Category: School Choice

Oregon’s timber industry is about to be resurrected. Unless Oregon Democrats screw it up. They are defying Trump’s EOs, risking billions in federal funds. Plus tax hikes, woke ideology, and more.
15-13 Oregon Democrats Defy Reality, Risk Billions | Plus Oregon’s Timber Revival?

15-13 Oregon Democrats Defy Reality, Risk Billions | Plus Oregon’s Timber Revival?

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Show 15-13 Summary: This week on I Spy Radio, Representative Ed Diehl (HD-17) exposes how Oregon’s Democrat supermajority is working overtime to block President Trump’s Executive Orders, risking billions in federal funds to defend their woke ideology. Joined by Dr. Bob Zybach, who unpacks the benefits of these EOs for Oregon’s forests. Healthy and a revived timber industry. We dive into the state’s tax hikes, a controversial Santiam Canyon fires report, and the high-stakes battle between federal progress and democrat resistance. Tune in to understand what’s really at stake for Oregon’s economy and future.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, seven times over the weekend, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on our network of stations.

Air Dates: March 29th & 30th, 2025 | Guests: Bob Zybach and Ed Diehl

This Week –  Oregon Democrats Choose Ideology over Oregonians

Oregon stands at a crossroads. President Trump’s Executive Orders are set to unlock federal forests in Oregon for logging. This could revitalize the state’s timber industry, bringing jobs and economic growth. But there’s a major roadblock: Oregon’s supermajority Democrat-controlled state legislature is digging in, pledging to stand in the way of any positive federal changes at every turn—defending their woke ideology even at the cost of billions in federal funds.

The Promise of Healthier Forests

First up, Dr. Bob Zybach, a forest management expert and consultant, sets the stage by explaining why Trump’s EOs are a game-changer. He argues these orders could restore sustainable logging and healthier ecosystems—the first truly good news for Oregon’s forests in decades. He also shares a proposed executive order from the National Wildfire Alliance for even more practical solutions.

Dr. Zybach also uncovers a new Oregon Department of Forestry report on the 2020 Santiam Canyon fires, which claimed nine lives. The report shifts blame to the federal forest service, just as new legislation looms. Is this timing a coincidence—or a distraction?

Dr Zybach just published his third anthology, Forest Reforestation & Restoration. Maybe you should get a copy and give it to your legislator…?

Democrats Defy Progress, Risk Billions

In the second half of the show, Representative Ed Diehl (HD-17) reveals how the Democrat supermajority is working overtime to block Trump’s EOs. They’re defending their woke ideology, even if it means losing billions in federal funds—including for Oregon’s universities, which are already on shaky ground after recent waivers were revoked for non-compliance.

Tax Hikes to Offset the Loss? Yikes!

To make up for the potential loss of federal dollars, Democrats are taxing everything in sight. As we discuss, it’s probably easier to list what’s not being taxed. Rep. Diehl explains how these tax hikes will hit Oregonians hard, especially as the state risks its economic future. Oregon is already seen as one of the least business-friendly states in the nation. What you’ll hear will not change Oregon’s image on that front. Like SB916. Which already passed out of the senate and will pay union workers to strike.

Why This Matters to You

This episode is a wake-up call for every Oregonian. Will the state embrace federal progress, or will the Democrats’ defiance cost us billions? Tune in to hear Rep. Ed Diehl and Dr. Bob Zybach lay out the facts. As Mark Anderson says, this show might inspire even non-affiliated voters to take action.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Bob Zybach Segments – Timber Revival

  • Check back for Dr. Bob’s recent article when it is published (sorry, we jumped the gun a bit).
  • Read the National Wildfire Alliance’s proposed executive order (PDF) to bring back common sense wildfire fighting and prevention
  • New Oregon Department of Forestry Report Says PacifiCorp Wasn’t Responsible for Santiam Canyon Fire (Willamette Week, March 19, 2025)* “The long-awaited report supports the utility’s version of the deadly blaze.” *The report, released today to the Oregon Journalism Project under a public records request submitted in January, is a huge victory for PacifiCorp, the embattled utility that in 2023 was found by a jury to have been grossly negligent in declining to shut off power to the Santiam Canyon fire.
  • New Oregon Department of Forestry report says PacifiCorp wasn’t responsible for Santiam Canyon fire (Salem Reporter, March 19, 2025)
  • Judge dismisses $33 million timber lawsuit against U.S. Forest Service over 2020 wildfire response (Central Oregon Daily News, Dec. 18, 2024)

Ed Diehl Segments – Supermajority Democrats Seek to Punish and Defy

  • Legislation: HB 3917 Creates Catastrophic Wildfire Fund (Oregon Citizens Lobby, March 24, 2025)
  • Climate change tax: SB 1187, “Relating to greenhouse gas emissions” (Bill Overview, Text and Summary * You can submit testimony about SB1187 at this link. Deadline is April 7th.
  • PPS, OSAA targeted by feds over transgender policy (KOIN, March 25, 2025)
  • House GOP asks Feds to investigate OHA health care $$ misuse (Oregon Catalyst, March 24, 2025)
    • “This is state-sponsored medical experimentation on kids, paid for with your tax dollars,” said House Health Care Committee member Representative Ed Diehl (R-Stayton). “And when OHA’s own commission found no evidence to justify it, they buried the report.”
  • Trump administration revokes some federal funds to Oregon colleges, universities (KGW, March 27, 2025) *”The US Department of Education announced Thursday it is revoking federal waivers to Oregon and California colleges and universities that it says are using funding to provide services to migrants in the country illegally.”
  • Office for Civil Rights Launches Title IX Investigations into Portland Public Schools and the Oregon School Activities Association (US Dept of Education, Press release, March 25, 2025)
  • Democrats seek to revive ranked choice voting — AFTER voters rejected it by 58%
  • Nearly 60% of Oregon counties face program cuts (OPB, Mar 26, 2025)
    • At least 21 of Oregon’s 36 county governments, from the Portland metro area to rural southern Oregon, are facing deficits that could prompt cuts to public services, including law enforcement, road maintenance, and health care .

