Executive Club Meeting Followup Notes
From the Wednesday, June 3rd meeting
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Don't see your update here?
That would be because we didn't get an email from you.
If you send it to us, we'll shout it to the club.
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The Taxpayer Association is trying to protect Don McIntire's Measure 5 property tax limits from the 2015 Legislature. There are several property tax bills submitted, and HB2635 -- Requiring ballot title cost estimates -- has already passed.
If you would like to be notified of when a Measure 5 killing property tax bill comes up in the Legislature and would like to testify at the hearing, then please email Jason Williams at
oregonwatchdog@gmail.com and ask for the TAX ALERT advance sheet. This will explain how they plan to gut Measure 5 and how you can testify at the State Capitol.
Even the Legislature's own numbers show that without Measure 5 your property taxes would be 40% higher. That's why they wish to kill it.
For more information contact
Jason Williams at 503-603-9009.
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Cascades next event is a
Policy Picnic on Wednesday, June 24th at noon. Steve Buckstein will likely talk about his efforts to earn legislative approval of
Right to Try bill HB 2300 which will give terminally ill Oregonians the right to try to save their own lives with experimental drugs not yet approved by the FDA.
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This weeks Cascade QuickPoint lets Oregonians know that at least one legislator is trying to
Steal the Kicker.
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Details of all Cascade events and publications are available at
http://cascadepolicy.org/ and you can sign up for Cascade's free weekly Courier email list
here.
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This May 2015 we in Multnomah County ended up with a contested election. The race for Director Position 3 for the Rural Fire Protection District #11JT (Riverdale) started with no candidate filed.
By the end of the election, with a mere 27 write-in votes, a situation has developed where a race has become interesting and must be examined. The "winner" has three votes. There is a four way tie behind him with two votes each. Because Write-in candidates must accept the position for which they are vote for, the Elections Office will be looking at this race on the 4th of June carefully. If the person with three votes declines the position tomorrow, then the other four write in's will have to draw cards and the highest card will determine the winner. So, not all elections in Multnomah County are cut and dried.
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May 11, 2015
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SB 525A
There are multiple reasons why this bill should not leave this committee. Unfortunately, given the attitude of the current party in control of Oregon, it is likely that it will go further.
1. This law makes the rules for those with a particular type of restraining order (threat of domestic violence) different than any other person who is denied ownership to a gun. It adds "ammunition" as a second item the person is ineligible to purchase or have for the first time. It also adds misdemeanor offenses to the ones that result in forfeiture of gun rights. The language used is "(C) Any other misdemeanor that involves as an element of the crime the use of physical force or a deadly weapon." This provides a more stringent standard for a misdemeanor offense than any other group denied the right to have a firearm and will put people at risk of losing their gun rights if they throw a bottle of catsup across the room during an argument.
2. Passing an unenforceable bill such as this undermines the justice system, demoralizes law enforcement, and causes the general public to wonder about the competence of those elected to represent them.
3. This bill validates the belief of those citizens that the true intent of the anti-gun lobby and those voting for these bills is to make all gun ownership illegal and ultimately confiscate the publics guns.
4. This bill will encourage law enforcement to pick and choose the laws they enforce because it represents yet another unfunded mandate absent the resources to enforce it.
5. This bill will also make it impossible to evaluate the true impact of SB941 as it will change the criteria for denials. I wonder if this is is actually one of the purposes of this bill as it will inflate the "denial" rate for gun checks.
6. This bill will also place a burden on the public to address "denied in error" situations. Currently, it can take months and an attorney to clean up errors.
The bottom line is it appears there are people in positions of power in the Democrat Party who have simply gone off the deep end. Like dictators, they now believe that they simply have to say "Let it be written, Let it be done" and no matter how poorly crafted a statute it will be implemented.
