Quick Hits: Ready for the weekend...
Kari Chisholm
A few things for you to chew over this weekend:
- The Portland Mercury has weighed in on the Senate District 22 appointment process (to replace Senator Margaret Carter.) According to the Mercury, "most observers agree that the final choice comes down to State Representative Chip Shields and Oregon Action Executive Director Jo Ann Bowman, who was a state representative between 1997 and 2001." Good news for BlueOregon fans - both Shields and Bowman are regular contributors here! The Mercury runs down the issues - and endorses Bowman.
- Duke Shepard filed yesterday to to run for the Metro Council seat held by term-limited councilor Rod Park. Metro District 1 includes parts of outer east Portland and the eastern suburbs of Multnomah and Clackamas counties. Duke is a two-term member of the Mt. Hood Community College Board and the political director at the AFL-CIO.
He's always been a bit behind the scenes - but you should know that he's done tremendous amounts of service to Oregon, as an advocate for higher-ed, building the AmeriCorps program in Oregon, running the campaign for the minimum wage, and doing economic development work for east county. I'll happily admit to a LOT of bias here -- Duke's an old friend, to be sure, but I think he's exactly the kind of guy that belongs in elected office. Learn more at DukeShepard.com.
- Earlier this week, the Oregonian profiled Jeff Merkley's first eight months as a U.S. Senator - and the challenges in getting up to speed.
Merkley is taking the long view, believing that a slow, methodical approach will pay off in the long run. ... "The culture is different and the rules are different," he said, contrasting the Senate to his experience in Oregon's House. "But the underlying process is the same -- that is, to determine ideas that you believe in and are of value, persuade your colleagues that they make sense, then work them through the legislative hoops." ... "There's no one path to being effective," he said. "But I believe it comes down to hard work. And it means doing what you said you were going to do when you asked for the job."
- It sure does seem like there's a lot of grassroots excitement for John Kitzhaber's comeback bid for Governor. On Facebook, Kitzhaber's already picked up 7600+ supporters - and fans have posted hundreds of supportive comments. Check it out.
Speaking of Kitzhaber, over at his new blog, T.A. Barnhart has the first (I'm pretty sure) blogger interview with the former governor.
- Yesterday, at Talking Points Memo, Senator Wyden said he supported President Obama's health care plan - though he's got some things he wants to talk about:
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) tells me he thinks President Obama gave the cause of health reform "a big boost" last night, but though he supports Obama's proposal, he does have a few concerns. ...
Separately, Wyden is concerned that the proposal--which Obama said would cost $900 billion--might not be able to provide generous enough subsidies for middle class uninsured people who will, under the terms of the plan, be required to buy health insurance.
"If you have a family making $65,000 a year and they're paying $8300, $8400 for their premiums and copayments and deductibles...that's going to be another area that you're going to have to hone in on," Wyden added.
Discuss.
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12:30 p.m.
Sep 11, '09
Seems also worthy to note that Senator Bill Morrisette will be retiring from the State Senate to run for the Lane County Commission.
http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_9675b546-9d9d-11de-b7b5-001cc4c03286.html
Sep 11, '09
Senator wyden is correct to be concerned. However his figures are well below true costs. A typical PPO plan for a family will cost about $1050/month and have deductibles of $500/person/yr and out of pocket maximums of $3,000/person/year. Both the deductibles and out of pocket maximums will cap after two family members have paid that year capping the out of pocket and dedcutible total at $7,000/family/year.
That makes the amount not $8,300 - $8,400; but closer to $12,600/yr just for coverage before the potential $7,000 in deductible and out of pocket. This is before any prescription co-pays are added in. So the amount under represents the true potential cost by about 2.5 times. ($8,400 v $19,600).
There are cheaper policies out there available. Certainly HMO's come to mind, but most of the rural West does not have access to HMO's. Certainly in Oregon there is not an HMO plan available south of Eugene or East of Lebanon. Less expensive PPO plans or traditional plans could be as low as $600/month for a family, but then deductibles and out of pocket maximums rise to $1,500 and $10,000 for at least 2 members of the family.
1:43 p.m.
Sep 11, '09
[Full disclosure: My firm built the campaign websites for Duke Shepard, Jeff Merkley, and Ron Wyden. My firm will also be assisting John Kitzhaber's campaign. I speak only for myself.]
Sep 11, '09
I'm glad that we have so many exciting events going on this weekend. Here's one more event to add to that list. One that I think everyone should try to attend. Event listed below:
Participate in a Round-table Discussion:
Defend tax increases on big business and the rich!
Jessica Kendall, from the Defend Oregon Coalition, will report on the campaign to stop the drive to overturn this essential tax legislation. Share your thoughts on how we can strengthen the grassroots battle to halt bleeding workers’ dry for social services and programs we all need.
Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3pm
Bread & Roses Center 819 N. Killingsworth St. Portland (1/2 block west of N. Albina; TriMet bus lines #4 & #72)
There is a $2.00 door donation. A hearty Harvest meal will be available for a $8-$10 donation. For more information, call 503-240-4462 or email us at [email protected].