Related and Background Research

  • Not mentioned but this will be the focus of next week’s show:
    • Oregon officials challenge Trump’s election order as threat to democratic process (KVAL, March 26, 2025)
    • Oregon officials say Trump’s voting EO likely to face legal challenges (OregonLive, Mar 26, 2025)
    • Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Protects the Integrity of American Elections (Whitehouse, March 25, 2025)
      • The order would also require all ballots be received by election day nationwide, effectively moving election day for states like Oregon with vote by mail.
      • It would also cut federal funding to states that “don’t take reasonable steps to secure their election
      •  Oregon officials challenge Trump’s election order as a “threat to democratic process.”
  • The Climate Scam is Over (Dr Robert Malone, Substack, March 22, 2025)
    • Peer-reviewed AI analysis completely debunks all of the “man-made” claims
  • Trump Tackles Election Integrity With Sweeping Executive Order; Will Punish States That Don’t Comply (ZeroHedge, March 26, 2025)
  • US Supreme Court Rejects Long Running Youth Climate Lawsuit (Watts Up With That, March 25, 2025)
  • Calculating the “Social Cost of Carbon” with the GIVE Model: An EPA Model Not Ready for Prime Time (Heritage, January 24, 2025)
  • New Forest Service report reveals agency wants to max out logging (Wild Earth Guardians, April 5, 2024) *Agency proposes cutting both public involvement and forests important for combating climate change.

 

14-28 Data Shows Bidenomics Suffering from Economic Dementia

14-28 Data Shows Bidenomics Suffering from Economic Dementia

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Show 14-28 Summary: We’re talking economics and the rather grim picture being painted by the data—if someone actually bothers to look. You know. Like what the media used to do. Hold truth to power. While America’s economy is suffering through economic dementia under Joe Biden, there is not a lot of good news. Not even in supposedly “good” job reports — because they keep revising things down when they think no one is looking. But there are some bright spots ahead. If, and only if, we change who is in charge of our economy. So when will the media stop covering up Joe’s economic dementia?

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: July 13th & 14th, 2024 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – Bidenomics: Economic Dementia

Despite the left stream media’s best cheerleading efforts, actual data about the economy is getting out. And it’s not good. Spikes in business bankruptcies. Especially small business bankruptcies. Even personal bankruptcies.

With all the business bankruptcies, and others reporting on the verge of bankruptcy, it’s no wonder that there is also a spike in store closings. If they continue at this rate,

In an America suffering from economic dementia, we need some common sense. Which is why we turn to Jonathan Williams, the Executive Vice President of Policy and the Chief Economist for ALEC. The American Legislative Exchange Council.

Economic Dementia: Did you know?
Under Bidenomics, 27% of Americans say they skip meals due to rising food costs.And 39%  skip meals to make house or rent payments

It seems there is no end of bad economic indicators. (Just take a gander at the show notes below.) A spike in bankruptcies. Cruelly keeping interest rates high Thousands and thousands of store closures. Including discount stores. (How bad is Bidenomics when people can’t even afford to shop at discount stores?) And regulations weighing down businesses. And in the middle of all that Joe Biden and the democrats want to raise taxes? That’s not just economic dementia. That’s economic suicide.

The only way out is to change the people in charge. Because if the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results, then electing the same politicians is political insanity.

The left-stream media and democrats have signaled (okay, shouted) they want Dementia Joe to go. CNN, if you can believe it, just fact-checked Biden’s “high-stakes news conference”. Yes. CNN!

Be on the lookout. Joe Biden’s economy has been terrible ever since he’s been in office. But the media has been providing propaganda cheerleading to convince you otherwise. Bt when the left-stream media stops covering for Joe’s economic dementia? That’s when you’ll know the knives are out.

Because no one wins an election when the economy is in the toilet.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Jonathan Williams and ALEC Links

  • Jonathan’s organization is ALEC – the American Legislative Exchange Council. Find out more at ALEC.org.
    • Encourage your representatives to join ALEC! There are state and city memberships. Help elected officials understand economic problems and the real solutions available to get out of them! Send them this link: https://alec.org/membership/.
    • And you too can join as a private-sector member!
    • You can follow Jonathan on Twitter at @TaxEconomist.
  • How did Oregon do in the 2024 edition of Rich States, Poor States?
  • Jonathan’s op-ed in The Daily Caller: “Biden’s Pledge To Let Trump’s Tax Cuts Die Has Stirred Up A Hornet’s Nest” (Daily Caller, June 10, 2024)
  • Those blue states that have seen the light: Hawaii and Connecticut: “‘Blue’ States Make Fiscal Progress: Jonathan Williams on American Radio Journal” (via ALEC, June 27, 2024)

Economic Dementia Links & Info

  • Department of Interior shuts down millions of acres of Alaska to all oil, gas and mining activity (Just the News, July 8, 2024)
    • Biden’s Department of Interior blocked 28 million acres of federal land in Alaska from any oil or gas development or mining
    • Biden’s Interior also blocked a 200-mile gravel road that would have connected mining districts in West Central Alaska to a highway that runs through the middle of the state.
  • Bidenomics: 27% of Americans Say They Skip Meals Due to Rising Cost of Food (Gateway Pundit, July 6, 2024)

We have so many economic dementia links, let’s break them into sub-categories.

