gives Portland a Chance to Reconsider Its Priorities
By Micah Perry At a time when many Portlanders are sleeping on sidewalks,…
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Oregon’s 2021 Energy Regulations Are Already Hurting Consumers
By Rachel Dawson Did you just have an order for a desktop computer…
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Big Questions for Harriet Tubman Middle School Property
By Mia Tiwana Portland’s Harriet Tubman Middle School might be on the move….
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Portland Parks are Wrecked
(Photo is a stock photo.) By Stew Robertson You would think Portland Parks…
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Portland’s Next Step to Thriving Is a Trusted Police Force
By Mia Tiwana If we want to continue seeing downtown Portland improve, maybe…
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Ratepayers are struggling to pay their utility bills and Kate Brown doesn’t care
By Rachel Dawson Oregonians are struggling to pay their utility bills. So then…
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Portland’s Housing Affordability Debacle
By Stew Robertson The City of Portland’s housing state of emergency, first declared…
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When the Police Go Away, The Criminals Will Play
By Mia Tiwana Portland is on its way to having more than three…
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Homelessness Is More Than a Branding Problem
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Portland’s housing crisis is now in its sixth year….
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Portland Cannot Ignore “Low-Impact” Camps
A proposed ordinance aims to deprioritize some homeless camps considered “low impact” By…
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The PERS Crisis at 21: The PERS Board Must Act
By adopting a near-zero assumed rate of return, PERS can become solvent in…
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PDX to Invest $150,000 in Failed Housing Policy
Portland’s policy of Inclusionary Zoning makes housing less affordable for families. By Vlad…
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Zero Out Oregon’s PERS Crisis
By adopting a near-zero assumed rate of return, PERS can become solvent in…
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The Results of the Motel Program for the Homeless
How the Housing First approach keeps failing to support homeless reentry into independent…
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Homeless Programs are Promising Excuses
By Vlad Yurlov The Portland region’s top homelessness officials delivered another set of…
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Oregon Senate Passes Largest School Budget in State History
State spending per student in public school is $2,000 more than average private…
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Portland Street Response: What Are You Waiting For?
By Vlad Yurlov Portland’s Lents neighborhood got a new homeless program in 2021….
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Vlad Yurlov, Policy Analyst at Cascade Policy Institute, testified against funding ineffective homeless services
Chair Kafoury and Commissioners, Over the last year, the Joint Office of Homeless…
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The Era of DIY Government Will Not End Well
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Last week, a Craigslist post brought it home—we’re in…
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Portland’s Homeless Policy Must Switch Gears to Achieve Long-Term Results
Doubling down on failing policy puts both homeless residents and taxpayers at risk…
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Press Release: Re: Metro Council Resolution No. 21-5171
April 29, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.,…
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Testimony Re: Metro Council Resolution No. 21-5171—Multnomah County Local Implementation Plan
Via Email April 29, 2021 Metro Council600 NE Grand Ave.Portland, OR 97232 Re: …
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Press Release: Oregon’s Legislature Seeks to Give up Taxpayer Bargaining Power
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 2, 2021 Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Ste….
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Oregon May Vote to Constantly Increase Infrastructure Spending
Raising prevailing wages would burden taxpayers and marginalize minorities By Vlad Yurlov Bad…
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In Search of an Oregon Drug Policy
By John A. Charles, Jr. Last November, Oregon voters approved three ballot measures…
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Green Shoots of Business Need Room to Blossom
By Vlad Yurlov It’s a bad sign when businesses need to fortify their…
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Price Gouging
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Last week, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s office reached…
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A Vision for Homeless Services: Open Up the Expo Center
By Vlad Yurlov and Eric Fruits, Ph.D. A recent Oregonian/OregonLive editorial criticizes Metro’s…
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Why Is “Affordable Housing” So Expensive?
By Vlad Yurlov Why is “affordable housing” so expensive? Many politicians, bureaucrats, and…
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Oregon Legislators Should Vote Yes on Nuclear Power
By Rachel Dawson Oregon is home to NuScale Power, the nation’s leading small…
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Empower Oregon Families Today by Funding Students, Not Systems
By Kathryn Hickok and Helen Doran Every parent knows a solid education prepares…
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SolarWorld factory closure is the latest among government subsidy mistakes
By Rachel Dawson Should governments use taxpayer dollars to support select companies of…
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Banning Bacon Won’t Heal the Sick
By Vlad Yurlov If you thought hospital food was bland now, get ready…
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Make Oregon the Opportunity State
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Oregonians blame Californians for many of our state’s woes….
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Take Stock, Then Take Action on Portland’s Homeless Crisis
By Vlad Yurlov Since 2015, Portland City Council has declared continuous housing emergencies….
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Press Release: Cascade Policy Institute Offers Straightforward Solutions to Oregon’s Homeless Crisis
January 22, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Eric Fruits, Ph.D.Office: (503) [email protected]…
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Homelessness in the Portland Region
Some straightforward solutions to a complex problem By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. and Vlad…
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Willamette Cove Is the Reset Button Metro Needs
By Helen Doran What does an old industrial site from World War II…
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Why are we still paying a “temporary” energy tax 19 years later?
