Town hall fever in Clackamas County: Barton and Schaufler
Carla Axtman
Saturday was a gorgeous day in the Portland metro area. It seemed to bring people (including me) out of the woodwork. Some of us even managed to land at some town hall meetings held by State Representatives.
Yes, I'm just that much of a political geek. I went to 2 town hall meetings in one morning just because I felt like it.
The first was a Brent Barton event held at a Starbucks in Clackamas. A number of people mentioned to me that Barton usually gets 2-3 people to show up to these things. Saturday morning he had about a dozen at the attendance peak. And most all of them were actively participating, asking questions and telling their stories.
Unfortunately, this particular Starbucks turned out to be a poor location in terms of being able to hear what people were saying. Between the music, extraneous chatter and occasional whirring of the bean grinder it was pretty tough to make out the questions and answers a good chunk of the time. One woman told me she was leaving and would perhaps try again later in the day in Estacada.
I did manage to catch some questions about the tax measures. Barton said he was concerned about the ballot titles. He said that he didn't believe that the titles were properly done and that he trusted the courts would make a good decision.
(Update: 10:50AM Incidentally, objective minds disagree with Barton)
There were also concerns raised about health care and education, but it was tough to hear the answers.
One of the attendees mentioned that Rep. Mike Schaufler was also holding a town hall that morning just a few miles down the road. Rep. Schaufler talked about the tax measures too, saying that they were "dividing the community" once more. Interestingly, he also talked about the budget and where perhaps more money could be saved. Schaufler specifically cited investing in drug and alcohol treatment programs and mental health treatment to avoid long and expensive prison sentences.
On that budget saving measure, I very much look forward to seeing Rep. Schaufler getting that one on the agenda.
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Oct 26, '09
In the long run, Rep. Schauffler is right about cost savings through improved drug and alcohol treatment (particularly since our state is among the worst in providing those services). However, that does not change the fact that to keep social services (including drug and alcohol treatment) at something close to current levels, we need to raise revenue right now.
Oct 26, '09
It is so nice that these two "Democrats" are willing to spread Republican talking points on the tax measures!!!
10:38 a.m.
Oct 26, '09
As someone who has attended at least a dozen of Rep Barton's town halls, I will say that there have frequently been many more than 2-3 people in attendance; including a' dog days of August' one that had at least 2 dozen folks. Those kinds of numbers were the norm during the session. He usually draws a cross mix of folks and engages people quite well. The background noise at Saturday's unusually distracting that day.
Rep. Schaufler's turnout was around 2 dozen as well- but not surprising, since they occur so infrequently. From what I could surmise, virtually all were from the Happy Valley area.
Oct 26, '09
Don't forget the role of decriminalization. You can put as much money as you want into treatment, but it won't make the policy credible if you're not treating disease, but suppressing behaviour that the government doesn't approve of.
A lot is spent on anti-tobacco ed. for the young. The numbers of teen smokers is increasing. They're not self-harm mavens (at least not the majority) and they're not totally thick. They reject the ad. campaigns because the people producing them have lied at every opportunity.
Current US drug policy uses a suppression model. We need to move to a harm reduction model. I find it galling when people that wish to suppress behaviour in pursuit of human domestication appropriate the language of harm reduction. They trot out that language at town hall meetings because they know the alternative is indefensible.
Then you have dittoheads like sicksofbluedogdemocrats that want more suppression, funded by...who knows, but grrrr, not taxes. Another coward that can only shout his daily lines at a polite blog. Twit, twit! #bringbackdueling. Fight someone that is prepared to take you on your own terms, if you dare. This isn't the place to recite your talk radio lines for today. Hey, isn't that how the madrasah work? Most those imams can't even read the Q'uran. They just memorize inflammatory passages, out of context, and teach worthless young males to shout them to all. Suggests a slogan. "Clear Communications. The American Madrasah!".
10:52 a.m.
Oct 26, '09
"t is so nice that these two "Democrats" are willing to spread Republican talking points on the tax measures!!!"
Foul ball, on at least one count. As I said, I've listened to Rep Barton in a number of venues, and not once have I heard him say that the revenue measures-which he voted for- were a bad idea or unnecessary. Quite the contrary, he has stated that they were necessary, including Saturday. Barton also stated that healthcare reform was the "moral and economic' issue of the day.
Schaufler on the other hand, was the lone "D" not to vote for the tax measures. He strongly stated that he didn't support them because of how they were packaged and negotiated. He also said that Oregon doesn't have a volatile or bad revenue structure. His solution was to advocate for more job creation in timber and our water resources.
Oct 26, '09
Hey, sicksofbluedogdemocrats for brains... Why are they not actually Democrats (you put it in quotes)? I assume that someone that likes to shout "learn English, stupid" knows how to speak the language.
If it was an error, then, "learn to speak English, stupid"!
11:17 a.m.
Oct 26, '09
Foul ball, on at least one count. As I said, I've listened to Rep Barton in a number of venues, and not once have I heard him say that the revenue measures-which he voted for- were a bad idea or unnecessary. Quite the contrary, he has stated that they were necessary, including Saturday. Barton also stated that healthcare reform was the "moral and economic' issue of the day.
No, he didn't say the measures were bad or unnecessary. But he did push the negative messaging on the ballot titles, despite objective and reasonable arguments to the contrary.
I didn't hear him say that the measures were "necessary" on Saturday, likely because of all the noise. I'd have to take your word for it that this was accurate even though I was sitting there.
Schauffler indeed appeared to be against the measures, although to his credit he copped to the fact (and perhaps because there were "in-the-know" people there in the audience regarding the budget) that there would be drastic budget cuts should the measures not pass. I agree that his solutions for job creation were bizarre and not especially helpful.
I did very much like what he had to say on treatment, however. I plan to watch him much more closely in the next full session to see if he'll actually follow through with the idea.
Oct 26, '09
You guys should really spell-check. It's SCHAUFLER.
12:24 p.m.
Oct 26, '09
You guys should really spell-check. It's SCHAUFLER.
You're absolutely right. I should have checked it more carefully. Fixed. And thanks for the head's up.
12:38 p.m.
Oct 26, '09
Also in attendance at Rep Barton's coffee and pictured above: HD 51 candidate Cheryl Myers.
2:05 p.m.
Oct 26, '09
Nice catch DH.
A lot of us are interested in her every move, and this one's definitely doubleplusgood. I wanna see her everywhere in 51.
Nov 19, '09
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