GDP

Jobs

  • Peter Schiff: More Doom in the Data (ZeroHedge, July 10, 2024)
    • It was especially bad for manufacturing jobs: Zero manufacturing jobs were created in May. And 8,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in June.
  • Payrolls Rise 206K After Huge Downward Revisions As Unemployment Rate Jumps To Three Year High (ZeroHedge, July 10, 2024)
    • May jobs revised from 272K, to 218K (-54K; -24.8%)
    • April jobs revised from 165K to 108K (-57K; -34.5%)
  • June Jobless Rate Triggers Sahm Rule: Recession Imminent? (ZeroHedge, July 10, 2024)

Bankruptcies & Store Closures

  • Business Bankruptcies Jump 34 Percent in First Half of 2024 (Epoch Times, July 8, 2024)
    • In the first half of this year a total of 3,016 commercial Chapter 11 bankruptcies were filed — an increase of 34% from last year
    • Small business filings rose by 61%
    • [Lumber Liquidators] Home improvement chain mulls bankruptcy (Daily Mail, July 8, 2024)
  • US retail bloodbath continues as store closures hit 2,600 so far this year – here’s the full list (UK Daily Mail, May 8, 2024)
  • The death of the dollar store: 99 Cents Only and Family Dollar to shutter hundreds of stores in ‘retail apocalypse’ (Daily Mail, May 26, 2024)
  • Nationwide discount retailer with 1,400 stores sparks fears of mass closures as it mulls bankruptcy (Daily Mail, July 5, 2024)
    • Big Lots has used up most of its cash on hand because of the losses so far this year — on top of  the last two years
    • Big Lots said all of this raises substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue.
    • How bad is Bidenomics when people can’t even afford to shop at discount stores?
  • Wilco says it could lay off 70 people, close hazelnut processing facility (Statesman, July 8, 2024)
  • Kroger-Albertsons selling 186 Oregon, Washington stores in merger bid (KOIN, July 10, 2024)

Oregon’s Own Economic Dementia

 

 

14-24 Accountability in Government

14-24 Accountability in Government

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Show 14-24 Summary: This week it’s about accountability in government. Because how can you trust people who have abused their positions—or the next person to hold that office—until there has been accountability? We talk with speaker and author Gianna Miceli about the lies of Doctor Fauci and the recent 9th Circuit ruling that said the covid vaccines were not vaccines and therefore cannot be mandated. And we talk to Dennis Linthicum, about his run for Secretary of State. An office that is sorely in need of accountability. Especially since it is supposed to hold other agencies accountable. And we look at one of the key powers Oregon’s Secretary of State has: the power of the audit. Just where did all those millions of dollars K-12 schools suddenly disappear to?

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: June 15th & 16th, 2024 | Guests: Gianna Miceli and Sen. Dennis Linthicum

This Week – Accountability in Government

Accountability in government. It sounds great. It’s needed. So why does it seem to never happen?

This week, it’s about getting back some integrity back in government and holding people accountable who have abused their positions of power. And there is no greater example of that than Dr. Fauci. Who is walking away from his long-time government job with millions in his pocket from the companies he should have been holding accountable.

We talk with speaker and author Gianna Miceli about the many lies of Doctor Fauci. As a researcher in common law, are there ways to get some accountability in government the current system doesn’t allow? And we talk about the recent ruling by the 9th Circuit that said the covid vaccines were not vaccines and therefore cannot be mandated. Is this going to open up the floodgates to more lawsuits? (How could it not?)

And then we talk with former senator, Dennis Linthicum, about his run for Secretary of State. An office that is sorely in need of accountability especially since it is supposed to hold other agencies accountable. We focus especially on one of the powers the Secretary of State’s office has the power of the audit. What has happened to all of those millions of dollars the school’s got? and why are they all suddenly short and their budgets by millions of dollars? The Newberg School District is just one example. Three months ago, the superintendent said they were some $8 million to the good. But by a May 28 budget meeting, he announced they were $4 million in the hole. And he suddenly went on a medical leave so he can’t be fired. That’s not suspicious at all.

If everyone wants accountability in government, why does it never happen?

Take Action! Be sure to check last week’s show about chasing ballots. And to find out more about Turning Point Action’s App.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Opener

  • CDC Changed Definition of ‘Vaccine’ Because of COVID-19 Vaccines: Emails (NTD, November 3, 2021)
  • ANALYSIS: What 9th Circuit Ruling Reinstating Challenge to LAUSD’s Employee Vaccine Mandate Means (RedState, June 8, 2024)
  • Federal Court Revives Lawsuit Against Los Angeles COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate (The Epoch Times, June 10, 2024)
    • The case hinges on the effectiveness of the vaccines.
  • Employees Can Sue L.A. Schools Over COVID Vaccine Mandate Because Shots Don’t Prevent Transmission, Appeals Court Rules (The Defender, June 10, 2024)
  • 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Acknowledges Plaintiffs’ Claim that COVID-19 mRNA Jab is NOT a Vaccine, But a Therapeutic (GWP, June 8, 2024),
  • Employees Can Sue L.A. Schools Over COVID Vaccine Mandate Because Shots Don’t Prevent Transmission, Appeals Court Rules (The Defender, June 10, 2024)

Gianna Miceli Segments (1–3)

Dennis Linthicum’s Segments

  • Find the duties, oversight, and mission of Oregon’s Secretary of State at the Secretary of State’s webpage. (No surprise, the current woke SoS has it filled with gobbledygook woke buzz words.)
  • Newberg superintendent will go on medical leave after firestorm over district’s financial situation (OregonLive, June 11, 2024)
  • Dennis Linthicum’s campaign website is www.electdennis.com

 

14-17 Biden Kills Title IX | Democrats Destroy Women’s and Girls’ Rights

14-17 Biden Kills Title IX | Democrats Destroy Women’s and Girls’ Rights

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Show 14-17 Summary: You’d think Biden and the Democrats destroying women’s and girls’ rights, that used to be protected under Title IX, would be big news. That throwing out protections for biological women would make front page/lead story status on every mainstream media print and news outlet. Well. It would have if Trump had done it. But since it was Biden and the Democrats stripping women of their rights, the mainstreamers are running cover by ignoring it. We talk with Title IX expert, Sarah Parshall Perry from the Heritage Foundation to find out just how bad it is. And it is as bad as you could imagine, The dream of education is now a woke nightmare for women and girls.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on ou1t network of stations.