By John A. Chalres. Jr. Every month when you pay your electricity bill,…
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Portland’s toxic taxes will do little for clean air
By Rachel Dawson In the middle of a worldwide pandemic that has decimated…
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Oregon’s new cigarette taxes will hurt, not help, low-income residents
By Rachel Dawson Oregon couldn’t let a new year commence without the rollout…
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Employers Are Left With the Bill After Lockdowns
By Vlad Yurlov When businesses fail, they shut down. But when the government…
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Portland Has Highest Income Taxes in the U.S.: Are We Getting Our Money’s Worth?
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. This year, Oregon passed a major milestone. In 2020,…
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Where Can the Homeless Go? Portland Still Doesn’t Know
Shelter space can be used effectively by tracking and reporting vacancies By Vlad…
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Oregon ratepayers need relief. Ending the Public Purpose Charge can help.
By Rachel Dawson As government-imposed shutdowns continue, more Oregonians are struggling to pay…
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Who Will Pay the Bills When the Pandemic Ends?
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. This week, the U.K. became the first western nation…
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Oregon Legislators should throw restaurants and bars a lifeline by legalizing “cocktails to-go”
By Rachel Dawson Do you want to enjoy a drink but don’t feel…
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Comments on the Elliott State Research Forest proposal
John A. Charles, Jr.President & CEOCascade Policy InstituteNovember 29, 2020 Below is a…
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Electricity Ratepayers Need Tax Relief Now
December 3, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts:John A. Charles, Jr.Office: (503) 242-0900Mobile:…
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Oregon’s “Public Purpose” Energy Tax: Mission Accomplished, or Mission Creep?
By John A Charles, Jr. and Rachel Dawson EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Oregon Public…
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Winter Is Coming, the Homeless Need Shelter, and the Expo Center Has the Space
By Eric Fruits. Ph.D. Winter is coming to Oregon, and it might be…
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Oregon’s New Drug Law Contains a Lethal Dose of Unaccountability
Voters approve Measure 110, decriminalizing drugs while creating an unaccountable bureaucracy By Eric…
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Avoidable Expenses for Affordable Housing
By Vlad Yurlov While many people in the Portland region value efficient governments,…
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$7 Billion for That?
Metro’s Transportation Tax Will Overspend on Underused Projects By Rachel Dawson and Vlad…
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Press Release: METRO GOVERNMENT’S INAPPROPRIATE USE OF TAX DOLLARS TO PROMOTE NEW PAYROLL TAX TO VOTERS
Cascade Policy Institute urges Metro Auditor and the Oregon Secretary of State to…
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Government Alone Can’t Solve Homelessness
By Vlad Yurlov On October 2, Helping Hands unveiled its latest transitional housing…
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Press Release: Eric Fruits, Vice President of Research at Cascade Policy Institute, urges Metro Council to reject Ordinance 20-1449
October 4, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Eric Fruits, Ph.D. (503) 242-0900…
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Metro: Deep in Debt and Getting Deeper
The regional government plans to borrow money to implement its new income taxes…
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Metro’s Mission Creep
By Vlad Yurlov Metro is expected to spend over $1.4 billion this fiscal…
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Pinocchio Politics on the November Ballot
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. President Trump is frequently accused of lying. But he…
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Metro Pushes Transportation Bond While Acknowledging Serious Problems
Oregon’s Business Community Is Challenging the $7.8 Billion Measure By Vlad Yurlov After…
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Higher Taxes, Less Business
By Cooper Conway Joe Rogan, the outspoken commenter, comedian, and host, announced on…
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Portland Politicians Suffer From the Edifice Complex
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. On July 24th, the New York Times ran a…
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Metro’s Broken Promise of Racial Equity
By Helen Doran A scenic drive through the country does not usually call…
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Regulating Third Party Food Delivery Services is Hurting, Not Helping, Portlanders
By Rachel Dawson Based on the passage of a 10% cap on commission…
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Energy Reform Is Needed to Combat Rising Energy Bills in Oregon
By Rachel Dawson After 42 years, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)…
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Metro’s Transportation Package: Progressive Politics Mask Regressive Tax
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. While much of the region is stuck at home…
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Metro’s $700,000 Sentiment
By Helen Cook On June 25th, Metro approved $700,000 in taxpayer money for…
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You can count on the “Every Mile Counts” plan to make life costlier for Oregonians
By Rachel Dawson Governor Kate Brown took carbon policy into her own hands…
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The Era of Permanent Prosperity Is Over: It’s Time for a Serious Budget Discussion
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. The 2020 we’re living in is very different from…
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The hidden truth behind the Renewable Energy Certificate market
By Rachel Dawson You may have noticed companies and public agencies using the…
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Metro has a history of breaking promises to voters. The housing bond measure is no exception.
By Rachel Dawson Metro has a history of breaking promises to voters. This…
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COVID-19 Is Killing the Economy; New Business Taxes Are Bayonetting the Wounded
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Many Oregon businesses are looking forward toward May 15….
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COVID-19 and New Business Taxes: Bayonetting the Wounded
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Many Oregon businesses are looking forward toward May 15….
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Metro’s Housing Measure: Bad Policy, Terrible Timing
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Does Metro’s appetite for more money ever end? Last…
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