After months of speculation and predictions, it appears, according to multiple sources, that former Governor John Kitzhaber (D), creator of the Oregon Health Plan, will run for a third-term as Oregon governor in 2010 (The Constitution bars anyone from running for more than two CONSECUTIVE terms, legendary governor Tom McCall (R) tried to run for a third-term in a similar fashion but lost the 1978 Republican primary to future Governor Vic Atiyeh (the last Republican to hold the office).
Needless to say, this announcement has fundamentally changed the race for Oregon governor and instantly upped the ante. My analysis is below.
When I try to describe these events to friends or family members who don't live here, they invariably stare uncomprehendingly at me as if I had lapsed into a discourse in the Klingon tongue. But in fairness, back in the day when Portlandia herself lived 2700 miles east and southeast of here, she would never have imagined that she could be roped into participating in such an event, much less that she would eagerly look forward to it year after year. There is definitely something special going on.
Hood to Coast (H2C) is the world's largest relay, 197 miles in total. Teams of 12 runners follow a somewhat indirect route from Timberline Lodge to the beach at Seaside. Portland to Coast (P2C) is a walking relay, for teams of 8 or 12, that joins the H2C route in downtown Portland and shares the last 127 miles along the course to the Seaside finish line.
Running culture is strong in Oregon for sure. The legendary U of O track coach Bill Bowerman was a co-founder of Nike and the inventor of (or at least coiner of the term) "jogging." Portland is the athletic footwear capital of the United States. The Portland Marathon is recognized nationally as one of the best organized in the country. Running clubs are everywhere. H2C is one singular but not surprising element of this culture.
But what of P2C? WALKING?! What could possess thousands of walkers to spend 30+ hours on the course every year? Why will even an overweight, indolent middle-aged woman like Portlandia, and her eleven not-spectacularly-athletic female teammates on Team "Put A Cork In It!", pack up and board vans early Friday morning and head out to challenge ourselves again, facing a forecast showing a continuous chance of rain?
Oregonians are rightfully celebrating the legislature’s recent decision to protect one of our natural treasures – the unspoiled lands along the Metolius River. Meanwhile, just 100 miles to the south, on the doorstep of the crown jewel of Oregon, a Bush-era logging plan is threatening to destroy thousands of acres of pristine forests and recreation areas. Despite President Obama’s much more environmentally-friendly attitude, and what ought to be the greenest Congress in decades, a logging project targeting roadless wildlands on the doorsteps of Crater Lake National Park continues to roll forward. Oregon’s leaders need to start paying attention, step up, and do what they can to stop it. A few have, but others are notable by their silence.
The D-Bug Timber Sale is about as ugly as its name. The project area extends north from the border of Crater Lake National Park, extending 10 miles beyond Diamond Lake. East to west, it stretches from the edges of the Mt. Thielsen Wilderness to the backcountry around Mount Bailey. This one timber sale includes more logging in roadless areas than occurred across the entire country during the entire Bush administration. Adding insult to injury, it proposes to turn miles of hiking trails in the Cascade Recreation Area into logging roads, and the Umpqua National Forest is diverting federal stimulus dollars to help pay for it.
Oregon Wild strongly supports common-sense projects that appropriately address legitimate threats to health and human property, and a tiny portion of DBug does that. Thinning around Diamond Lake to protect cabins and structures makes sense. However, large-scale commercial logging in some of Oregon’s most pristine backcountry recreation areas does not.
Got a nail? I’ve got a hammer. Trying to find the right tool to stop reckless developments near the Metolius was tricky. This shouldn’t be a problem with DBug. In 2001, then-President Bill Clinton enacted the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation rule, instructing the Forest Service that America’s remaining roadless wildlands should stay that way. Under the roadless rule, hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, rafting etc… are encouraged in our remaining roadless areas, as are projects to improve wildlife habitat and address legitimate fire risks. However, these areas were put off-limits to commercial logging, mining, and other destructive development.
Unfortunately, the Bush administration spent 8 years trying to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule, despite the enormous support it enjoys from businesses in the outdoor recreation industry, scientists, conservationists, sportsmen, economists, religious leaders, and elected leaders across the country. Here in Oregon this year, the Rule has received support from Governor Kulongoski, former (and perhaps future) Governor Kitzhaber, Bill Bradbury, Les AuCoin, John Kroger, and many, many more.
Forest Follies As with so many other issues, when it came to roadless policy, the administration inherited a mess. During the campaign, President Obama said he would “be proud to support and defend [the Rule]”. On May 28th, he took a major step by issuing an interim directive providing the Secretary of Agriculture final decision-making authority over all roadless projects. The goal of the directive was to “provide consistency and clarity that will help our National Forests until a long-term roadless policy reflecting President Obama’s commitment is developed”. Many cheered the news and dubbed it a “roadless timeout”.