On a Personal Matter…

Dear Friends and Listeners,

I want to thank all of you who have been praying these last few weeks for my wife, Karla Davenport, who is also I Spy Radio’s producer. She lost her ability to stand on Good Friday morning, due to a demyelinating disease. To make matters far worse, while in the hospital she contracted a life-threatening bout of “C diff.” This is a highly contagious bacterial infection. Her internal system had completely shut down, her kidneys were failing, and all of it was causing complication throughout her body, including her heart.

After two weeks in the hospital, she was deemed out of danger and was released to skilled nursing where she remains as  she goes through physical therapy to regain her strength and mobility. We are not yet sure when she will be released home. Your prayers for her full recovery are so very deeply appreciated.

My very best,

Mark.

Original Air Dates: April 27th & 28th, 2024 | Guest: Sarah Parshall Perry

This Week – Title IX Protections for Women and Girls are Dead

Last week, we saw the total destruction by the Biden administration of Title IX — the landmark civil rights law that has protected women and girls in education since 1972. Those rights are now gone. Replaced by woke ideology that legally considers anyone who thinks of themselves as a woman as a woman.

We know that these kind of things never stay in their own sandbox. How will this bleed over into other elements of society? One area the new changes directly assault is freedom of speech. With these rule changes, the government has officially moved away from protecting free speech, it’s sacred duty according to the first amendment. It is instead censoring speech. And even compelling speech — what you must say. With these new rules on the books, if you misgender someone by not using their preferred pronouns it can be the basis of a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Why Did Democrats Destroy Title IX?

But why would the Democrat party, which claims they are all for women’s rights, completely upend women’s and girls’ rights an education. And why do this if there is clear and compelling legal precedence against it?

We unpack all of that with Sarah Parshall Perry, a Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. She has decades of experience in education and previously served as senior counsel at the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Education Department. And she is extremely knowledgeable about Title IX’s protections for women and girls. Or at least what they used to be.

If you ever needed a reason for school choice this show will give it to you.

And, ladies, if you are a democrat, it’s time for a divorce from them.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform. Or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

13-45 Battle Lines Have Been Drawn | Oregon Censorship Lawsuit Filed

13-45 Battle Lines Have Been Drawn | Oregon Censorship Lawsuit Filed

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Show 13-45 Summary: A split show this week. First up, we talk about the battle to get School Choice in Oregon on the November 2024 ballot. There’s been some confusion out there about the funding and how the typical strings-attached could impact home schoolers. Except that is not the case in this case. Find out why. But the bulk of the show is discussing the Oregon censorship lawsuit just filed this week. We bring on the lawyer in the case to discuss why it was brought. And what was so incendiary in Oregon’s “election disinformation” surveillance system. Don’t miss the state’s response to some Republican senators who dared question the state. The war is on.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: Nov 11th & 12th, 2023 | Guests: Donna Kreitzberg and Stephen Joncus

This Week – In the Trenches

There was a flurry of letters this week as opposing sides squared off over our 1st Amendment rights and, what many feel, is Oregon’s government attack on its own citizens. And from an office no less, that is the supposed to be the defender of Oregonians’ rights—the Secretary of State.

Two weeks ago, we brought you the shocking story of the Secretary of State seeking to hire an AI firm to track, monitor, and report anything the SoS Office deems “mis-, dis-, or mal-information” about the elections. (See Show 13-43, “Oregon’s New Surveillance System to Track, Censor “Election “Disinformation.”) The RFP they posted sought an Orwellian tech company that would surveil social media, websites, blogs, podcasts, and even radio broadcasts.

As we continue to cover this developing fight to protect our rights, there have been some breaking news items as the Secretary of State rightly felt the heat. Among the developments are a new lawsuit filed in federal court, thanks in large part to I Spy listeners’ multiple donations and generosity.  A big thank you to all who donated to make this legal defense of our First Amendment possible.

Also, the Republican Senators and Representatives sent a letter to the Secretary of State, admonishing the government’s actions and demanding that they stop.  But, not surprisingly, the government effectively responded with “It’s no big deal, we’re just monitoring.  And oh by the way we did the same in 2022 and see, no big deal. Plus, other states are doing it too.”

Great way to build trust, Oregon.

This week, we take a look at the legal issues behind this horrible idea.

Questions about School Choice Funding and Regulations

Map: Astounding Home Schooling Student Enrollment Increases by State, via Washington Post
Click map for full size

But first up we bring on Donna Kreitzberg to bring us a quick update on the hard work to get school choice  on the November 2024 ballot. I Spy Radio has fielded a lot of questions about the funding mechanism for this ballot initiative. Why? Because we have smart listeners. And people know that whenever there is government funding, there are strings attached. So wouldn’t that mean that stay-at-home parents who home school their children will be facing regulations tied to that funding?

The short answer is no. Not in this case.

Because we really dig deep into how Education Freedom for Oregon’s ballot initiative specifically protects against that. It will add an amendment to Oregon’s constitution that protects the choices parents make about their children’s schools.