One more poorly thought out bill that erode public confidence in the legislative and justice systems and cause major increases in the "pended" and "denied in error" cases in the background checks. I could go on outlining problems with SB 525-A, but it would make no difference to the legislators whos real agenda is to keep increasing the reasons that a person is denied access to a firearm. One of our local law enforcement people said to me this morning, "Maybe the best way to stop all these bad bills being passed would be to enforce them!!!" Too bad they dont have the manpower to do so since the Democrat majority voted down the amendment to SB-941 which would have put the focus on increasing the policing of laws being passed.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE TO KILL THIS BILL IN COMMITTEE.
Irene Gilbert / 2310 Adams Ave. / La Grande / Oregon / 97850
e-mail: ott.irene@frontier.com
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Consider this: When a gun owner wants to leave or loan his gun to another person, he must pay for and complete a background check. Background checks accomplish two things: 1. They verify that the new owner can legally have a gun and 2. They transfer the ownership of the gun to the new person. That is why you have to do a second background check when you get your gun back in order to transfer ownership again.
I can think of no other property that citizens own which requires the person to pay a tax and turn over legal ownership of the property in order to leave it in the care of another person when there is no intent to permanently transfer the item to the other person.
Certainly this requirement would be found to be an
infringement on the rights of gun owners. Any insurance on the gun could be denied if the gun was lost, stolen or damaged since the person with the insurance would no longer own the gun. The person receiving the gun could choose to keep it since they now have
legal ownership of your property, etc.
Keep challenging legislators.
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Boring vs. Metro Update HB2640 and HB3543
Representing the good people of Boring, on January 8th, a petition was submitted to Metro and the State Legislature for the removal of Boring from the Metro boundaries. Metro ignored our petition and did not give it a Hearing or a Vote.
HB2640, the Boring Bill to remove Boring from Metro, died in committee. But we had a Hearing!
At the Hearing, Metro President Tom Hughes is on record recommending that if you have a problem go talk to your county.
At the joint work session with the City of Damascus in May, President Hughes insinuated that if you are not a City, Metro will not talk to you.
Metro's treatment of the people of Boring has been rough, to say the least.
To facilitate a dialogue that Metro has been avoiding, Representative Kennemer has proposed the concept of a Work Group. The people of Boring are in favor of this concept provided it is in a neutral location and there are witnesses in the room.
Clackamas County will be that neutral party and convene the Work Group and the legislators will be the witnesses.
The subject matter and discussion should enable all parties to be educated and better understand the current and future options available. The amendment wording below addresses the subject matter to be discussed at the Work Group meetings.
This should not take more than three meetings. At the end of the third meeting, if there is no agreement or consensus, the report should be sent to the legislature advising of an impasse.
This will be the 11th amendment to HB3543. It will be interesting to see what the final Bill looks like. We do stand with Hope that this amendment will survive and HB3543 will move to the House Floor within the next few weeks.
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AMENDMENT TO HB3543
In response to the Boring Community Planning Organization's (CPO) petition to Metro relating to the Metropolitan Service District (MSD) boundary, Clackamas County shall convene a Work Group to discuss the impact of the MSD boundary on the Boring CPO area. The issues to be discussed will include, but not be limited to, land use issues associated with the urban and rural reserve designations, incorporation requirements, and Metro planning requirements in the MSD and urban growth boundary.
Members of this Work Group shall be comprised of two (2) state legislators, two (2) Clackamas County officials, two (2) Metro officials and two (2) members of the Boring Community Planning Organization and (1) additional member appointed by Clackamas County if they so desire.
The Work Group will report its findings and outcomes to the House Committee on Rules during the 2016 legislative session.
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PLEASE DIRECT INQUIRES TO: STEVE BATES @ 503-663-6271
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We will touch on two of the bills before the Oregon Legislature that we feel will be putting much burden on small business.
SB 454 for a Mandated Paid Sick Leave.
This has already passed out of committee and is headed to Ways and Means on Friday, June 5. It is expected to move out of W&M to the Senate and then to the House and most likely will be passed by both maybe as early as next week.