This was wishful thinking. Just last week, the Secretary approved a 381-acre roadless clearcut in America’s largest rainforest. Unfortunately, perhaps emboldened by mixed signals from the administration, Umpqua National Forest Manager Clifford Dils isn’t taking the hint, and continues to spend scarce federal tax dollars to advance his DBug sale by pointing to “uncertainty” over whether or not roadless areas will be protected in the future.
This isn’t a jobs vs. the environment debate. Roadless area protection has long enjoyed enormous support from the outdoor recreation industry. In January, a coalition of over 90 outdoor recreation businesses, including well-known brands like JanSport, Kelty, Filson, Sierra Designs, Montrail, Scott Fly Rods, and Cascade Designs, sent a letter to Obama urging him to support the 2001 Roadless Rule. They’ve since been joined by dozens more. Few Americans enjoy hiking through clear cuts or fishing in a river buried by a mudslide. Protecting our remaining pristine roadless areas is one way to preserve both Oregon’s tourism and recreation economy and our quality of life.
Where does Oregon fit in? Oregon’s outdoor businesses, elected officials, and citizens have long led the charge in trying to protect roadless wild areas. Clinton’s 2001 Roadless Rule came out of the most extensive public involvement process in federal rule-making history. On a per-capita basis, Oregonians submitted more public comment than any other state (over 90% were in favor). In 2006, Governor Kulongoski joined with state leaders in Washington, California, and New Mexico to sue the Bush administration to stop its repeal of the Rule. Also in 2006, Representatives Blumenauer, DeFazio, Hooley, and Wu cosponsored legislation to make the Roadless Rule permanent. Oregon businesses, from Keen Footwear to Clackacraft drift boats, also support protection for roadless areas.
The plan to log on the doorstep of Crater Lake has made it frighteningly clear how important it is that protection for our remaining pristine roadless wildlands not be subject to the whim of changing administrations. As we speak, Representatives and Senators are signing on to co-sponsor the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2009. So far, Senator Merkley and Congressmen Blumenauer, DeFazio, and Wu have stepped up and joined nearly 100 other conservation champions in doing so.
When the Metolius was threatened by shortsighted development interests, pressure was brought to bear on our leaders in Salem, and ultimately they did the right thing. Now that wildlands around Crater Lake are being threatened, Oregon’s Congressional leaders must do the same.
As chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, Ron Wyden is in the perfect position to help protect the wildlands around Crater Lake, and roadless areas across the country. Put simply, his opinion matters when it comes to forest issues. A good first step would be taking a public position against logging pristine roadless areas around Crater Lake. By doing so he can help put the brakes on the project.
Senator Wyden should join with Senator Cantwell, Senator Merkley, and over a dozen other Senators and support legislation to permanently protect America’s remaining unspoiled roadless areas. Click below to find out how you can join with hundreds of other Oregonians urging Senator Wyden to support roadless area protection.
With the expected announcement yesterday that Governor Kulongoski will sign two major tax bills needed to balance the Oregon budget, the battle to protect the Oregon budget from even further disastrous cuts has begun. These measures will raise taxes on the wealthiest Oregonians and on corporations (who had been paying a $10 minimum last adjusted in 1929!). The Oregon GOP has made it perfectly clear that getting these tax measures referred to the ballot is their #1 priority and so it will therefore serve as a test of how far they have fallen. Given OR's history of rejecting such increases, a rejection of them this time would not necessarily indicate GOP strength but if they are upheld the OR GOP could truly be in for a long time in the wilderness.
One of the primary assumptions of the so-called "Smart Growth" movement has long been that smart growth, combined with expenditures on mass transit (especially transit such as light rail or streetcar that encourage "choice" riders who might otherwise drive) save everyone time and money and protect the environment. The latest statistics from the Texas Transportation Institute show this to be the case. This diary will briefly describe Oregon's land use system as it applies to Smart Growth and our investments in public transportation, along with their impacts.
Today, the Oregon Senate Republicans released their "Back to Basics" Budget Plan, which is their alternative budget ahead of the state's May 15 revenue forecast (which will set the general fund budget funding levels for the next two years). Although light on details (though this does include numbers!), their budget shows their priorities quite clearly.
We found out today that the state's budget hole for the next two years will be AT LEAST $3B (about 20% of the general fund from the current biennium). Needless to say, we hope it only gets this bad and not much worse.
The best response to the announcement came from my former boss and majority leader Mary Nolan (D-SW Portland), who asid in part, ""For a time, we held off the national economic tsunami brought on by the failures of Republican governance. For a time we were able to avoid the effects of a conservative ideology that gave tax cuts to the rich and allowed corporations to operate without boundaries," said House Majority Leader Mary Nolan (D-Portland). "But now that tsunami is at our shores and Democrats must craft responsible solutions to the problems caused by an irresponsible Party..."Right now, we are dealing with the mess created from years of disastrous economic mismanagement by Republicans in the White House on down. Now they are sitting on the sidelines throwing more garbage on the pile while we try to clean it up," said Nolan.