That constitutional amendment ensures the funding attached to the children does not open the door to government regulations. This is especially true for home schooling — parents choices will be protected and puts a firewall between parents and government regulation. And that will keep government out of the classroom.

Have you signed the school choice ballot initiative petitions? You can download a single-signature petition or a petition with room for ten signatures. Head here to get your petitions and be part of the solution! Be sure to sign both of the ballot initiatives.

Note: there is a third school choice ballot initiative being floated by lobbyists that would not protect parents and home schoolers. In fact, it will almost likely inadvertently open the door to it and even religious based private schools.

Lawsuit to Block Oregon’s Free Speech Surveillance System

Then we welcome Oregon attorney Stephen Joncus, who filed the Oregon censorship lawsuit suing Governor Kotek, Secretary of State Griffen-Valade, and Elections Director, Woon. We discuss the impact the surveillance would have on Oregonians, the destruction of our privacy, and the suit’s request to put a halt to this contract.

Tune in to hear about the Oregon censorship lawsuit, why it was filed, what was so wrong with the State’s RFP for

To nutshell things, the entire problem is the State operates behind closed doors and is doing its best to keep it that way. They sue people who want to look. Or ask for access to public databases. They keep things behind a wall of secrecy, and now they want to block and control communication and discussion about a situation they have kept hidden. And then wonder why people question the integrity of the elections. And will attack anyone who does questions — to paint them with the Yellow Star of “disinformation.”

Read the Oregon censorship lawsuit, Thielman, et al. v. Kotek, the letter from GOP legislators demanding the SoS cease and desist, and the Secretary of State’s response to the legislators about their Orwellian RFP. As we predicted, it’s “Oh, we’re not really stopping free speech.” Sure. Threats don’t have a chilling effect on speech, does it Oregon?

Where are the democrats in all this? U.S. Senator Ron Wyden is against the government monitoring its citizens. So where are other democrats? Unless you speak out against censorship, you’re for it.

And, oh, by the way, it turns out there’s already another surveillance system already in place. That was news to us too. Don’t miss this important show!

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

School Choice Segments

Oregon Censorship Lawsuit Segments

13-40 Can We Trust Our Elections Again? Election Solutions To Do Just That

13-40 Can We Trust Our Elections Again? Election Solutions To Do Just That

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Show 13-40 Summary: Nothing breaks trust quite like the way government does. It’s one thing when someone close to you lies. It’s quite another when government lies and then sues you if you dare question them. And this after telling you “trust us, there’s nothing to see here.” Really? So why not let people look. Trust in government is at an all-time low. (Perhaps it has something to do with threatening and jailing people who dare question them.) But elections absolutely should be something we can all trust. Including, and especially, the losing side. So why is government trying so hard to not build trust? But there are election solutions to rebuild trust. Listen to find out why a return to hand counting can rebuild trust in our elections. And help restore (a little) trust in government.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: October 7, 2023 | Guest: Marc Thielman

This Week – Election Solutions

Trust in government is at an all time low. Perhaps because it is now suing, fining, and/or arresting their political opponents. And threatening people who dare question them. But elections absolutely should be something we can all trust. Even the losing side. Especially the losing side. Shouldn’t they have faith that they may have lost but it was fair, open, and trustworthy?

So why is government trying so hard not to build trust? Especially trust in our elections.

But there are election solutions. And one of the biggest is also a simple one: return to hand counting.

Election Solutions that Would Restore Trust

We welcome back Marc Thielman, a former Republican candidate for Oregon’s governor, and current political activist. Marc was also the superintendent for the Alsea School District during Covid, which the State of Oregon tried desperately to close down but Marc stood firm against their mandates. During that time, Alsea saw their enrollment swell by 500%. And they also never had a case of covid be traced back to their school. Funny that.

As a political activists, Marc is currently involved with getting real school choice on the 2024 ballot and is one of the lead plaintiffs in an election integrity case against Oregon and which is currently in front of the 9th Circuit.

But this week, we’re talking about trust and election solutions. And how those two intermingle.

Return to Hand Counting Ballots

On Sunday, October 1st, I Spy Radio host, Mark Anderson, attended a hand count training with Linda Rantz, who spearheaded a real hand count in Osage County, Missouri. He was able to see first hand how hand counting not only can be done but should be done. On this week’s show, Mark walks people through the process, how efficient it is, and how this election solution has trust designed right into it. Yes, there are potentials for human error. Just like there are potentials for human-caused errors in machine counts. But this hand-counting system is designed for transparency and trust. Because it recognizes the potential problems and makes it easier for many eyes on them to prevent them.

Which is entirely different than what blue states do. Hide the errors and attack people who dare question them. States like Oregon and California. The latter of which just passed a law to block hand counting. Now, why would you do that unless you want to make it easier for the state to cheat and keep things hidden?

Hand Counting Demonstration

Election Solutions: Ballot hand counting demonstraiton and luncheon. Hosted by Clean Voter Rolls and Oregon People's Vote
Click for full size

If you’d like to see how hand counting ballots would work and could restore trust in the elections, Marc Thielman will be co-hosting an event in Salem on Saturday, Oct 14th, from 10am to 2 pm. The cost is $13 for the spaghetti luncheon. See flyer at right for more information.

Marc will be joined by election integrity expert, Joe Oltmann, from Colorado.

Please RSVP at 503-757-0670 or www.CleanVoterRolls.com.

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

13-39 Marxism in America | Cultural Marxism in our Schools and Spending

13-39 Marxism in America | Cultural Marxism in our Schools and Spending

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Show 13-39 Summary: Thanks to Joe Biden and the party formerly known as “democrats,” Marxism in America is on the rise. In our economy and in our society. We see it in our schools, as states push woke ideology on our children. And now, Marxism is a a core part of teacher hiring practices. We see it in government regulation. And a key element of Marxism is to break a country so it can be refashioned into a socialist utopia. Except they don’t exist and have never existed. But with our out-of-control government spending, we’re about to go broke.