This mandates employers with more than 10 employees (except in Portland it is six) to provide each employee one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked up to a max of 40 hours per year. The bill does simplify the situation for Portland metropolitan area employers since if they are outside of geographic Portland the state law will apply regardless of where the employees work.
Probably not much that can be done here, but you still might let your legislator know you oppose this.
Next, you should be watching carefully HB 2960 and SB 615. These are Ted Wheeler's baby and create the Oregon Retirement Savings Board who will be charged with creating "The Plan" by 12/31/16 so that employees can begin contributing by 7/1/17. This will mean that every private employer in the state, that doesn't currently offer a "state qualified" retirement plan for their employees, must enroll their employees in the state-run plan. The employee may opt out, but only after being enrolled by the employer.
Employers must auto-enroll and establish a system for withholding, tracking and performance reporting. The board will set provisions of the plan such as a default contribution rate with escalation clauses and minimum contribution amounts.
This bill, requiring auto-enrollment by employers, may trigger ERISA regulations upon the employer and the state. The Oregonian on May 31st had it right -- do not pass this when it will possibly trigger these burdensome regulations upon Oregons small business community.
Again, let your legislators know that this is a heavy burden on small business and it should not be passed, especially since employees already have the opportunity to do IRA plans on their own.
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Cliff Thomason of Grants Pass is chief petitioner for a statewide measure titled the "Lottery Local Control Act".
From the site
LotteryLocalControl:
The Oregon Lottery Local Control Act will send 50% of the Oregon Lottery net proceeds back to the counties from which they were generated. Counties can use the revenue to help fund: public education, economic development, providing for public safety, restoring native fish and wildlife, or protecting parks and beaches. Every Oregon county will benefit from more local control.
2016 Oregon Lottery Local Control Act is well underway with statewide signature gathering. Anyone wanting to help gather signatures or donate to the effort, please contact Cliff Thomason by email to
clifft9@msn.com or visit
LotteryLocalControl.Com.
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David Madore has made a challenge to you!!!
Your immediate attention is requested.
David Madore is making a challenge to all citizens. He has asked that you match his donation to Third Bridge Now (ETA) so we can start our VERY important next step Alternative River Crossings Citizen Committee... immediately. We need immediate funding to reserve the rental space now so we can go public.
David is challenging business owners and citizens to match his $500 donation. We must have an honest citizen process with a range of alternatives with a full citizen discussion so we can go forward to construct needed infrastructure.
Funds are needed for:
-- Space rental and equipment
-- Facilitator
-- Staff
-- Meeting materials
-- Website
-- Hand outs
-- Video recording
It is important to have the community step forward with funding so it is obvious that it is a citizen-supported process and so we can get it done. The game is still in play, we have the ball, and the only way to end the CRC is to provide better alternatives. Please try and donate as much as you feel comfortable, with both money and time. Please don't wait until I call you... and ask. Please let David's request -- and challenge -- jolt you into immediate action, because that is what is needed.
David has already spent tens of thousands of dollars, his own money: on Tiffany Couch's work, web site, video, bridge events, Third Bridge Now, no-toll, elections and several legal matters.
Please download and use the
donation form found here.
Thank you kindly.... Peace, Sharon
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Oregon Citizens Lobby is looking for patriots to analyze bills according to our five values of fiscal responsibility, local control, free markets, limited government, and personal choice/responsibility. We also need volunteers to staff the war room lobbying politicians, attending hearings, giving public testimony, writing letters to the editor, and on the twitter brigade, tweeting and retweeting. Go to
OregonCitizensLobby.org to sign up.
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Read the
May 2015 MHRW Newsletter
June 2015 Updates
As we won't be publishing in our regular Newsletter format this month, these are a few items of interest and dates to make note of, for all Mt. Hood Republican friends.
