If you live in Oregon, your ballot is in hand or on the way. Before you fill it out, here is what the people asking for your vote have planned for after the polls close — and how close they are to being able to do it without a single Republican vote.
Oregon Democrats hold 37 of 60 House seats and 18 of 30 Senate seats. At 40 and 20 they reach two-thirds, which ends the minority’s walkout and makes any governor’s veto overridable. Independent health insurance broker Lisa Lettenmaier of Health Source NW walks through the Universal Health Plan Governance Board’s October draft: up to $94 billion a year by 2032 from the board’s own consultant, a 9.89% employer payroll tax, a 12% household health care contribution, a report pushed past the election, and carriers leaving Oregon’s individual market. Then Jen Hamaker, president of Oregon Natural Resource Industries, on the Climate Protection Program: a cap that tightens every year, Community Climate Investment money headed to California nonprofit CALSTART, and Oregon’s founding membership in the International Carbon Action Partnership, signed by Governor Ted Kulongoski in 2007. Show notes, sources and the full transcript: www.ispyradio.com/oregon-election-2026-supermajority-health-plan-climate
15-37 Oregon Mismanages Everything | It won’t even follow its own laws
Show 15-37 Summary: In the difficult shadow of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, we welcome two guests to discuss Oregon’s mismanagement of everything. Does Oregon do anything right? We discuss two key areas Oregon constantly bungles: health care and school trust lands.
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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: September 13th & 14th, 2025 | Guests: Lisa Lettenmaier & Dave Sullivan
This Week – Oregon Mismanages Everything
This week was tough. Only an hour before our scheduled interview with our first guest, Dave Sullivan, we learned that Charlie Kirk had been shot. We called to reschedule as we absorbed the news, we prayed, only to learn Charlie had been pronounced dead.
It really put things into perspective. But we also know Charlie wants everyone to continue the fight and to stand up to the Left, and, in Oregon’s case, that’s the Left’s dominance of state government. Which is why everything Oregon does is mismanaged.
It’s stunning, really. You’d think just by sheer accident they could do something right. But from ODOT to schools to health care to its forests to its school trust lands, Oregon is the prime example of what not to do.
Insurance costs are going up. Need a better, less-expensive plan? Transitioning to Medicare? Those are Lisa’s specialties. Visit healthsourceNW.com
Oregon Mismanages Health Care
First up, we welcome back our go-to expert for health insurance, Lisa Lettenmaier. Because insurance cost in Oregon is going up. A lot. What has Oregon done to mess this up? And why is it going up? We know what the Left-stream media blames. Just like everything else, they are blaming Trump and his policies.
Except, that’s not the reality. Tune in to hear what’s actually causing the increases.
Oregon Mismanages its School Trust Lands
We also welcome back Dr. Dave Sullivan. The last time we talked, he had filed a lawsuit against the State of Oregon for refusing to obey its own laws to manage the School Trust lands. That was 2022. No surprise, Oregon is still mismanaging them. Except it’s gotten worse.
The good news is — there is great news.
Lawsuits to force Oregon to obey the law are expensive. If you can, please donate to help them continue the fight. Head to OASTL.org (Oregon Advocates for State Trust Lands) to explore more or jump to their donate page.
Dr. Sullivan’s case just won their first hurdle: standing. And to do so, the Coos County judge relied on a somewhat unconventional approach. Because of the historical facts, he ruled the case fell under common law, not statute. While it seemed a novel approach to us, applying common law, it turns out, is more common than we thought. Listen and find out why.
And when you do, you’ll also hear just how badly Oregon gets its school trust lands “management” wrong. Turns out, they’re fighting more than 200 years of history.
The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version
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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info
Lisa Lettenmaier is an expert at finding you the best, most cost-effective health insurance or Medicare plan. Let her help you take the hassle out of it. Call or email her, just visit HealthSourceNW.com
Dr. Dave Sullivan’s website is Oregon Advocates for School Trust Lands (OASTL). Head to oastl.org to learn more. Please donate to help them fight Oregon’s mismanagement to make Oregon follow its own laws and manage the school trust lands. It’s in Oregon’s Constitution for pity’s sake!
