Tag: HB2025

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15-40 What Now, Cash Cow? | Democrat Spending and Grift Hits a Pothole

15-40 What Now, Cash Cow? | Democrat Spending and Grift Hits a Pothole

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Show 15-40 Summary: This week we look at Democrat spending  and grift. Some of Democrats’ taxpayer-funded spending spree is being cut off. Trump made it clear at his U.N. speech, the climate change hysteria money spigot from the U.S. is being turned off. So what will Democrats do now? And Oregon Democrats who are determined to spend at all costs, voters be damned, shoved through the ODOT spending spree. So what can voters do now?

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Air Dates: October 4th & 5th, 2025 | Guests: Craig Rucker & Rep. Ed Diehl

This Week – Democrat Spending and Grift

Since our very first year on air, 2011, we have said if you want to stop the far-left, then take away the money they get from taxpayers.

Yes, it is that simple.

Thankfully, someone got the idea of that to President Trump. Because he is pulling the plug on green energy and Climate Change* funding. This is billions upon billions flowing from taxpayers to democrat-affiliated “environmental” organizations, studies at far-left universities to publish papers “proving” climate change and to find better ways to spread Global Warming* propaganda fear to keep the funding going. And that money comes back to democrats who vote for more Climate Change money. That does nothing for the environment. But does keep far-left activism funded.

* We capitalize Climate Change and Global Warming because they are a religion, not science

We welcome back Craig Rucker, the president of CFACT, to talk about Trump’s UN speech, and what the far-left and democrats will do now that taxpayer money is being cut off. And there is nothing a far-leftist hates more than to be forced to spend their own money. Or do something to earn it.

Plus, there’s a new danger from “green” energy that many people may not have heard yet: PFAS. These are the “forever chemicals” we’re discovering in so many of the things we buy. And it’s leeching into our food and water supplies.

PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals, including cancer, developmental issues, liver disease, low fertility, and hormone problems among others.

It turns out, not too surprisingly, that PFAS are in some solar panels and may be leeching into the ground when it rains. And where is the new craze to slap up solar panels? On farm land.

ODOT Spending Spree Becomes Law – Now What?

Despite overwhelming public outcry against the ODOT tax increase, Oregon Democrats spending continues unabated. And unnecessarily so. The Republicans’ plan would have not raised any taxes and instead forced ODOT to live within its means and reprioritize its existing spending.

But why do that when Democrats are hungry for money. Unions need money. And Democrats need unions. That’s why. And while they say they are all for “democracy,” even that’s a lie. Republicans put forward an amendment to simply ask the voters to decide whether to pass the ODOT tax. But Democrats rejected it.

We talk with Rep. Ed Diehl (R-17) about the Democrats’ unquenchable thirst for more money and the timeline of the ODOT bill roll out. There is already a referendum being put together but there are a lot of games Democrats can play to derail it. Tune in to find out what — and what you can do to help. (Hint: visit NoTaxOR.com to find out more.)

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

  • Craig Rucker’s organization is CFACT
  • Visit NoTaxOR.com, to help stop the ODOT $4.5 billion spending spree bill from going into effect. We need to hit the ground running!
  • Regulators weigh billion-dollar utility takeovers as bills rise for consumers (Fox17, Sep 27, 2025)
    • “Private equity giants like BlackRock and Blackstone are buying local utilities to power AI-driven data centers, sparking ratepayer and regulator concerns”
  • Ford CEO expects EV sales to be cut in half after end of tax credits (CNBC, Sep 30, 2025)
    • “…the industry learned that ‘partial electrification,’ such as hybrids, are easier for customers to accept for the time being.”
  • Trump administration to expand coal leasing, fund coal plant upgrades (CNBC, Sep 29, 2025)
  • Trump’s fiery UN speech targets immigration, climate change and global conflicts (National Security News, Sept 25, 2025)

 

Find your legislators in Oregon
15-34 Showdown: HB2025 Special Session, ODOT Tax Increase

15-34 Showdown: HB2025 Special Session, ODOT Tax Increase

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Show 15-34 Summary: Oregon Democrats are at it again. This week, it’s about prepping for the big special session coming up Friday, August 29th, to stop the Democrats from trying to ram through a massive tax increase disguised as ODOT funding in HB 2025. But is the ODOT tax increase really necessary? We talk with representative Alek Skarlatos about what’s happening and things he has seen as a freshman representative. Including some mismanagement at ODOT he personally knows about.

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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: August 23 & 24, 2025 | Guest: Alek Skarlatos

This Week – ODOT Tax Increase Special Session

Okay. Let’s start off with the most important thing about this week’s show: take action. Don’t be silent.

