16-09 Problem Lovers vs Problem Solvers | Exposing Oregon Democrats’ Damage
Exposing Oregon Democrats’ Damage | The Problem Lovers
Release Date: February 28, 2026
Duration: 47:55
Host: Mark Anderson
Guests: Ed Diehl (Oregon state representative and gubernatorial candidate)
About This Episode
On Show 16-09, Oregon’s legislature has had some intense hearings along with a couple of dramatic walk outs. But then walk-back-ins. What? To give insights into what’s been happening, we welcome back Representative Ed Diehl, who’s also running for Oregon’s Governor. We get updates on what’s going on with SB 1599—the Democrat’s continuing fight against Democracy to move the No the Gas Tax ballot initiative from November to May — and the plans of what will happen if Governor Kotek signs it. It’s just more of Oregon Democrats hating democracy and destroying Oregon.
Show Notes
- 00:00 – Jumping right in — Oregon’s horrid economy, Portland in a doom loop, no help on the horizon. “Is Oregon’s economy bad enough to swing an election?” article and just how badly Oregon democrats have failed Oregon.
- 08:12 – A business owner is sick of his West Coast blue state and is wants to relocate his company — and its 1,000 employees. The shocking details of the economic hit a state like Oregon would take on just three aspects: wages, state taxes, and housing. And the incredible benefit to employees by just stepping across state lines.
- 16:44 – Trump and Republicans just gave Americans a bunch of tax breaks. No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, etc. But also big cuts and incentives to businesses. Except not in Oregon. Democrats are lusting for money. It will steal $300 million from Oregon businesses. But they already have plans to spend twice that. No wonder Kotek’s own “prosperity council” asks, “What the heck are you doing…?”
- 25:17 – Democrats hate democracy so much they are ignoring 250,000+ signatures and overwhelming opposition in public testimony (more than 95%!) and are trying to move the No Gas Tax referendum from the November’s general election to the May 2026 primary. The status of SB 1599, the bill to move it, the illegality of doing so, and how Ed plans to fight it.
- 33:42 – Oregon has a national reputation for some pretty crazy ideas. Initiative Petition 28 (IP 28) may just top them all. With more than 95,000 signatures already, it is well on its way to reach the 117,000 needed to qualify for the ballot. Are Democrats suddenly Islamaphobes? One of the clearest examples yet of Oregon as the Wuhan Lab of leftist policies. They experiment on it here, develop gain of function, and then infect other states.
- 39:32 – The gun bill that would create a two-tiered system of gun ownership. If you haven’t bought a gun yet in Oregon, you might not be able to if this passes. Don’t miss the closer!
Transcript
There’s a lot to talk about today and some of these questions are gonna take a bit of a setup so I’m going to forgo my normal opener and let’s get right to it.
I’d like to welcome back Representative Ed Diehl, from house district 17 E Marion County and parts of northern Linn County. And in case you’ve been hiding under a rock he’s also running for governor. Ed welcome back — with so much going on it’s really great to talk to you and we appreciate you taking the time in what I know is a very hectic week.
On today’s show we want to talk about the Democrats decoupling Oregon businesses from federal tax breaks in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, SB 1599 and the walkout, Oregon’s economy IP 28 and if we can get to it the gun bill especially Jason Kropf’s behavior around that.
Because I think it will help people put things into context and make more sense of what the Democrats are doing around decoupling and the no gas tax referendum and the damage those will cause to an already damaged system
Mark Hester worked for 20 years at The Oregonian but is now a contributor to Oregon roundup. He has a really good article, titled “Is Oregon’s economy bad enough to swing an election?”
How bad is Oregon’s economy” he asks. It should be the number one question voters ask before this year’s statewide elections.
He says by just about any measure organ is nearing the pain threshold for anyone who is not a public employee. Look at Oregon’s trajectory relative to other states
Oregon’s December unemployment rate a 5.2% was better than only two states New Jersey and California. We’re the third worst.
Broader employment statistics are even more alarming. Portland ranked fourth worst among metro areas for job losses in 2025 with a decline of 8800
Oregon business bankruptcies rose 25% in 2025 — four times faster than the national average.