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Original Air Dates: September 30th & October 1st, 2023 | Guests: James Hirsen and Joe Penland, Sr.

This Week – Cultural Marxism

In the wake of World War 1 and the disaster of Russia’s Marxist revolution, which left millions of dead Russians, Marxists the world over began to realize Marx focused too much on economics and not enough on culture. So they began infusing Marxism into culture, like how it was “greedy” to be successful. Or that the family unit needed to be attacked and torn down. So people would turn to the State as their family. And on and on it went. Until we arrive at today’s situation. Where Marxism in America is everywhere, even if you don’t know it.

But cultural Marxism isn’t just in Hollywood films and classrooms. Now it’s a hiring criteria for teachers. We check in with best-selling author, James Hirsen, about yet another new Marxist attack on our country: “Cultural Marxism Being Used in Teacher Hiring.”

That’s the title of James’s terrific new article—among many others. Check out all of his brilliant and insightful commentary on his website, JamesHirsen.com.

Marxism in Our Government

Thanks to FDR, who flooded the federal government with socialists, and to Harry Truman, who flooded the federal government with National Socialists (a.k.a., “Nazis”), our federal government — wait for it — is flooded with Marxists. Socialists, communists, and full-blown Marxists.

As a result, the conversion of our one-time-American government to Marxism is nearly complete. And we’re quickly speeding down the tracks to the last stop on the line.

Marxism in America isn’t always hidden. Sometimes, it’s right in our faces. Like our spending on socialized giveaways.

Our federal government has been spending trillions outside of its budget. Whenever you spend more than you budgeted, you have a deficit. And we’ve been spending about 20-30% beyond our budget every year for decades. Our national debt, which stands at $33 trillion (and growing fast), is the accumulation of all those years of spending more than our income.

We welcome first-time guest Joe Penland Sr., a successful businessman who also has over 26 years of banking experience. For the last year, he has been trying to wake Americans up to the tipping point of debt we are fast approaching.

All that debt and for what? When a business borrows, it’s typically to buy land or equipment. Hard assets. Which they will then use to generate more money. Effectively, they are borrowing the means to pay off the money they are borrowing. Not so with government. We are giving money away and getting no assets in exchange for those giveaways. (Unless you consider votes for more giveaways to be an asset.)

We talk to Joe about the hard decisions ahead.

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Joe Penland’s Segments

Related Marxism in America Info

  • The Deep State Behind the Deep State (Liberty Sentinel, Sept 26, 2023)
  • Marxism hates the family structure. Check out this article: “AI girlfriends are ruining an entire generation of men” (The Hill, Sept 26, 2023)
    • It’s the statistics here that are so troubling: “America desperately needs people to have more babies, but all the signs are pointing toward fewer relationships, fewer marriages and fewer babies. There have been 600,000 fewer births in 2023 in the U.S. relative to 15 years ago. The number of children per woman has decreased by more than 50 percent in the last 60 years.”
    • “In 1940, there were 42 workers per beneficiary of Social Security. Today, there are only 2.8 workers per beneficiary, and that number is getting smaller.”

 

 

13-38 Get Educated – School Choice, Woke in Corporate Boardrooms

13-38 Get Educated – School Choice, Woke in Corporate Boardrooms

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Show 13-38 Summary: This week, it’s about getting an education – and pushing back on the woke society is pushing on us. In our school systems and pushing back on woke corporations, like Disney, that think they know better about what society needs than what we Americans think. But what happens in those board rooms? And just how much power do activist shareholders have — who want to make a company go woke or, conversely, stop a company going woke? We also catch up with the effort to get real school choice on the ballot here in Oregon. And how a terrible personal accident has reignited the effort.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: September 23rd & 24th, 2023 | Guests: Donna Kreitzberg and Scott Shepard

This Week – Get Educated on Woke

This week, we are talking about woke in the corporate boardroom. And its negative impact on a corporation’s share prices and profits. So why do they do it? And when it comes to going woke even when it hurts shareholders, there is no better example of Bob Iger’s transformation of Disney and marching to the Left’s ideology. And did he set up his hand-picked successor, Bob Chapek — only to swoop in and clean up the mess he himself left?

But first, we talk about real school choice. We catch up with Donna Kreitzberg to hear how things are going to get real school choice on the ballot for Oregon’s 2024 general election. Education Freedom for Oregon just came through their summer events. So how did they do? How far along are they in their petition drive?

Have you signed one yet? Head to this link to download a signature form — then print it, sign it, and and mail it back.

We also wanted to talk to Donna because she recently had a horrible accident, that required her to be life-flighted out of the Montana wilderness. Hear how this personal tragedy has reignited her passion to get this on the ballot and to help kids get out from schools where they feel trapped.

And did you know real school choice will not only help kids trapped in bad schools but it can help free teachers too. Tune in to find out how.

Get Educated: On Woke Corporations and their Boardrooms

The Supreme Court recently overturned affirmative action as a gate for higher education. But what impact with that ruling have on woke corporations and their DEI initiatives? DEI being “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” DEI also being Leftist codespeak for, “exclude people who don’t share our political ideology.”

Yes, Bud Light gets the attention when it comes to “go woke, go broke.” But Disney is the true leader when it comes to going woke. Think about it. Did Bud Light ever have the pro-family, pro-America reputation that Disney once had. And Disney is now actively pushing a woke, transgender ideology at kids. Bud Light isn’t exactly pushing their products at kids.