More links coming soon…
13-30 An Unbelievable Number | Oregon’s Healthcare Transformation
Show 13-30 Summary: Lisa Lettenmaier, a former accountant and current insurance expert, has been tracking Oregon’s healthcare system for decades. We take a deep dive with her into Oregon’s healthcare system and the completely unsustainable path its on — unless you want to eventually spend every penny on “free” healthcare.
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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 29th & 30th, 2023 | Guest: Lisa Lettenmaier
This Week – Oregon’s Healthcare is Unsustainable
This week, we’re looking into Oregon’s health care system. And, in particular, the tidal wave of spending, endless spending, we’re dumping into what Oregon thinks is a “free” system. Or that’s the goal. It will just take a few hundred billion to get there — and another few hundred billion to keep up the illusion of “free.”
Oh, and doctors are looking to form a union. Because that always makes government expenditures go down, right? Yikes.
We talk with Lisa Lettenmaier, our go-to expert on insurance as well as the inner workings and financial health of the healthcare system.
Diagnosis: the patient is sick.
Oregon’s Healthcare Transformation
There’s a saying I’m sure you know: “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” Along those lines, “Those who do not learn from Oregon are doomed to repeat its mistakes.”
Oregon’s forest management polices often lead to more forest fires. Which is stupid because all we need to do is to do something. Like the most obvious: open the forests up and let timber companies harvest — especially in areas prone to fires. Plus the government makes money. Twice. They get a payment from the sales of timber and they get all those taxes from good-paying jobs and companies making profits.
But the government would rather not do that (logging sounds like hard work) so they would rather spend money on putting out forest fires than make money doing things that would prevent the problem.
Oregon is pretty much setting its health care system on fire. And, once again, it’s a problem they caused — and then they set it on fire.
Tune in to find out just how bad it all is. Yes, the state of Oregon’s healthcare system will make you sick.
The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version
Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.
Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info
Lisa Lettenmaier’s company is Health Source NW. You’re going to pay the same rates whether you buy directly or through Lisa, so why not get the expertise you need to find the plan you want?
Show Summary: Socialism is a parasite that only survives because it lives off the blood of capitalism. It does not create wealth, it creates ruin. It has tried and failed. Oregon has been seeing its effects for decades. But this election, it could all change.
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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 15th & 16th, 2022 | Guest: Sen. Dennis Linthicum
This Week – Socialism: The Prosperity Parasite
When you think about it, socialism is a parasite that only survives because it lives off the blood of capitalism. Socialism does not create wealth, it creates ruin. It has tried and failed in many countries, leaving destruction in its wake. But those pushing it here in America and especially in Oregon, are only able to promote it because those pushing it are funded by the profits (and taxes) generated from capitalism.
Oregon has been seeing socialism’s effects for decades. But this election, it could all change.
By the way. We used to call Oregon the Petri Dish of Leftist politics. Now it’s the Wuhan Lab of Leftist politics.
Senator Dennis Linthicum on Socialism in Oregon
We welcome back Senator, Dennis Linthicum (SD-28, Klamath Falls) to talk about socialism and its effects in Oregon. As a state senator in Oregon, he sees the policies pushed by the democrats, many of whom are socialists or wannabes. They just haven’t come out of the closet yet. But once Oregon is full socialist, they’ll drop the mask.
Be sure to get Dennis’s newsletter. It’s easy! Just send an email to dennis@electdennis.com to sign up
During the interview, we focus on four broad policy issues: society (education, crime, attacks on the family, etc.); economics (we’re living it under Biden); environment (spotted owl, the Klamath area has been under assault for decades, timber); and healthcare. On health care, Oregon just got a billion dollars to experiment with Medicaid, expanding it to virtually everything because, you guessed it, global warming.
And, Measure 111, is on the ballot this year. It would make universal health care permanent in Oregon by making it a constitutional right.
Remember. Environmental laws are how they control businesses. Healthcare is how they control people.
