Calling legislators back for another attempt at a transportation package will be a waste of time unless relationships are rebuilt and priorities reconsidered first
As I read your suggestions I agreed with you. What you expressed is exactly what I feel. I’ve always felt she was a bully and she hasn’t changed her tactics. We need common sense and common ground more than anything again. I’m hoping she doesn’t win reelection but it’s really tough to get rid of a Democrat. Thanks for the excellent article.
“She targeted Multnomah County while lobbying for a $15 billion transportation tax. And it’s not difficult to find state programs that were poorly implemented. 𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥.”
Emphasis added. That I literally burst out laughing is just a measure of how disheartening it is to have lived in this state so long.
“The fair and wise thing to do is to compile a spreadsheet of all taxes, state and local, analyze all of them to determine what return the state is getting on taxpayers’ money and trim or eliminate the ineffective and/or unneeded programs.”
Brilliant suggestion, likely to carry the weight of dandelion fluff before it blows away.
Unfortunately the time for relationship building is long past. This state needs a complete change of leadership..... We need a strong leader, period. Someone with enough confidence and real personal power to have the difficult AND easy conversations. Someone that knows the word NO, but can work through it to find viable solutions. Oregon is teetering on the edge of the abyss, Ms. Kotek is not and never was a leader, she has her own set of values that she somehow thinks everyone shares. Intimidation and threats are not leadership, actions speak much louder than any spoken word ever has. Lets hope we can find that leadership in the future.
Whistling as you pass the graveyard, Mr. Hester? At face value, your comments are sensible and appropriate. we shall see which way the Kotek takes them, but given the Kotek past practice, I am skeptical. perhaps impeachment could become more viable. I dream on.
Every time we drive by a city bus, it is 95% empty. And yet, despite the fact that mass transit is a failed program, the Democrats keep pushing for such useless ideas. Perhaps that’s the problem with the whole Democrat party, none of their ideas work in the real world.
Good thinking...but political machines are mostly immune to common sense. Their basic, enduring function is aggrandizement, client giveaways, and security from any challenges, legal or electoral. Those are the priorities; good governance and sensible policies are afterthoughts and unintended consequences.
The real question in Oregon politics is the huge disparity between the interests of Portland's rotten borough pols and the rest of the state. The city may be decaying, but it still runs the show, to the detriment of smaller towns and rural areas. The rise of "Democratic Socialism" as a real force in Portland politics only makes the problem worse. How to toss a spanner into the machine is the only real question.
A little too much time in the Oregonian echo chamber, Mr. Hester. The deep left has no want or desire to compromise. I wanted to say 'it's their way or the highway' but that would be in poor taste. Fortunately for us, brave democrat legislators threw up a massive speed bump in front the transportation package, even after losing committee positions.
No carrots, more tike torches and pitchforks are needed. The Gov, her wife, and ilk need to go.
Besides, take a look at how many of the 500 threatened firings are already empty positions. More smoke and mirrors.
With the 2026 elections looming and Ms Drazan preparing for another shot at the governorship the process will be driven by gamesmanship between Kotek wanting a bi-partisan deal and Drazan wanting the Dems to push through a tax increase on their own.
Republicans will “negotiate” to get as much as they can but then find some reason to all vote no. In fact I suspect that’s what happened in this last session.
As I read your suggestions I agreed with you. What you expressed is exactly what I feel. I’ve always felt she was a bully and she hasn’t changed her tactics. We need common sense and common ground more than anything again. I’m hoping she doesn’t win reelection but it’s really tough to get rid of a Democrat. Thanks for the excellent article.
“She targeted Multnomah County while lobbying for a $15 billion transportation tax. And it’s not difficult to find state programs that were poorly implemented. 𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥.”
Emphasis added. That I literally burst out laughing is just a measure of how disheartening it is to have lived in this state so long.
“The fair and wise thing to do is to compile a spreadsheet of all taxes, state and local, analyze all of them to determine what return the state is getting on taxpayers’ money and trim or eliminate the ineffective and/or unneeded programs.”
Brilliant suggestion, likely to carry the weight of dandelion fluff before it blows away.
Oh No. Your suggestions are too good and if she follows them, she might get re-elected.
PS: How about a line item increase of fees on those all electric vehicles?
Unfortunately the time for relationship building is long past. This state needs a complete change of leadership..... We need a strong leader, period. Someone with enough confidence and real personal power to have the difficult AND easy conversations. Someone that knows the word NO, but can work through it to find viable solutions. Oregon is teetering on the edge of the abyss, Ms. Kotek is not and never was a leader, she has her own set of values that she somehow thinks everyone shares. Intimidation and threats are not leadership, actions speak much louder than any spoken word ever has. Lets hope we can find that leadership in the future.
Democratically speaking, Oregon is rapidly reaching the point of no return and the ODOT fiasco is just another flashpoint
Regarding ODOT funding:
“Democrats will insist the project list includes mass transit and non-traditional transportation”
Just what rural Southern Oregon (where I reside - Klamath Falls) has no need for.
I weep for our future in it’s present direction
Whistling as you pass the graveyard, Mr. Hester? At face value, your comments are sensible and appropriate. we shall see which way the Kotek takes them, but given the Kotek past practice, I am skeptical. perhaps impeachment could become more viable. I dream on.
Every time we drive by a city bus, it is 95% empty. And yet, despite the fact that mass transit is a failed program, the Democrats keep pushing for such useless ideas. Perhaps that’s the problem with the whole Democrat party, none of their ideas work in the real world.
Good thinking...but political machines are mostly immune to common sense. Their basic, enduring function is aggrandizement, client giveaways, and security from any challenges, legal or electoral. Those are the priorities; good governance and sensible policies are afterthoughts and unintended consequences.
The real question in Oregon politics is the huge disparity between the interests of Portland's rotten borough pols and the rest of the state. The city may be decaying, but it still runs the show, to the detriment of smaller towns and rural areas. The rise of "Democratic Socialism" as a real force in Portland politics only makes the problem worse. How to toss a spanner into the machine is the only real question.
Problem is there is no return for half of it. Just employs SEIU members, non profits, consultants. Nothing measurable.
A little too much time in the Oregonian echo chamber, Mr. Hester. The deep left has no want or desire to compromise. I wanted to say 'it's their way or the highway' but that would be in poor taste. Fortunately for us, brave democrat legislators threw up a massive speed bump in front the transportation package, even after losing committee positions.
No carrots, more tike torches and pitchforks are needed. The Gov, her wife, and ilk need to go.
Besides, take a look at how many of the 500 threatened firings are already empty positions. More smoke and mirrors.
Good ideas. No chance she’ll execute them.
It’s a systemic failure that such a person is elected, let alone to the office of governor.
The Second Amendment was an attempt to remedy such a wonton power grab. That hasn’t worked either.
With the 2026 elections looming and Ms Drazan preparing for another shot at the governorship the process will be driven by gamesmanship between Kotek wanting a bi-partisan deal and Drazan wanting the Dems to push through a tax increase on their own.
Republicans will “negotiate” to get as much as they can but then find some reason to all vote no. In fact I suspect that’s what happened in this last session.