Woke for thee but not for me. Disney reports DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusiveness for its employees but not its own board members or executives
Disney’s DEI for employees—but not the board? (click image for full size). Source.

We talk with Scott Shepard, the director of the Free Enterprise Project, which is the original and premier opponent of the woke takeover of American corporate life. Disney is back in the news as its revenues continue to crater, losing money on woke, box office flops, and bleeding Disney+ subscribers. And even at its parks, its one source of profits, attendance is down.

Could it be because they’re pushing transgender at kids even at their parks? Nah! Couldn’t be that!

We also talk with Scott about a broader view of corporations and their boardrooms. If, say, an activist shareholder wanted to take a corporate woke, could they? Just how much power do they have? Or what if a shareholder wanted to protect a pro-America company from an activist board?

You never knew corporations and free enterprise could be so interesting and entertaining.

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Donna Kreitzberg’s Segments (1–3)

Scott Shepard Segments (4–6)

Articles from National Center and the Free Enterprise Project
Disney’s Corporate Wokeness
Bob Iger: Determined to Take Disney to Ideological Ruin
  • Disney CEO Bob Iger: Marvel Diluted Audience’s Focus and Attention by Making So Many Disney+ TV Shows (Variety, excerpt via Slashdot.ord, July 17, 2023)
  • Bob Iger Reveals His Master Plan to Restore the Magic at Disney (Bloomberg, Feb 9, 2023)
  • Bob Iger Isn’t Having Much Fun: Eight months after returning as Disney’s CEO, he is straining to put out fire after fire, including streaming losses, an activist investor and TV woes (WSJ, July 14, 2023)
  • Is Bob Iger screwed up at Disney because of woke content, the removal of Disney+ content, and the possible sale of Lucasfilm? (David Mullich, via Reddit, June 15, 2023)
  • Politicization of Disney Gives Bob Iger Path to White House (Real Clear Politics, May 14, 2022)
    • Iger is (or was) considering a run for the presidency.
  • Bob Iger Lambasted For CNBC Comments About Strike: “He Came Out Of Retirement To Make $54 Million In Two Years And Says This” (Deadline, July 13, 2023)
    • One tweet: “Hollywood writers, on average, are paid $69,510 a year. Bob Iger is paid $74,175 a DAY.”
  • Disney Is in a Death Spiral and I Don’t See Bob Iger Reversing It (The Street, July 14, 2023)
    • A marked decline in attendance for Summer 2023 at Disney World and Disneyland
    • “According to boxofficemojo.com, Disney only has three of the top 10 grossing films thus far in 2023.”
Related
13-27 Time for Justice | Oregon Election Integrity Lawsuit Heads to 9th Circuit

13-27 Time for Justice | Oregon Election Integrity Lawsuit Heads to 9th Circuit

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Show 13-27 Summary: Honest people with truth on their side have nothing to hide. It’s the ones who cheat who refuse to open the books. So why does state after state, including Oregon, hide their elections — and sue anyone who dares ask questions to ensure everything is honest? It’s a good question. But they’re not being answered by Oregon. Election integrity is all about honesty. But telling people “trust us” while hiding the books is the opposite of honesty and transparency. We talk with Marc Thielman, lead plaintiff in the election integrity lawsuit that was dismissed for “lack of standing” by a magistrate judge and has been appealed to the 9th Circuit. Hear about the examples of potential fraud they cite, the reactions from the defendants, and why the judge looked so shocked.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: July 8th & 9th, 2023 | Guest: Marc Thielman

This Week – Oregon Election Integrity Case gets Appealed

If you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to worry about. If the elections are “free and fair”, as Oregon (and states like it) claims, then why not open the books and let people look?

Oh, no. We can’t have that. And we’ll sue you to stop you from looking.

That’s the state’s response in a nutshell. We saw it with the Tim Sippel case in Washington County, who merely wanted to look at the public data of voters. But he was told that was “proprietary.” And the state sued him. But a new election integrity case — brought by Marc Thielman and other I Spy Radio guests — was brought to court to pry open the shady election process.

Oregon Election Integrity Case Summary

From the Northwest Observer, here’s a quick summary of the case:

“[The] lawsuit asks for a declaration that Oregon’s mail-in voting and computer tabulation of votes are unconstitutional and asks for an injunction against [the] use of those systems in elections. The lawsuit [seeks] relief from laws and policies that inflate voter rolls, use hackable tabulators, [and which] mandate mail-in ballots. The lawsuit also also seeks to untangle the web of the state’s efforts to block efforts by citizens to discover the many nefarious ways an election can be compromised.

Now, why would Oregon, or any state, seek to block efforts by their own citizens to look for potential loopholes in the voting system that could potentially exploited to commit fraud? Shouldn’t they be thanking them for finding problems? Not suing them?

Maybe this is a good place to point out the obvious: people who benefit from fraud don’t like other people examining fraud.

Oregon: A Sad State of Affairs

We welcome back Marc Thielman to discuss the election integrity case and what’s going on in Oregon. We start by talking about the Oregon Senators who inexplicably ended their walkout. Despite having assured victory over horrible bills.

Did you know? Oregon’s governor is asking people to weigh in on over 300 bills she has on her desk right now and get feedback on which ones she should veto. YOU can let her know what you think. Especially horrible bills like the anti-parents’ rights bill, HB2002. See our Take Action page for more information, a quick list of some of the worst bills, and a link to the contact form to let her know. Already know? Jump right to the contact form for the governor.

But our main focus is the election integrity lawsuit. We discuss what they are seeking to do, some examples of the fraud they’ve uncovered, the magistrate judge’s cop out and dismissal for “lack of standing,” and the appeal to the 9th circuit.

Plus, don’t miss the discussion on the huge win for free speech. A judge granted an injunction to stop the Biden administration colluding with Big Tech to censor Americans.