That’s how they seized such broad control during covid.
Don’t miss this in-depth examination of socialism and it’s impact on Oregon. We have this year to stop it. And, for once, things are looking good.
Be sure to check out the Featured Reading section in the links section for five great articles describing socialism.
The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version
Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.
See the Cato Institute’s Report Card on America’s governors. Notice how the entire Left Coast gets an “F”: “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2022” (Cato Institute, Oct 12, 2022)
[Canada’s healthcare hellscape is now offering assisted suicide to wounded veterans] Veterans Affairs says worker ‘inappropriately’ discussed medically assisted death with veteran (Global News Canada, August 17, 2022)
‘Abandoning People’: Canada’s Broadening Assisted Suicide Law Dangerous for the Vulnerable, Critics Say (The Epoch Times, August 24, 2022)
NHS Waiting List Tops 7 Million for First Time Leaving 1 in 8 People in England Waiting for NHS Treatment (The Daily Skeptic, Oct 13, 2022)*Wait up to 8 hours for an ambulance
Euthanasia is Now a Leading Cause of Death in Canada, And Ethicists Are Freaking Out (Daily Caller, Aug 12, 2022)
“[Canada’s] broad eligibility has led to more than 10,000 Canadians being euthanized in the most recent year for which data is available, making it the sixth leading cause of death in the country, the AP reported.*Matthew Yglesias: “Canadian institutions seem to be using euthanasia legalization to avoid the expense of caring for the disabled.”
Show Summary: When Obamacare was passed (rammed through without a single Republican vote), it was supposed to fix health care and lower costs. All those savings, remember? What happened? But there are more problems and more spending than ever. This week, we continue our talk with healthcare-system expert, Lisa Lettenmaier, but zero in on the two root causes of many of, if not all of, our many healthcare crises.
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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: August 6th & 7th, 2022 | Guest: Lisa Lettenmaier
This Week – Our Many Healthcare Crises
We continue our deep dive into the problems plaguing our health care system—the many healthcare crises and the ever-growing expense. How is it that we are spending more than ever — by far! — on healthcare and yet it’s just one crisis after another?
But this week, we zero in on the two main problems. And they should be no surprise, really, for anyone who has followed I Spy Radio’s many shows on healthcare or for anyone who has a lick of common sense. The two root causes are money and government. Particularly, government interference.
Healthcare crises in the UK. THIS is what they want to emulate?
We bring back our healthcare system expert, Lisa Lettenmaier. Lisa is currently an insurance agent and owns Health Source NW. But her background is in accounting, overseeing budgets and forecasting for major companies. So when she looks at the healthcare crises, she is viewing it not just from an insurance standpoint but from a systemic-analyst’s viewpoint.
Need healthcare and not sure where to turn? Give Lisa a call. Her website is www.HealthSourceNW.com. She helps individuals and businesses throughout Oregon and SW Washington make sure they have the right coverage for when, God forbid, they really need it. Will your policy cover what you think it does?
The Root Cause of So Many Healthcare Crises
This week, you’ll also hear an extended opener from I Spy Radio host, Mark Anderson, on the government’s interference — sabotage, really — of the normal free-market forces that would normally lower cost and improve care. Mark walks you through what a free market system would look like. Hint: we don’t have one now (remember Obama et al. when they were pushing Obamacare: “the free market failed”?), not in health care. And he walks you through the government interfering with the free market, much of which can be traced back to a 1943 IRS ruling.
If you didn’t already think “they” are destroying things on purpose, you’ll believe it after this show. No one, no government, makes this many “mistakes” on purpose.
The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version
Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.
Show Summary: We are dumping billions upon billions into our healthcare system. But there are more healthcare crises than ever. What’s going on? We talk with health care system expert, Lisa Lettenmaier to find out what’s happening and why there are so many crises. Next week, we’ll look at the root cause of so many of these problems and what can be done.
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.
