Dams and Fish Can Live Together, Thanks to Whooshh
By Rachel Dawson Should we breach Northwest hydropower dams to replenish native fish…
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Are Oregon students looking at distance learning in the fall?
By Helen Doran The president of the National Education Association recently said she…
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Prepare for Portland’s Post-Pandemic Party
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. We’re in the waning days of the pandemic, and…
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Vlad Yurlov, Policy Analyst at Cascade Policy Institute, provided testimony on Portland City Council’s Shelter to Housing Continuum
Via emailMarch 30, 2021 Portland City Council, I’m Vlad Yurlov, policy analyst at…
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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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Beware the Four Day School Week
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. As Oregon students return to the classrooms, watch out…
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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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Design Review Is Growing Portland’s Housing Crisis
Subjective rules reduce the supply of housing By Vlad Yurlov Portland City Council…
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Every Student Deserves Access to a Quality Education
By Helen Doran Every student deserves access to a quality education. Despite the…
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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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Oregon Transportation Policy Needs to Learn from Its Mistakes
The Portland metro region tried everything to reduce automobile reliance. It’s time to…
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Eric Fruits, Vice President of Research of Cascade Policy Institute, submitted testimony regarding SB 223
Via EmailMarch 11, 2021 Senate Committee on Education Oregon State Legislature Re: Opposition…
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Press Release: SB 223 Is an “All-Out Attack” on Private Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 11, 2021 Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Ste….
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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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Hydroelectric power is renewable; it’s time legislators recognize that
By Rachel Dawson Oregon has always been a national leader in providing clean…
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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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To ensure the lights stay on, Oregon needs a robust portfolio of energy resources
By Rachel Dawson Recent freezing temperatures and power outages in both Oregon and…
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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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Portland Is Ill, but Not Dying
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. A recent column published in Forbes has caused quite…
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Reduce Homelessness by Reusing the Expo Center
By Vlad Yurlov Portland values its “green” projects; but local policymakers are attempting…
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Oregon Should Increase Parents’ Education Options to Help Every Child Succeed
By Kathryn Hickok January 24-30 is National School Choice Week, the world’s largest…
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Compensate Families for Schooling During the Shutdown
Repurpose money from the Student Success Act to offset the cost to families…
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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) 242-0900eric@cascadepolicy.org…
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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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Metro needs to break down barriers to nature
By Helen Doran In Metro’s latest quarterly newsletter, “Our Big Backyard,” the reader…
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2021: The Year of Wishful Thinking
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. With the clock ticking down to midnight on December…
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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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The Region’s New Transfer Station Means Frills and Bills
By Vlad Yurlov Would you like to have a nice picnic near a…
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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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Cascade Quarterly Winter 2020
Download full PDF here
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TriMet’s Zombie Light Rail Project
By John A. Charles, Jr. President Trump is not the only one refusing…
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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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Government Should Pay the Price for Locking Down Our Economy
By Vlad Yurlov Oregon’s government is finally feeling the pain of lockdowns. Last…
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Oregon Is Stopping Hospital Construction for Your Own Good
Eliminating Oregon’s Certificate of Need laws would significantly improve health care By Vlad…
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Wind turbines are not a bird’s best friend. Black paint may be able to help.
By Rachel Dawson The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates up to 500,000…
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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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Oregon should be supporting restaurants and bars, not freezing them out.
By Rachel Dawson Governor Kate Brown recently decided to take her Coronavirus “two-week…
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What is Going On? Cases Rise and Oregon Schools Open
By Helen Doran “What is going on?” That’s what many Oregon parents are…
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Dude, where’s my car? New Oregon data shows where electric vehicles are located and where they continue to remain a rarity
By Rachel Dawson Where are all the electric cars in Oregon? If you…
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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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It’s Creepy Season: Metro’s Haunted Lands
By Helen Doran Did you know that more than three-fourths of Metro’s park…
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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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The Boardman Coal Plant Closed. Now What?
By Rachel Dawson On Thursday, October 15, Portland General Electric pulled the plug…
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Cascade Policy Institute Responds to the Early Closure of the Boardman Coal Plant
October 19, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Rachel Dawson (503) 242-0900 rachel@cascadepolicy.org…
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Poll Shows Support for Parents to Use State Education Funding for School Choice
By Kathryn Hickok A RealClear Opinion poll released at the end of September…
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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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I was homeschooled. Here is why I support school choice.
By Helen Doran Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents now find themselves…
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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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Oregon’s NuScale is one step further to providing states with clean, reliable energy
By Rachel Dawson Oregon’s very own NuScale Power, a company developing small-modular nuclear…
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Achieving Equity: Oregon Students Deserve a Money-Back Guarantee
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. On September 21, 2020, Oregon’s Senate heard policy proposals…
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Low-Income Oregonians Need Wheels, Not Another Light Rail Line
By Rachel Dawson Want to help a low-income individual prosper economically? Give them…
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Emancipate the Students
By John A. Charles, Jr. The state legislature is seeking policy proposals for…
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Cascade Quarterly Fall 2020
Download full PDF here
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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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California Blackouts Show the Need for Reliable Hydropower
By Rachel Dawson Recent blackouts in California have demonstrated the need for reliable…
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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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California blackouts serve as a warning to Oregon officials
By Rachel Dawson California’s recent blackouts should serve as a warning to officials…
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The nuclear waste reality that popular media loves to ignore
By Rachel Dawson Did you ever watch the Simpsons and think nuclear waste…
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Oregon Students Deserve Stability
By Helen Doran Oregon guidelines for the 2020 fall semester have been remarkably…
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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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Metro’s Untimely, Nonsensical Light-Rail Project
By John A. Charles, Jr. Last month, the Metro Council voted to send…
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A Money-Back Guarantee for Oregon Students
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Oregon public school students are not likely to return…
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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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School Choice Means Equitable Funding
By Cooper Conway Last week, the United States officially surpassed 4 million documented…
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COVID-19 is limiting classroom access; it’s time to stop limiting Oregon’s online charter school enrollment
By Cooper Conway The Oregon Education Association (OEA) recently penned a letter to legislators urging…
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TriMet’s decreasing ridership makes the SW Corridor project obsolete
By Rachel Dawson TriMet’s weekly system boardings were down 68% in May compared…
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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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Coronavirus Shouldn’t Stop Learning
By Cooper Conway On March 16, Governor Kate Brown directed Oregon schools to…
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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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The Big Jobs Squeeze of 2020
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. This is a terrible time to own and run…
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July Minimum Wage Increase Means Maximum Uncertainty
By Cooper Conway On July 1st, the Portland area’s minimum wage will increase…
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Supreme Court Upholds Parents’ Right to Choose Religious Schools
By Kathryn Hickok The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 30 in Espinoza v….
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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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OLCC Provides a Silver Lining in COVID-19 Recovery
By Vlad Yurlov Alcohol-lovers may have a reason for a toast. Oregon’s Liquor…
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Supporting Students, Not Systems, Is Social Justice
By Cooper Conway George Floyd’s tragic death has led to growing calls for…
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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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