Companies that aren’t filing bankruptcy are struggling. Intel and Nike used to power Oregon’s economy but both are struggling. And there are no new companies on the horizon to replace them as the premiere attractions to shore up Oregon’s economy.
Over 1/3 of offices in Portland urban area were vacant last year. Portland is ranked the second worst commercial real estate market in the nation. Migration is stagnant at best. Portland has become unattractive to newcomers at exactly the time it needs them most.
After hearing what I just read… you’re running for governor — are you sure you want the job? Got to be daunting just to hear just how bad it is.
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Show Notes, Research, Links Mentioned, and Related
- Find out more about Ed Diehl — eddiehl.com/about
- Ed on the No Gas Tax Petition: “The Oregon Senate has just passed SB 1599, defying the clear will of over 250,000 petitioners…” (via X, Feb 23, 2026)
- Is Oregon’s economy bad enough to swing an election? (Oregon Roundup, Feb 25, 2026)
- People are fleeing from California, Oregon and coming to Idaho: Gov. Brad Little | America Right Now (Newsmax YT channel, February 21, 2026)
- In case you want to see the economic details yourself, comparing the two states: Brave AI on Idaho vs Oregon, wages, housing, and taxes (asked Feb 25, 2026)
- House Republicans boycott Oregon Legislature over workplace complaint, gas tax vote (OPB, February 23, 2026)
- Oregon House Republicans stage walkout as gas tax election, gun control votes near (Oregon Capital Chronicle, February 23, 2026)
- Kotek’s “economic advisory council” are not happy with her and the Democrats decoupling Oregon from the tax cuts in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. Why? Because she put the council together to figure out some ways Oregon might attract businesses to Oregon. But then Kotek and the Democrats take away business tax cuts Republicans in Congress just passed. “Some Members of Kotek’s Prosperity Council Unhappy About Tax Change” (Willamette Week, Feb 26, 2026)
- Like we said, Kotek wanted it for show. Not solutions.
The Insanity of IP 28
- Oregon IP28A direct threat to animal ownership and agriculture (Oregon Horse Council, December 30, 2025)
- “Oregon Initiative Petition 28 (IP28) … represents one of the most aggressive assaults on animal ownership, agriculture, and private property rights ever proposed through a state ballot initiative. … It aims to criminalize lawful animal use, dismantle food production, and promote a long-standing animal liberation agenda through voter confusion rather than legislative debate.”
- Oregon Update: “Animal Cruelty” Ballot Measure Inching Closer to Qualifying- Do Not Sign! (American Kennel Club, January 23, 2026)
- “Removes the word “intentional”, thereby criminalizing even unintentional harm or neglect of any animal including wildlife.”
- Only Two Groups Have Submitted Signatures for 2026 Ballot Initiatives. They Aim at Very Different Issues. (Willamette Week, January 28, 2026)
- “[Co-Chief petitioner, David] “Michelson says he’s ‘under no illusion that IP 28 will pass this year,’ but making the ballot would start a conversation that he hopes will eventually lead to success.”
- Animal-Rights Activists Are Attempting a Ban So Absurd That It Would Affect ‘Every Oregonian’ (Outdoor Life, February 2, 2026)
- One line item, for instance, would reclassify animal husbandry practices as “sexual assault of an animal.” That would cripple everyone from bird dog breeders to livestock producers. Other provisions would outlaw rodeos, [and] make it illegal to trap or kill pests like mice.
- “The Oregon hunters association had this to say: ‘It would create a “no-kill” sanctuary state, forcing Oregonians into a vegan diet or or to have their meat and dairy products shipped in from other states’.”
- Don’t Be Fooled By Initiative Petition 28, The Oregon Hunting And Fishing Ban Proposal (Northwest Sportsman, February 20, 2026)
Show Summary: Why elections matter. All elections. Not just the ones at the top of the ticket. But all the way down to city councilors, D.A.s, and judges—as one governor found out too late. And we talk with outsider, Bridget Barton on her own run for Oregon’s governor and how she’ll fix the quagmire of Oregon’s government when most everyone in that government will be against her.