In Struggle,
Eduardo Martínez Zapata Freedom Socialist Party - Portland Branch
Sep 11, '09
My own Quick Hits:
My Kaiser premium is going up 9.3% next year. That's the best a "non-profit" can do? Meanwhile, my income went up 0% for the 6th time in the last 7 years. Yay.
What's up with the web-cam headshot of Blumenauer in today's O?
Sep 11, '09
Hey! Defend Oregon folks!
Over at http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2009/09/antitax_campaign_nears_1_milli.html#comments
someone from the anti-taxers is defending "Back to Basics" as a reasonable budget.
No one from Ways and Means was involved in writing it, and from what I heard at a legislative town hall from experts from Legislative Revenue and Legislative Fiscal, I don't see how it isn't the same gamble the legislature made with raiding the SAIF funds in the 1980s. Top that off with Atiyeh having added some sort of tax increase to the mix of that balanced budget. Our state senator told the story of how the people who had sent money to SAIF for business insurance didn't think they were contributing to the state General Fund and sued to get their money back---and won, with interest!
That's what I generally remember. I suspect from reading the comment from the petition supporter on that anti-taxer fundraising topic that a question those petitioners really aren't able to answer is someone with details about the Back to Basics (who they can't say "needs to study it"--esp. if they know more details than the anti-taxer) and respond to them with the flaws in detail, and then ask "OK, there is a hearing on Back to Basics and the supporters do not answer questions to the satisfaction of those folks on Ways and Means who were kept of out the process of writing it. THEN what do you do?".
I suspect this crowd is as intellectually lazy ( or choose your own description) as the people who gave us Measures 28 and 30.
If SOME people have an idea but it doesn't get enough votes to pass, isn't that the way the system is supposed to work?
5:40 p.m.
Sep 11, '09
I read the Mercury article on the two candidates for the Senate seat. I thought the questions and issues were too narrow. There was no question on economic growth, and the education stuff was slow pitch softball (ask about online ed or Mandarin, please). I’ve no favorite in the race. I have met with Rep. Shields and found him thoughtful, concerned, intelligent, and non-committal on the issues I was concerned about.
From his web site, Duke Sheppard seems like a great guy. But I’m suspicious of any candidate for any office who speaks of economic growth without mentioning China. Either they have not thought the issue through or they are not being upfront with their views. Both are bad.
8:32 a.m.
Sep 12, '09
@Dave: "I read the Mercury article on the two candidates for the Senate seat. I thought the questions and issues were too narrow. There was no question on economic growth, and the education stuff was slow pitch softball (ask about online ed or Mandarin, please). I’ve no favorite in the race. I have met with Rep. Shields and found him thoughtful, concerned, intelligent, and non-committal on the issues I was concerned about."
Thanks so much for reading. It's always a challenge to cover these issues in sufficient depth given our space concerns—If you ever want to give suggestions for angles for coverage, be my guest: [email protected]/503 294 0840.x246
Since you're curious, here's a little more of what we discussed. On the economic growth front, we have covered PDC's efforts to "regenerate" the district in a recent issue. As you'll see, racial equality and incarceration/injustice, education issues also play a role there.
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/trust-issues/Content?oid=1609065
Fred Stewart also suggested providing jobs for parents as the best way to renew the education system. I wondered, on the other hand, how anybody is going to get a job in the district without having been adequately educated first. And Stewart's opposition to the Democrats' tax hikes on corporations and the wealthy turned us off.
Thanks for the link, Kari.
Matt Davis—News Editor, Portland Mercury
Sep 12, '09
Democratic Picnic today at Cullaby Lake in north Clatsop County (just off Highway 101 about 5 miles south of Astoria) John Kroger will be the main speaker, also speaking will be Bill Bradbury and Sen. Betsy Johnson as well as our local and state representatives. This is an annual event at which all Democrats are welcome. Please come and enjoy!
Sep 12, '09
Democratic Picnic TODAY at Cullaby Lake in north Clatsop County (about 5 miles south of Astoria on Highway 101) Main Speakers: John Kroger, Bill Bradbury, and Betsy Johnson Food and drink and fellowship and lots of locals Dems. Come join us!
Sep 12, '09
Josh: FELLOWSHIP? Ack!
:)... that squeaks of church, dear.
Sep 12, '09
Great Brian Clem birthday party in downtown Salem today with John Kitzhaber and 2 legislators speaking. New people who had never heard Kitzhaber speak before as well as some old friends of Clem and/or Kitzhaber going back decades.
Sep 12, '09
While the Kitzhaber Face Book fete is impressive boy you can't say it wasn't well orchestrated-
<h2>The day after the formal announcement he bounced up first on suggested friends on my Face Book account and the same day I had an email from an old friend appointed by Kitz to a state agency (all legit on their private time) sollciting also a link to the Kitz Facebook page- smart and organized I would say.</h2>