I don't envy them this task and can't begin to think what we might cut or where to raise taxes/other revenue. Thoguhts are welcome below.
A February 2009 study produced for the University of Oregon shows that if nothing is done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Oregon will face over $3 billion in extra costs every year.
Some of the cost estimates that make up the total (all per year by 2020):
$119 million increased energy costs
$206 million for the extra wildfires
$632 million loss from reduced salmon populations
$764 million increased health costs (!)
At least. "The $3.3 billion price tag for 2020 is a purposeful understatement," Ernie Neimi, lead author of the report said.
That "purposeful understatement" breaks down to a loss of $1,930 per Oregon household per year.
Is global warming starting to feel like a budgetary concern yet?
Oregon will celebrate its 150th anniversary of achieving statehood on Valentine's Day this Saturday. In honor of my beloved state's 150th birthday, I present this short piece highlighting some of the achievements of the state's progressive movement. As our state motto says, "She Flies With Her Own Wings."
In the latest example of the dying GOP, at least out here in Oregon, Brainstorm NW, the leading magazine of the conservative movement in the state, is closing its doors. Its February issue will be the last it ever publishes.
Major H/T to Steve Duin of the Oregonian for this story: Brainstorm is Toast
The Oregonian is reporting that Senator Ron Wyden (D) is a candidate to be the next HHS Secretary. I'll discuss the rumors, who Wyden is and what this would mean for the US Senate if he were to be nominated.
I'm not sure how many of you know what cyclocross is, but the nation's top pros are about to storm into Portland Saturday and Sunday for the finale weekend of the six-race Crank Brothers US Gran Prix.
The century-old bicycle racing discipline is gaining new popularity, and Portland is a hotbead.The eight-race Cross Crusade series drew more than 1,000 competitors per race this year, filling the age and skill categories that raced throughout the day.
Cyclocross uses bikes that at first glance look like the standard road bikes you see in the Tour de France. But a closer inspection reveals larger, knobby tires and more-powerful cantilever brakes. Courses are relatively short circuits (generally between one or two miles) that competitors cover multiple times during a race. Steep sections, called "run-ups," and wooden barriers placed in the course often require riders to "shoulder" their bikes and run.
Cyclocross is a winter sport that started in Belgium around the turn of the century. Seeking a way to train at a high level during the cold winter months, cyclists developed a sport that required dismounting and running, which helped circulate blood through the feet and keep them warm. When the riders participating in the small-but-growing cyclocross circuit started winning the spring and summer road races, the new winter discipline quickly became more popular, and a legitimate sport was born.
There's some great VIDEO HERE that should give you a pretty good idea. You may remember that last year at this time Portland was undergoing a 100-year-storm that brought snow, flooding and hurricane-force winds.
This year's event takes place Saturday and Sunday at Portland International Raceway. Amateur racing kicks off at 8 a.m. both days. The pro women begin at 1:45 p.m. The pro men start at 3 p.m.
Here's a sneak peek at a preview I'm working on:
Brad Ross, the Cross Crusade promoter who is the local organizer for the USGP, said he expects the "usual suspects" from Portland's thriving 'cross fan base to show up in force.
"It's going to be more typical cross weather, maybe a little rain," he said. "That doesn't scare people away. What scares people away is when it's like it was last year -- hurricane! It's going to be a good party. The beer will be flowing."
And the riders seem to be looking forward to racing in front of Portland's "usual suspects."
Reigning national champion Tim Johnson, a Massachusetts pro who rides for Cyclocrossworld.com/Cannondale, first competed in Portland in 1997. Johnson said he always enjoys the loud, creative Portland crowds.
"The bigger the better," he said before recalling a race he won several years ago at venue in Hillsboro.
"The course was just sick," he said. "It was really nasty. There was one especially tough climb, and at the top of that climb there were people sitting in a hot tub watching. That was great."
"They're out there racing all day in their own categories," he said. "And then they hang around to support us. It makes you want to perform."
The following is an update of yesterday's diary about Bill Sizemore's arrest for contempt of court (his fourth such citation and the first time he's been arrested for it). It contains some more details on why Sizemore was arrested and what comes next.
It's that time of year again: budgets, battles, competing interests, tax hikes or cuts, and line items being added and slashed.
Today, the Federal Reserve has verified that the United States is officially in a recession. In this climate, Oregon’s discretionary budget pie for the next biennium is worth about $16.1 billion; but according to The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com, "that amount is $1 billion more than the current two-year budget, but more than $1 billion less than he expected to have available before the economic trainwreck."