Get well wishes for a continued speedy recovery are sent to OFRW President Sally MacLeod and all others who have been under the weather these past few months. The sunshine has appeared along with beautiful flowers and plentiful vegetable gardens. We must take time to enjoy and replenish our energies for the coming political campaigns.
Congratulations to our MHRW friend, Teena Ainslie on her election to the Mt. Hood Community College Board.
June Birthdays to celebrate - June 14, Diane Parker -June 24, Sharon Petri
July 10, Friday - BIG FAT GREEK DINNER DANCE - To Stop One Party Rule
Speaker - Reince Priebus - Pantheon Banquet Hall, 5932 S.E. 92nd Ave., Portland.
Reception - 5:30 PM. Buffet Diner & Pastries - 6:30 PM. Live Greek music 8:30 - 10 PM.
Plus silent and oral auctions. Tickets $ 125. Tables available - Price increase after July 1.
www.oregonrepublicanparty.org/GreekDinnerDance
August 15, Saturday - "9th Annual Gathering of the Eagles"
A Pacific Northwest premier event held at the Ames Curtright Ranch.
www.gatheringoftheeagles.com
Please thank Rep. Greg Walden for his No Vote on the Brooks Amendment to the FY16 National Defense Authorization Act. This is to keep illegals out of our military. Our 4 Democrats voted to allow it. Nays won - 221 - 202. A small victory for sure.
Our May speaker, Becky Caputo and her Portland-Vancouver Faith Based resource with local events and services is at Portland@faithhappenings.com
INITIATIVE SIGNATURES NEEDED
"Lottery Local Control Act" Cliff Thomason chief petitioner - 541-218-1405 www.lotterylocalcontrol.com
"Protect Family Giving from Taxes" Common Sense For Oregon - sponsor prohibits state or local tax on a gift between family members. 503-480-0523 tiffany@commonsensefororegon.org.
"No New Taxes Without a Vote Of The People" Jason Williams sponsor - no ballot title as yet - 503-603-9009 or oregonwatchdog@gmail.com
INFORMATIVE WEBSITES TO VISIT
Sen. Jeff Kruse - http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/kruse
Oregonians For Immigration Reform - OFIR - Oregonians for Immigration Reform | advocating environmentally sustainable immigration | illegal alien immigrant crime
Sen. Doug Whitsett - http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/whitsett
A few lessons learned while writing "American Wife" by Taya Kyle, 'Laugh at yourself and with life' - 'Be humble, genuine and gracious' 'Give without expecting to get back' 'Be the friend you will need some day' 'This country has many, many patriots in it; you are not alone'
Our next scheduled meeting will be September 9, 2015, with Clackamas County Commissioner, Chairman John Ludlow speaking on the shared information from the Tri-County area regarding our roads, taxes and jobs.
If you have announcements to share, please call Clarice at 503-658-5227 or e-mail claricemoss@yahoo.com. Watch for our July 2015 Updates
HAVE A GREAT MONTH OF JUNE - BE SAFE AND PATRIOTIC
THANK A VETERAN AND ALL OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
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Submitting Followup Information
Executive Club passes on meeting followup information as a courtesy to our speakers and members. Any member or speaker may submit, by email, a simple update text presentation to be sent to the club mailing list, to give the membership to have more details, or just a recap of your platform presentation. To be considered for publication, please be sure to submit your update within 24 hours of the close of the meeting. Please don't include any pictures in your text, but links to web pages, or links to things stored elsewhere on the web -- .pdf files, Word documents, or even pictures -- are OK now. Formatting and inserted pictures will not be copied, just the text content, so please don't use 4 fonts and 6 colors to convey your thoughts: you will be disappointed. Look at a previous followup email, or the bottom of most of the invitation emails, to see how they are presented. The simpler and cleaner your text, the more likely it will appear exactly the same in the email we send out. Each update must also indicate the author's name and contact information -- either a phone number, email address, or website with contact information. We reserve the right to edit for brevity, or reject, any submission.