Rep. Sal Esquivel R - District 6 is a Consistent Voter
Paulie Brading
Do you ever check to see how your State Representative has voted on Bills? If you do wonder how your state legislators vote try visiting one of my favorite sites, www.votesmart.org. Project Vote Smart has tracked votes since January of 2006 not only of the U.S. Congress, but state legislatures as well. The organization states, "it has strict policies. procedures and structures that guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy." The organization ensures that all votes listed have been vetted by a group of 150 non-partisan political scientists and journalists from all 50 states before they post a legislators vote to their website.
I continue to note that my representative consistently votes Nay in the Oregon House of Representatives. I also continue to note that nearly all of the bills he voted Nay were passed by the majority of the House members.
I am particularly interested in Mr. Esquivel's votes on education. Out of 13 votes from April of 2006 to June of 2009 my representative voted Nay nine times, missed one vote and voted Yea three times. I dug deeper to learn he's voted Nay on Increasing Moist Tobacco Tax and Regulations and Nay on Expanding the School Bullying law and Nay on Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects.
I checked on his votes on energy issues to find my representative voted Nay on everything from the offshore drilling moratorium, greenhouse gas emmissions, promoting green jobs and Klamath River dams. Just yesterday he was one of four Nay votes on SB 1031 A on continuing existing prohibitions on siting destination resorts in areas of especially sensitive big game habitats determined by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission. SB 1031 directs counties to submit traffic impact analysis of proposed developments and to follow the prohibition that destination resorts cannot be in Fire Regime Condition Class 3 areas. Yesterday SB 1031 A passed with 55 Yea votes and 4 Nay votes.
And just yesterday my representative voted Nay in a deep economic recession. HB 3655 blocks employees from using credit histories as a routine part of employment screening. The Measure was needed to help Oregonians struggling to find work not have to worry about overdue payments from morgages or student loans in the hiring process. The Measure passed.
When last challenged for his seat in 2008, Mr. Esquivel deflected his opponents criticism of him for failing to vote for morgage reform and health care for children. He paternalistically patted his opponent Lynn Howe regularly on the head, telling radio stations and stating in public forums that she wasn't aware of the bills and the problems inherent in those bills. Nothing could be further from the truth. She is back and still as informed as ever.
Lastly, Rep. Esquivel signaled just today that he will likely vote Nay on yearly legislative sessions because, and I quote, "there is alot of bad bills that pass to justify our being here. I'm probably going to be a no vote folks."
Get to know who represents you and how they vote. Votes portray how a politician stands on issues. My representaive has made his stands clear and consistent.
Disclosure: I support Lynn Howe for State Representative, House District 6 - Medford.
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Feb 23, '10
Not sure the point here. We elect men and women to vote how best they believe represents their district. Clearly that differs from person to person, and somehow I sincerely doubt that if Sal chose to support those pieces of legislation you would have rushed to BlueOregon, gushing with praise and words of support.
I guess intellectual honesty just doesn't fit the agenda.
Feb 23, '10
RT, isn't there enough around Mahonia Hall to keep you busy?
Feb 23, '10
And just yesterday my representative voted Nay in a deep economic recession. HB 3655 blocks employees from using credit histories...
If I remember correctly, Rep. Esquivel has some troubling financial history of his own including a bankruptcy. I wouldn't say he's a shining example of credit worthiness. Perhaps the voters should decline to "hire" him back.
Feb 24, '10
The information how each rep. votes is also available from OregonLive. http://gov.oregonlive.com/legislators/
I could never work out how to actually find this information from votesmart.
Feb 24, '10
Posted by: JTT | Feb 23, 2010 10:43:25 PM If I remember correctly, Rep. Esquivel has some troubling financial history of his own including a bankruptcy. I wouldn't say he's a shining example of credit worthiness. Perhaps the voters should decline to "hire" him back.
agreeing with
And just yesterday my representative voted Nay in a deep economic recession. HB 3655 blocks employers(!) from using credit histories...
No contradiction? Would love to hear the logic behind that!
Feb 24, '10
His support of SB 999 disturbs me. This is a "special rights" bill for veterans, which basically encourages DAs to give veterans a free pass on criminal conduct. I don't know about my fellow vets, but I haven't put 16 years in the service and 3 deployments to allow my fellow vets to commit crimes against civilians, including felony domestic violence. Most of us signed up to fight that kind of evil. Esquivel unapologetically championed it, saying veterans should have special rights. Hey, I'm OK with educational benefits, but somehow giving vets greater leeway to commit felonies seems over the top.
Feb 24, '10
Having had the experience of working around Rep Esquivel, I would agree that he has been a consistent voter on the house floor for his entire time here. He looks at legislation differently than most. He makes sure the motivation is not created by special interest groups. He looks at each piece of legislation on its merit and not its party affiliation. He looks at legislation that will improve the jobs situation in his district and his state. There has been a lot of legislation that comes before this legislature that just is poor legislation. It creates expense that the tax payers cannot afford and makes it harder for employers to pay wages and benefits which drive not only the state economy but funds programs for those in need of help in these difficult times.
There should be no surprise that Rep Esquivel’s voting record matches the feelings of the people in his district. He is well aware that they have sent him here to do just that. His views are that of the minority party and he consistently remains concerned about the unsustainable, unfunded and out of control actions of the current leadership. The people of this state want leadership and want their elected officials to act responsibly. So when Rep Esquivel says No to many of the current legislative actions I count on him to continue to do so until such time as we can afford to look at programs that would be nice to have but we cannot afford.