One would think the Biden administration would be embarrassed they got caught violating the First Amendment. But no. They have appealed the ruling. Admitting they were censoring Americans and demanding the ability to continue doing it.

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Take Action! We won’t get to a bright future if conservatives don’t take action. Here are three things you can do right now:

  1. Sign the petition to stop Oregon Department of Forestry’s disastrous plan to abandon forests for 70 years. It takes 30 seconds to do. Go to OregonStrongerTogether.com and sign! Why? It will take state forests offline from timber harvests, removing 10s of millions of dollars every year from beneficiaries that depend on those timber harvests. Where will the state make up that money? More taxes, more fees. And don’ think the Leftist democrats aren’t eyeing ways to tax churches.
  2. Download and sign the petition to get the school choice initiatives on the 2024 ballot. Give parents the option to take their child out of woke, anti-Christian, anti-American schools. Woke teachers can’t indoctrinate kids who aren’t there. Head to EducationFreedomforOregon.com. These petition sheets must be printed and mailed back, because these are ballot initiatives. We need hundreds of thousands of signatures. You can even be a signature gatherer! See website for details. And to volunteer!
  3. Oregon’s governor has asked for public input on over 300 bills on her desk and wants to know which ones she should veto. Don’t miss this opportunity. Go here for the contact form to comment on bills like HB2002, the anti-parent-rights bill. Or go to our Take Action page for more information and a list of some of the worst bills she needs to veto.

Mentioned During the Show

Related Info

 

13-25 Education & Capitulation | The One Thing Oregon Parents Have Right Now

13-25 Education & Capitulation | The One Thing Oregon Parents Have Right Now

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Show 13-25 Summary: Conservative Oregonians once again are disappointed by the “republicans” in the senate. With victory assured and merely needing to coast down hill to kill off HB2002, the anti-parental-rights bill, they instead managed to steer into a ditch. Now, HB2002 is law. And the Oregon republican party is celebrating this as a victory? We interview Sen. Dennis Linthicum about what happened and why. But first, we speak with Donna Kreitzberg about education freedom for Oregon: school choice. Since we clearly cannot depend on elected officials to defend parents’ rights, school choice in Oregon is the one thing parents can grab hold of. It’s up to us now.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: June 24th & 25th, 2023 | Guests: Donna Kreitzberg & Dennis Linthicum

This Week – Republican Capitulation

Two weeks ago, we interviewed republican Senator Dennis Linthicum. And it was exciting. Republican had won. Their walkout had worked. They had killed off HB2002, the democrats’ anti-parental-rights bill. The bill that would allow the state to indoctrinate kids with leftist propaganda, permanently mutilate children to fulfill the weird sex fantasies of the adults in their lives, and punish people who did not bow to their extremism. It was dead. All hail the republicans!

And it wasn’t just HB2002. Horrible gun bills. Ranked choice voting. The republicans had stopped hundreds of far left bills in their tracks. All they had to do was stay out of the building and the bills were dead. All of them.

But then, less than one week later, the republicans inexplicably gave it all back. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

What on Earth happened? We talk with Senator Linthicum again this week to try to make sense of the mess.

Also This Week: Parents Rights and School Choice

Republicans claim to be for parents’ rights. They claim they want to stop radical far-left woke ideology, especially in schools. But we just witnessed them capitulate on HB2002, which puts the state between parents and their own children. So if republicans can’t be trusted to stand up for the values they claim to hold, what then?

Parents Rights - Case Studies Counts - Effects of School Choice Programs
Click for full-size. Note: some rows totals are off due to some studies have multiple findings.

Thankfully, there is a solution for parental rights when it comes to their child’s education. School choice. And because politicians of both parties can’t be trusted to put parents’ rights over the state, the ballot initiatives for school choice in Oregon goes around the politicians. The school choice initiatives will put school choice and the funding for it directly in Oregon’s constitution. No politicians needed. And politicians won’t be able to easily undo it if there is a change in political control.

Actual rights. No politician needed.

Check out this huge list where they are gathering signatures!

We welcome back Donna Kreitzberg to discuss how things are going, and some of the big events they will be at this summer. To qualify for the ballot, the deadline to turn in the signatures is July 5, 2024. Tune in to hear how you can help.

And did you know there are three main “cases” for school choice? The liberal, the libertarian, and the conservative? We most often hear about the first two. But it’s actually the conservative argument for school choice that experts have found to be the most persuasive. Why? Because it focuses on parents’ rights.

Imagine that.

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Linthicum Segments (4–6)

  • Bills moving forward after republicans end their walkout: Anti-gun bills, I-5 bridge, tax credits (Taxpayer Association, June, 21, 2023)
  • Post-walkout, another win for democrats: Oregon rent control bill passes out of Senate, heads to House (Portland Biz Journal, June 20, 2021)
  • Oregon lawmakers make deal to end Senate walkout. Here’s how key bills were changed (OPB, June 24, 2023)
    • Not only did republicans get little or nothing, they wiped out the careers of all those senators: “all 10 are expected to be blocked from running for reelection under a ballot measure passed by voters last November.”
    • And there’s this: “The deal is contingent on the GOP agreeing to waive normal procedural rules, a step that will allow Democrats to fast-track hundreds of bills awaiting passage in the Senate.”
  • Oregon lawmakers rush to pass bills backlogged by GOP walkout before end of session (OPB, June 22, 2023)
  • It’s not just Oregon: How to Arrest the Government – Trump’s indictment puts pressure on GOP aspirants to propose sweeping reforms. (Kimberley Strassel, WSJ, June 15, 2023)
    • “The indictment was the straw that broke the elephant’s back, the kick the party needed to get serious [about reforming government].”