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As you discuss this, it might be timely to note that a recent report by the Associated Press has concluded that counties with high unemployment rates are the least likely to receive federal stimulus money because they did not have "shovel-ready" projects when the stimulus bill was enacted.

"The analysis also found that counties with the highest unemployment are most likely to have been passed over completely in the early spending.

Among them: Wheeler County, Ore."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_STIMULUS_LEFT_OUT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-05-11-11-38-15

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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I own a small business which brings in a relatively small revenue and only employs one person, me.  My business only owed the $10 minimum for FY2008 because it barely broke even.  I could withstand a minor tax increase but a major tax hike could prevent small folks like me from opening or staying in buiness.

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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After the debacle with the tram to OHSU, why would anyone believe our city council when they tell us that a project will "only" cost any given number at all? 

If there are really funds sitting around that are "not available for schools" ...  they should be appropriated.

The public dollars are simply not available for sports stadiums at this time.

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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Say it ain't so, Sam.

If Adams now admits that he previously lied about whether or not he had a sexual relationship with this person, then why should we be expected to take Adams at his word regarding whether or not the sexual relationship took place before or after a certain date? He no longer has any credibility on this issue.

Adams lied, and induced Breedlove to lie, because he suspected that if the truth were known, he would not be elected to the office of Mayor. Now that the truth is out, a very strong argument could be made that Adams attained the office through falsehood, and thus does not deserve the office, and should be removed.

Furthermore, I think that this revelation is a major setback to the cause of the gay community, by associating homosexual relationships with deception in the eyes of the public. Whether or not Breedlove was 18 yet, you have to admit this is bad publicity.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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I like your show so much better than World Have Your Say! Thank you for your efforts to remain unbiased, they are appreciated by your audience.

posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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Colleen, you are right, it was not mentioned on the air. I had the same thought, I'm glad you brought it up!

posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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Something nobody has mentioned yet is that non-Oregonians use Oregon's roads too. If those individuals drive far enough in Oregon, they will be compelled to buy gas & thus pay the gas tax; however, if this proposed new (privacy-invading) system were to be implemented, then only year-round residents would be paying for road funding, while individuals who are just passing through as well as the individuals who for example moved here eight months ago and have not yet changed their license plate registration to Oregon plates: those individuals would pay nothing at all towards the maintenance of the roads they use.

posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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I do not want the government tracking where I've been driving on what days, even if the information is only whether or not I've crossed state lines since the last time I gassed up. That's an unacceptable breach of my privacy. Back to the drawing board, Governor.

posted 4 years, 5 months ago
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Here is how Oregon's initiative process should be reformed:


Any person who has been convicted of racketeering or other vote-related fraud of any kind should be banned for life from sponsoring another ballot initiative.


I would like to sponsor a ballot initiative with this purpose and would appreciate it if you could describe for your listening audience the process of getting an initiative on the ballot.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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What could be a more basic right than deciding for oneself whether or not to continue to live? I applaud Oregonians for their courageous stand on this contentious issue.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Everyone should have a right to attend 100% of the meetings.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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I think the real problem here is the closed door "executive session." In my view, no government entity, be it the city council or the president of the united states, should be allowed to conduct secret meetings. If they work for the public, then the public should be allowed access to the proceedings. Kicking people out instead seems to indicate that the government bodies in question are trying to do something that is not in the public's best interest.

Incidentally, I do write a blog, but do not consider myself a journalist so much as an analyst. However I think many bloggers could legitimately be considered journalists, even without any formal accreditation.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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Bill Sizemore should be prevented from getting any more initiatives on the ballot until he serves hard time and pays his debt to society for racketeering and vote fraud. Can you explain to the listening audience why he is not behind bars? I honestly don't understand.

Be tough on crime! Jail people who engage in election fraud!

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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There should not be a cap on medical malpractice awards. If OHSU makes a mistake that causes somebody to be severely disabled for life, then OHSU should pay to support that person for the rest of their life.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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If the taxpayers are expected to bail out the same banks and high finance firms which caused this economic disaster in the first place, then there must be a number of major caveats:

1. the CDO's & other securities must be purchased by the government for LESS THAN their so called book value;
2. the taxpayers must receive equity in the companies that require rescue;
3. the bailout must be administered with a high degree of Congressional and judicial oversight;
4. the dismissed CEO's of failed companies that had to be rescued must be prevented from leaving with a "golden parachute";
5. and this whole incident must be followed by a series of legislative bills enacting much, much stricter regulation of our entire financial system.

If the banks do not accept these caveats then they should not be rescued.

The ideology of the free market has clearly failed when the taxpayers are asked to rescue the banks. The answer is regulation: the rule of law, which banks are not above.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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As I understand it the courts have ruled repeatedly that blanket surveillance cameras installed in public places are constitutional. If the police are allowed to film the people, then it's only fair that the people should be allowed to film the police. The police film traffic stops with audio, and the person being arrested is not asked if they want to be recorded; again, it is only fair that the people should be allowed to record the police.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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We live in a high-traffic prostitution area along the NE 82nd Avenue corridor. My wife and I count them when we drive places to run errands.

I really appreciated that one of your guests proposed that an appropriate corollary to a "prostitution-free zone" would be a "prostitution zone." It's my own personal belief that a woman should be allowed to do whatever she wants to do with her own body, and by criminalizing prostitution we make life more dangerous for these women.

The "not in my backyard" attitude will not solve the problem. Law enforcement is not a well-rounded response to this issue: A pro-active approach is necessary and I would like to see the community agree on one.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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Shorting the education budget, to increase the police budget or for any other reason, guarantees that crime rates will rise in the long-term. Kids who finish high school are less likely to commit crimes. If we want to prevent crime we must fund education. Measure 62 is a bad idea.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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Tax credits only benefit families with higher incomes. Tax credits do nothing to help low income families afford health care. McCain would maintain the status quo where well-off people have health insurance and the poor do not.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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One of your speakers was criticizing white people who live in Northeast Portland for not having lots of black friends. I've lived in Northeast for quite some time and I got to say in my defense that some of my black neighbors have been the worst neighbors I've ever had anywhere, and I've lived in a lot of places. I don't feel guilty for not going over to their houses and hanging out when what I hear coming from their houses at all hours are lots of screaming and much too loud music. Also I've had black people shout at me, "What you doin here whitie?" I'm just saying it goes both ways.

posted 4 years, 10 months ago
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