And can we afford annual sessions? The inquiry is deeper than the surface question. Do we really need annual sessions? Rep Esquivel is among some of the first to agree that being here for six months is not ideal – but other states with more population than Oregon manage to do their work in shorter periods than six months. He believes Oregon could do the same – and the Legislature has the privilege of being called into a special session if need be to handle budgetary issues. Having experienced these last two “Emergency Special Sessions” where the atmosphere has been purely partisan and the issues dealt with had little or nothing to do with Emergency issues, he remains definitely opposed to spending the approximately $37,000 extra a day for annual sessions.
5:10 p.m.
Feb 24, '10
Dylan Amo, former director of Club for Growth for Oregon weighs in to praise Rep. Esquivel's voting record in the Oregon House of Representatives. For those readers unfamiliar with Club for Growth it was founded in 1999 as a national group and recently was a major booster/contributor to MA. Scott Brown's Senatorial race.
In addition, Club for Growth has spent wads of cash to support Michele Bachmann MN, Mike Pence IN, and Ron Paul TX. The organization regularly attacks moderate Republicans and the Republican Party. Their main goal is to support the most conservative candidates they can find, apparently they have found Medford's Rep. Sal Esquivel. Esquivel is no stranger to special interests. He recently held a meeting with Freedom Works, Russ Walker back in November in Medford.
Interested in Club for Growth policies? Here are their major goals: ~ Reduce regulatory reform and deregulation ~ Replace Social Security with personal retirement accounts ~Replace the tax code with a flat tax ~Repeal the Death Tax ~School Choice ~Expand Free Trade ~Reduce Income Tax rates
Stay tuned for more praise for Rep. Esquivel.
Feb 24, '10
It’s disappointing that Paulie would try to engage with me this way. Rather than try to deal with the message … let’s attempt to smear the messenger (or in this case the Representative) through a guilt by association scare tactic. It is sad but typical in politics today.
Paulie, make no mistake, I am very proud of my background BUT you should know that I do have an excellent reputation on both sides of the aisle and I work with lots of people in the BlueOregon community. Just as readily as they’ll speak to my core conservative values … they’ll attest to my history working in a bipartisan manner within the halls of Salem and in Portland City Hall.
I’ve enjoyed my working relationship with Rep. Esquivel. He is a man that has always treated me with respect. Even as a lowly staffer for a freshman member.
So ... if your "Stay(ing) tuned for more praise for Rep. Esquivel." Add respect to my previous comment.
Feb 24, '10
That explains a lot. They're the real people. I was sure someone was impersonating Paulie, by now I see. Dylan Amo is "somebody". Thought that made absolutely no sense, Paulie responding to a point more than a day after posting!
Just wondering...does someone clue you off that "somebody" responded, or do you check back regularly, and simply choose to ignore the regulars 99% of the time?
Feb 24, '10
Dylan--- I am the grandchild of a Michigan statewide elected Republican politician, think Sal often makes more sense than Dennis Richardson (and has stronger roots in Jackson County) but don't agree with Club for Growth and think some of Sal's newsletters are more opinion than fact.
So what does that make me?
Feb 24, '10
I say we split the State in two pieces. One for rural one for urban. I think this is the best way to Better Oregon. Why should one group be able to force their will and violence on another group who has completely different beliefs? I suppose if you are the winner that is the one getting their way forced on the other, you like it that way. How progressive is that? grunt grunt..
Feb 25, '10
LT (or Liz)-
I've spoken with you a few times in the Capitol. Actually, I think we spoke yesterday when you wondered our hall asking about the differences between the House and Senate versions of the annual sessions legislation.
"What does it make you?"
This answer comes off as way too Taoist. But IT makes you ... YOU. Nothing more. Nothing less. When I see you wondering the halls I don't say to my coworkers ... "Here comes the blogger" ... "Or the woman that is concerned about X" ... "Or the woman that represents X issue." We know you as Liz.
2:07 p.m.
Feb 25, '10
Such a lack of candor from Dylan. He was a registered lobbyist for Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform prior to his Club for Growth gig. As an avowed supporter of Republican Rep. Matt Wingard he also likes to post on blogs.
One of his favorite blog lines when someone posts something he doesn't like is to announce he's been personally attacked. The sentence "Typical..y'all launch into a personal attack...." is not uncommon for Dylan to alledge.
But Dylan is no slouch when it comes to personal attacks. Here is what he wrote during the 2008 State Treasurers race on the Oregon Catalyst blog about then candidate, now State Treasurer, Ben Westlund.
"Ben's drug induced ramble talks the multiple roles of the Treasurers office. Unfortunately for Ben, his answer created a hierarchy of the multiple hats the Treasurers wear. And again I blame the COCAINE...because he clearly forgets what he just said 2 minutes ago. It's a s***ty attempt to stress his legislative experience."
Feb 26, '10
by: Galen | Feb 24, 2010 10:10:35 PM
I say we split the State in two pieces. One for rural one for urban. I think this is the best way to Better Oregon. Why should one group be able to force their will and violence on another group who has completely different beliefs? I suppose if you are the winner that is the one getting their way forced on the other, you like it that way. How progressive is that? grunt grunt..
Cascasdia has been trying to split off, from Mexico to Vancouver, CA, for 20 years. The cult of the 19th centruy maps, the dominant continental religion would never permit it though.
Paulie seems pretty proud of only responding to Dylan. It think this is an ex-lovers thing. Also sounds like she wants to take over from Ms. Mel as Madame La Snarque, with the cocaine bit. Paulie, we NEVER forget drug warriors. We do forget tired old hacks.
Feb 27, '10