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 30th & 31st, 2022 | Guest: Lisa Lettenmaier
This Week – Our Many Healthcare Crises
We are diving deep into the problems plaguing our health care system. The many healthcare crises and the ever-growing expense. How is it that we are spending more than ever — by far! — on healthcare and yet it’s just one crisis after another?
Does anyone even remember that we were promised that Obamacare would fix all this? And cost less?
We bring back our healthcare system expert, Lisa Lettenmaier. Lisa is currently an insurance agent and owns Health Source NW. But her background is in accounting, overseeing budgets and forecasting for major companies. So when she looks at the healthcare crises, she is viewing it not just from an insurance standpoint but from a systemic analyst’s viewpoint.
And it’s not good.
We talk with Lisa about the many healthcare crises right now but focus on three in particular that are the most troubling. Including the mental health crisis, which, in many ways, is emblematic of the other system-wide problems.
We’ll continue this deep dive next week and focus in on the root of all these crises. Which has changed everything—and not for the good.
The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version
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Show Summary: It was only six years ago that Oregon had one of the health care systems and markets in the nation. But then Democrats “fixed it” with their zeal for universal health care. A look back—and can it be fixed?
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Five Different Times, on Seven Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!
There’s a scene in Star Trek III when the crew of the Enterprise have stolen the ship and they’re being pursued by the Excelsior, the newest, fastest ship in the Federation fleet. The Enterprise goes to warp and the Excelsior prepares to give chase—only to have the engines grind to a halt and come to a dead stop. Scotty turns to Dr. McCoy, hands him some bolts, and says, “Here, Doctor. From one surgeon to another. The more they overhaul the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.”
And that’s pretty much what happened to Oregon’s health care.
Oregon’s Health Care: What Happened?
What happened? In a word: Democrats. In their zeal to push Oregon into “universal health care,” also known as “single payer.” Or, more accurately, “socialized medicine.”
A Look Back at Oregon’s Health Care
This week, we’re joined by Lisa Lettenmaier, the owner and operator of Health Source Northwest. Lisa is our go-to expert for health care, especially the “unique aspects” of Oregon’s health care market, given our lurch toward socialized medicine.
It’s open enrollment time. Do you have an insurance plan? The deadline is Dec. 7th for Medicare and Dec. 15th for individuals. See HealthSourceNW.com
Oregon’s Health Care System Transformation
In 2013, then-Oregon-Governor John Kitzhaber, a huge proponent of single-payer/universal health care/socialized medicine introduced a grand plan for Oregon’s health care. It was generally known (in typical socialist lingo) as “Oregon’s health system transformation.”
Kitzhaber convinced Obama to spend billions on this new innovative health care system that was going to transform health care as we know it: improve care and lower costs. You read that correctly. We spent billions to lower costs.
It introduced regional monopolies known as “coordinated care organizations” (CCOs). This, despite studies that repeatedly shown that ACOs (associated care organizations, as they are known in Obamacare) do not save money. And do not improve care.
Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations
To set up these monopolies, they introduced legislation to bypass antitrust laws, violating the free market. The Oregon Health Authority (nice name, Nazis!) became the overseer of all things health. And the bureaucracies. Multiple layers of bureaucrats between you and your doctor. All of whom end up on Oregon’s PERS. A global budget that removed the ability to track monies allocated per patient. (Because that wouldn’t ever lead to abuse, grift, and corruption.) And a never-before seen cap on Medicare and Medicaid.
Basically, CCOs violated every free-market principle that would lower costs and improve care.
And, sadly, Oregon Republicans helped pass it. Yes, Republicans. How did this happen?
Useful Idiots: Oregon’s Republicans
Basically, the transformation was sold to gullible Republicans under the guise of “saving money” and “local control.” After the fact, they were “surprised” that this turned out to be a big giant push toward socialized medicine.
In reality, it shouldn’t have surprised any of them. Why? Because on the first page, the first paragraph of the bill it clearly said, “It is the intention of the Legislative Assembly to achieve the goals of universal access.” Yes. Universal health care. Single payer. No private health care. The finest that Venezuela has to offer.