Submit your testimony to the legislative committing hearing HB 2025. And don’t forget to contact your legislators personally. Contact info for representatives is here and for senators is here.
Not sure who your legislators are? We’ve got you covered: use this map (search by address is in the top left).
And it wouldn’t hurt to let squishy Republican representatives Cyrus Javadi and Kevin Mannix know you want them to vote no.

Massive Oregon Tax Increase: ODOT Will Penalize Everyone

Some taxes you can avoid. Like sales taxes (and, yes, Oregon has sales taxes, just not on everything). But the ODOT tax increase will impact everyone. If you buy anything, it arrives on a truck. And often, it involves multiple trucks. At each stage, each of those trucks will be paying more. So you will be paying more. If you go to the store in a car, you get personally hit.

And it’s unnecessary. Oregon Republicans came up with a plan to make sure ODOT was fully funded — without raising taxes. Just force ODOT to prioritize its current spending. And stop ODOT”s wasteful spending.

Shouldn’t all wasteful spending in government come to a screeching halt?

ODOT Mismanagement

We welcome back Alek Skarlatos, a freshman representative from Oregon’s HD-4 in Oregon’s southwest. Alek is seeing the session through fresh eyes and it’s not always pretty. We talk about the upcoming special session. And we talk about reforming ODOT. There’s no question it wastes money. And there is even evidence of fraud. (See “fraud” in the show notes below.)

But perhaps the answer to Oregon’s Department of Transportation isn’t in Oregon. It’s across the ocean.

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

  • Don’t be silent. And don’t wait! Get your comments in before Friday’s special session!
  • As of our interview with Alek Thursday afternoon, the latest version of HB 2025 hadn’t even been released yet. But it is now. Read the latest draft of HB2025 (PDF).
  • Looks like fraud: ODOT retroactively changes bids to hide its overspending. “Unaccountable: ODOT covers up cost overruns” (City Observatory, May 22, 2025)
    • “ODOT also has a practice of “re-baselining” a project—retroactively altering the initial cost estimate to conceal cost increases. …ODOT permits itself to change the baseline construction budget—”re-baselining”— after a project has started construction. This practice allows ODOT staff to retroactively change the base budget for the project, allowing it to claim that the cost of the project hasn’t increased, and hiding cost overruns.”
    • How is that even legal? If a private business cooked their books like that, it’s hard to imagine how everyone involved not ending up in jail. Pretty sure an accountant would lose their license if they changed budgets after the fact to hide overruns.

More Reasons ODOT Needs a Full Audit

 

 

The I Spy Radio Show Logo, 2025. © Copyright January 2025. All rights reserved.
15-25 Oregon’s HB2025 Tax Hike: Why Businesses Are Fleeing and How to Stop It

15-25 Oregon’s HB2025 Tax Hike: Why Businesses Are Fleeing and How to Stop It

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Show 15-25 Summary: While the federal government and other states are busy improving the business climate by cutting spending and taxes. Oregon Democrats are busy going the opposite direction. Oregon already has an unwelcome, punitive business environment. But elected Democrats are finding inventive new ways to make it even worse. They want to pass the largest tax increase in Oregon’s history, which will hit not just businesses everyday Oregonians and their families. You’ll be ready to vote after this show.

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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: June 21st & 22nd, 2025 | Guest: State Representative Ed Diehl 

This Week – Democrats Burning Oregon Down to Rule Over the Ashes

A general rule in life is, if you’re in a hole, stop digging. Not for Oregon’s democrats. Oregon has among the worst business environments in the nation. Ranking near the bottom in many key areas and near the top in things like tax burden and regulations. While other states are changing their taxes and cutting spending and regulations, Oregon Democrats are tripling down to chase businesses away.

And we’re talking major businesses, mid-size businesses, and mom-and-pop businesses. Dutch Bros (Oregon’s second most valuable company) is moving its headquarters out of Oregon. As is Tektronix — which had been one of Oregon’s best home-grown success stories. They simply cannot afford to stay in Oregon.

But it’s not just taxes and fees and regulations. It’s the overall climate. And we don’t mean the weather. Not only are businesses being punished for being here. Oregon ranks at or near the bottom in its schools. Dead last ion 4th grade reading and math scores. Second to dead last in 8th grade scores.

Given all that (and it’s just tip of the iceberg) what else could Oregon Democrats possibly do to make this situation worse?

Funny you should ask.

Democrats: We’ve Reached Bottom, Let’s Dig Deeper

Yes. If there’s a way to make the situation worse, Oregon’s elected Democrats will find a way. And it’s the largest tax increase in state history. Even larger than the horrid Corporate Activity Tax in 2021. Which punishes business’s sales, not its profits. You can lose money in Oregon and still be taxed. For the “privilege” of doing business here.

Don’t be silent! Visit NoTaxOR.com to easily send a letter to your representative and senator and demand they stop the insanity of HB2025.