The news outlet says that Gov. Kulongoski's priorities will include:
Education: The governor has said he wants no retreat from the gains made during the 2007 session in funding for public schools, colleges and universities, including a big increase in financial aid for college students.
Renewable and alternative energy: This is a legacy-building theme for Kulongoski, who sees green technology as the doorway to a robust economic future for Oregon. There likely will be new incentives to attract solar, wind and biofuel companies to the state and for cars that rely more heavily on electricity.
Transportation: Kulongoski already has outlined a $1 billion plan to boost spending on bridges, highways, railways and mass transit to reduce congestion and put people to work on construction projects. Controversial elements include a proposed 2-cent hike in gas taxes, a 21⁄2-cent tobacco tax increase and a shift in some lottery profits to transportation projects.
Children’s health care: Backed by a stronger Democratic majority in the Legislature, Kulongoski once again wants money to cover Oregon’s 100,000 kids under 19 who lack insurance. Voters rejected a tobacco tax increase to help fund it. this time Kulongoski wants to tax hospitals $700 million over the next two years.
Sounds like a lot of good can be done in this fashion. But will taxpayers ever realize tangible benefits from this plan?
For example, in addition to having to navigate this proposed spending through the legislature, Kulongoski faces other challenges:
First, his budget is "based on the most recent revenue forecast and some say the numbers could drop by another $1 billion as the legislative session progresses, which would cause a restacking of priorities," the Oregonian reports. And "the proposed budget is about 7 percent bigger than the current two-year plan, not enough to cover much higher increases in caseloads, health care costs, negotiated salary increases and other pressures."
Also, what will Kulongoski do about the agencies that are not on his priority list? There will be great opposition to sharp and sweeping cuts.
The governor also has not yet spelled out how Oregon will pay the estimated $157 million in costs that will be run up by Measure 57, which requires longer prison sentences for property crimes and more drug and alcohol treatment for offenders, the Oregonian reports. He can also expect opposition from hospitals, tobacco companies, truckers and industrial energy users. Some educators may think his budget comes up short for schools.
Will Kulongoski raise taxes? Will we get any more federral stimulus payments? Will they work? Where will the federal money for the stimulus payments come from (in addition to the source for the federal billions in the new stream of big business bailouts)?
Oregon's budget negotiations will take place in a minefield.
In what can only be described as something that is a long time coming, longtime Oregon conservative activist (and complete A-hole) Bill Sizemore was jailed today after being found in contempt of court for the fourth time. The specific incident this time was Sizemore's failure to file federal and state reporting forms required for organizations he controls to maintain their tax exempt status.
A fast way to put millions of people to work and help bring the economy out of its nosedive would be a massive public works project on university campuses, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said Monday.
According to the Oregonian, Kulongoski said he plans to send a letter to President-elect Barack Obama's transition team with a proposal to direct billions in federal stimulus dollars to cover deferred maintenance at colleges in Oregon and around the nation.
If they want to do something with an immediate impact, he said, "they should poll all 50 states and say, 'We want to know what your deferred maintenance is on your university campuses.'" Oregon's backlog is about $650 million, he said.
Besides taking care of long-neglected repair issues on hundreds of campuses, the effort would spread the jobs well beyond urban centers, he said to OregonLive.com.
In Oregon, Kulongoski noted, rural areas with universities, such as Klamath, Union and Jackson counties would benefit.
I just got word that everyone's least favorite bigot, Mr. Fred Phelps, of Westboro Baptist Church, will send his goons to Oregon next week for a series of his homophobic protests in Portland, Silverton and Tigard. So what can we do to counter this hate? Let's talk about it below...
This is the diary I had hoped to be able to write Wednesday, but with the closeness of the Smith-Merkley US Senate race was happy enough to write a diary talking about the reasons why Merkley would win, as he indeed has. This diary serves as my review of the Oregon campaign, in what can, without a doubt, be described as the best cycle for Oregon Democrats and other progressive organizations in my lifetime. All of our goals were met and we beat back every single bad ballot measure to boot.
Election Day in Albuquerque, New Mexico dawned chilly and crisp, with a bright blue sky and wispy white clouds. On Monday night I packed my backpack with supplies and propped my folding chair against the hotel room door so I wouldn't be able to forget it in the hazy awareness of early morning.
I couldn't get sleepy on Monday night. I surfed the Internet, posted news items to Facebook, reloaded my Twitter homepage, and finally went to bed, where I dozed fitfully and woke up to check the time every hour (that would be three times) before the alarm went off at 5. I knew from Facebook and Twitter that my friends were also sleepless. I was grateful to be in New Mexico with an actual Election Day assignment, instead of just wringing my hands all day long.
RSS Feed: http://www.loadedorygun.net/rss/rss2.xml