True Stories of Socialized Medicine
Here’s a reminder: no democrat running for president has ever lived under socialism. Not one. That’s right. None of them have ever lived under universal health care. And yet Bernie and Warren and several others are pushing for both socialism and universal health care.
Know what’s funny? Have you noticed that when people in those universal health care systems run into trouble, they go to where there isn’t a universal health care system? Instead, they come here to the U.S. rather than waiting weeks or months for treatment.
Well, not everyone. Just the rich. And the politicians.
When you run into trouble in a universal health care system, you go to where there isn’t a universal health care system
Want some true stories from people who have lived under socialized medicine? See this thread on Twitter from Carlos Osweda.
Podcast Version
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Obscure Model Puts a Price on Good Health—and Drives Down Drug Costs: Concept called QALY places dollar value on the health medicines can restore; ‘starting to influence decision-making’ (Wall Street Journal, Nov 4, 2019)
Don’t want to do abortions, sterilization, or assisted suicide? Tough. Or so says a NY Federal Judge: “Federal judge blocks HHS ‘conscience rule’ for health care workers. Rule was slated to go into effect November 22” (KTVZ, Nov 6, 2019)
What Fuels Oregon’s Health Care Transformation? Lies and Cash
Show Summary: The one thing the many tentacles of Oregon’s health care system have in common: the lies they tell to sell it. This week we expose the many lies told to pass Oregon’s health care transformation, and our predictions that came true. Oregon’s new health care sales tax—Measure 101? Yep. They lied. Plus, a new tax on small businesses—SB 1528B.
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Original Air Dates: Feb. 24 & 25, 2018 | Lisa Lettenmaier
This Week: We’re talking with Lisa Lettenmaier, who, as an insurance agent pays close attention to the entire health industry, especially the insurance trade and health care/insurance costs. We call on Lisa whenever we hear of legislative actions related to health care that are going to affect your life.
As we predicted and reported on back when the Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) model was first being implemented as part of Oregon’s health care transformation, our legislators had other motives and that their “cheaper better system would not work using the CCO model.
This week, we check with Lisa about our past predictions about Oregon’s version of Obamacare and where all this is headed.
Health Care as a Human Right
One prediction about was that the Democrats’ real motive was to turn our health care system into a single payer system—also known as “universal health care” or “socialized medicine.” This has been the dream of Oregon’s Democrats since Day One of Oregon’s health care transformation: a slow, steady lurch toward universal health care.
We can tell you that, exactly as we predicted, Legislators are right now in this session are trying to pass universal health care under the mistaken belief that health care is a “human right.”
Here’s reality. It is not a “right” if it depends on someone else providing it to you.
This is not about “rights,” as those who support single payer systems falsely proclaim (including Republican candidate for governor, Dr. Knute Buehler does) it’s about gaining power. Period.
And with Democrats firmly in control, the high costs of spending on Oregon’s health care transformation isn’t stopping nor will it go down. Not to mention plenty of other Democrat pet spending ideas. Think “Cap and Trade,” “Carbon Tax”, and “Sales Tax.” They’re all barreling your way.
Measure 101: They Lied
Remember Measure 101? Oregon’s new health insurance sales tax? Remember how they just needed this little bitty tax to “save” Medicaid? Remember how it was so desperately needed that if they didn’t get it, the poor and elderly would lose their insurance?
Yep. They lied about that too.
Listen to find out where the money from that new sales tax is actually going.
Oregon Democrats Punish Small Businesses
And don’t miss the discussion on yet new taxes, SB 1528B. The Oregon Democrats are working overtime to take away the very tax cuts Trump’s administration worked to get through. It is a tax on small businesses, including farmers and mom-and-pop stores—except for two professions. Tune in to hear who gets the loopholes.
Oregon’s health care transformation. “Year Zero: Leaders At Oregon’s CCOs Share Lessons From The Early Days” (Health Affairs, Sept 11, 2014)
Last sentence of the article, “Perhaps the biggest question, though, is what keeps the CCO model sustainable once grant funding and federal subsidies sunset.”