House Republican Caucus press release: Democrats push largest tax increase in Oregon history
Press release: largest tax increase ever (click for full size)

We welcome back Representative Ed Diehl (HD-17) to talk about what’s been happening in Oregon’s disastrous 2025 legislative session. The worst being HB2025, the transportation bill. It will raise at least $15.5 billion over 10 years.  Unless every Oregonian family and business just packs up and leaves.

Maybe that’s Democrats’ goal?

There is some good news. The carbon cap and trade scheme we discussed two weeks ago (Show 15-23, Democrats Assisting Oregon’s Suicide — with Republicans’ Help) is not in HB2025. The three republicans found some common sense again—thank you, I Spy Radio listeners for applying the heat!—and pulled their support.  Make no mistake. That is a major victory.

We also talk with Ed about what will it finally take for everyday Democrats to connect their vote to the ruin that elected Democrats are causing. Can anything? Or are they too willing to die on Woke Hill? Is this a step too far, even for Oregon Democrat voters? Finally?

Maybe. But with Judicial Watch’s voter roll lawsuit against the State of Oregon, along with additional federal scrutiny, that might be changing.

Tune in. You’ll be ready to vote after this show.

Want to know what really happened at the Judicial Watch hearing in Eugene? You can read Mark Anderson’s take on the hearing on this Facebook post. And you can read how the Oregonian got it wrong and mischaracterized what happened on this Facebook post.

Show 15-25 Addendum

Note 1: After our show, Democrat leadership pulled a dirty trick. Senate President, Rob Wagner, yanked Senator Mark Meeks, off his committee because he was against HB2025, and claimed Meek’s seat for himself to pass the bill out of committee. Democrats hate democracy. Here’s one of their leaders not liking how a Democrat would vote so he yanked him to prevent him from voting. Really? That’s how desperate Oregon Democrats are to raise taxes on Oregonians.

Note 2: during the show, host Mark Anderson got his elected positions flipped, referring to Meeks as a representative and Paul Evans as a senator. Those should be vice versa. (He hangs his head in shame.)

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

Links/Articles Mentioned

  • Visit NoTaxOregon.com (aka NoTaxOR.com) to easily send a letter to your representative and senator to demand they stop the insanity of HB2025.
  • Democratic Oregon House members celebrate Black drag performers, as nearly all Republicans boycott (OregonLive, June 19, 2025)
  • Transportation tax: Amendments, cancelled work sessions (Oregon Catalyst, June 20, 2025)
  • Billion $$ transportation tax hike would be rejected by voters (Oregon catalyst, June 17, 2025)
    • Democrat Representative John Lively acknowledged that Democrats’ billion-dollar-per-year transportation tax package would likely fail if put to Oregon voters
  • Ski resorts scramble after major insurer leaves Oregon (OregonLive, June 17, 2025)
  • As Congress struggles to cut spending, states expose Medicaid fraud on steroids (Just the News, June 18, 2025)
  • That Business Survey: Other states are trying to lure Oregon businesses away. A recent study says it’s working (KGW, May 13, 2025)
  • California’s Medicaid shell game steals from U.S. taxpayers and spends proceeds on illegal aliens. Laundering $4 billion/year for free healthcare for Illegals. (Citizen Free Press, May 18, 2025)
  • Oregon Dumps KNOWiNK TotalVote System Four Years Into Contract (Gateway Pundit, June 3, 2025)
    • KNOWiNK, now two years behind schedule to update Oregon’s voting system, ORVIS, and nearly $1 Million dollars over budget, forced Oregon to revert to using its highly unreliable and out of date voter registration system for the 2024 elections, when Oregon’s democrats won super majority
  • Can Any States Using KNOWiNK (Gateway Pundit, Jan 17, 2024)
  • President Trump Calls for Special Prosecutor to Investigate 2020 Election Fraud (The Gateway Pundit, June 20, 2025)

Related

  • Senate President Boots Dissident Senator Off Transportation Committee, Appoints Himself in Bid to Save Bill (Willamette Week, June 202, 2025)
  • ODOT Explains Billion-Dollar Budget Blunder (WWeek, Feb 26, 2025)
  • Controversial Cap and Trade Policy Reemerges (WWeek, May 22, 2025)
  • Oregon moves closer to law requiring carbon neutral public retirement plan (Capital Chronicle, June 16, 2025)* House Bill 2081, a bill to codify Oregon State Treasury’s 2023 “Net-Zero” plan into law, passed the Oregon Senate on Monday June 16th in an 18 to 10 vote with Republican Dick Anderson, voting with Democrats.
  • Oregon May revenue forecast warns “growth recession” ahead (Oregon Catalyst, May 14, 2025)
  • Who let the DOGE out? “Multnomah County Halts Funding for Housing Provider After Fight Over Billing Practices” (Willamette Week, June 17, 2025)