In Silverton, Jim Gilbert calls out the naysayers
Writing an editorial in the Silverton Appeal, 2006 legislative candidate Jim Gilbert calls out his community's Republican legislators - Senator Roger Beyer and Representative Vic Gilliam (who replaced Rep. Mac Sumner, who died after being re-elected.)
Gilbert points out that by voting "No" on a series of progressive bills, Beyer and Gilliam are failing to lead:
While the Oregon Legislature, now under Democratic control, has finally given us the opportunity to improve our education system, become more energy independent, protect our farmers and our productive farmland, and provide health care for Oregon children, our Republican state representative and senator have consistently voted against the best interests of our district’s citizens by voting no on common sense solutions to these and other problems.
Gilbert's got a rundown of the issues. Here's the first two...
Saying NO to better schools. Oregon’s reliance on the income tax to support our schools has resulted in a boom-and-bust cycle as the economy goes up and down. These swings in school support hurt our kids at the most important time in their lives, denying them the quality education they deserve. With the passage of House Bill 2707, Oregon’s legislature has finally established a rainy day fund, a state savings account that can be used to provide extra funds to schools during economic downturns.Vic Gilliam and Roger Beyer voted NO.
Saying NO to energy independence. As we are reminded every time we fill our tank, our country has no policy to deal with the spiraling energy costs. Oregon’s legislature has finally taken action by promoting the production of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, and providing incentives for drivers and others to switch to biofuels such as biodiesel and ethanol, fuels that are grown by American farmers. Instead of putting our fuel dollars in the pockets of big oil companies and unfriendly foreign governments, Senate Bill 838 helps support our farmers and local producers and brings Oregon in line with Washington and other states that are taking leadership roles in confronting these important issues.
Vic Gilliam and Roger Beyer voted NO.
Read the rest at the Silverton Appeal. Discuss.
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June 25, 2007
Posted in in the news 2007. |
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Jun 25, '07
Well, it's not clear from the article how they actually voted on the biofuels bill (HB 2210) but the odds are that they voted yes --- which means they voted yes when they should have voted no and voted no when they should have voted yes (on SB 838, the renewable electric portfolio standard, a/k/a 25% by 2025).
It's important that progressives understand that just because something calls itself green doesn't mean it's actually a good bill. HB 2210 is a boondoggle of the first order, applying subsidies that will do far less to reduce dependence on foreign oil or reduce greenhouse gas emissions than nearly anything else we could have done. Oregon State U. put out an important study that showed how ineffective these biofuels subsidies are. But the merits of the issue were never considered because the bill was hardwired from the start.
It's a shame, because we are at or will soon be at peak oil, and we are going to wish that we had taken a more serious approach to spending $5 million a year to address our dependency on oil.
Jun 26, '07
Please post your data on the "boom and bust" cycles of the education funding. A simple total dollars per year over the last 20 years should make your case, right? State governments job is to spend our money. To give a rainy day fund (read increased taxes) just to give them MORE money to spend is irrational and stupid. If you need the money, budget for it. Isnt this bienniums total take up 20%??
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