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Coffee with Cascade

By Cascade Policy Institute

Are you wondering why homelessness is up in Oregon? Or why traffic is just never-ending?

Grab an Oregon-roasted cup o' joe, sit back, and listen to Cascade Policy Institute explain the latest research on Oregon issues.
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Shopping in a shutdown

Coffee with CascadeDec 04, 2020

00:00
03:09
QP: By 2027, All Alabama Students Will Have Educational Choice

QP: By 2027, All Alabama Students Will Have Educational Choice

This month, Alabama became the most recent state to increase education options for students through Education Savings Accounts. Alabama’s CHOOSE Act gives families access to up to $7,000 per child to use at participating private schools or for other education expenses. Families who homeschool may receive up to $2,000. Low-income students have first priority, with eligibility expanding to all children by the 2027-28 school year.

Finding the right fit for their children’s education is increasingly important to families. According to nationwide polling, seventy-one percent of voters say parents should “have the right to use tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.” Counting Alabama, eleven states now have universal or near-universal school choice laws.

Different educational environments help students learn in the ways that are most beneficial for them. Oregon should give parents the power to choose the best education options for their students, so every child has a chance for an effective and motivating school experience.

Mar 28, 202401:23
QP - More Money is Not the Solution

QP - More Money is Not the Solution

The Oregonian recently reported that “Oregon students as a whole have failed to regain either math or reading skills” lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, unlike students in 29 other states included in an analysis published in January.

The article points out that, despite $1.6 billion in federal pandemic aid being spent in Oregon schools, Oregon students are experiencing three to four times the learning deficit of other states. Each school district spent the money differently, but whether it was to hire teachers, renovate buildings, or create programs, the outcome was the same.

Oregon students are struggling, and they need different choices in their education if they are going to catch up. Whether it is a voucher system, a tax credit, or an education savings account, school choice needs to be implemented so that we can expand learning options and meet the needs of our students.

Thirty-two states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have private school choice programs, and ten of those have universal school choice. Oregon education policies are well behind the curve, and so are their students. When it comes to educational success, money is not the problem, and in this case, more money is not the solution.

Joshua Schutte is the Development Coordinator at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregon’s free market public policy research organization.

Mar 13, 202401:25
Legislative committee wants to extend commuter rail to Salem at a cost of $118 per ride.

Legislative committee wants to extend commuter rail to Salem at a cost of $118 per ride.

On February 22, the Joint Committee on Transportation of the Oregon Legislature unanimously approved SB 1572, which would appropriate $250,000 to ODOT to study the feasibility of extending TriMet’s Westside Express Service (WES) train from Wilsonville to Salem.

The committee did this despite the fact that average daily ridership on WES was down to 370 in January. With so few riders, the average operations cost per ride was $118.

By comparison, the average operations cost per ride for TriMet’s frequent bus service in January was $6.68, and $9.35 for light rail.

WES opened in 2009 and runs from Beaverton to Wilsonville. Service is limited to weekdays, and only during peak hours. Trains arrive every 45 minutes.

The peak year for WES ridership was 2014, when it averaged 2,010 boardings in January. Since then, ridership has dropped by 82%.

SB 1572 now sits in the Legislative Ways and Means Committee, awaiting approval of the $250,000 budget request. We don’t need a 10-month study to decide that extending commuter rail to Salem is a poor use of taxpayer funds. Lawmakers should let the bill die a quiet death.

Feb 28, 202401:33
QP: Oregon Needs More Than Tiny Homes

QP: Oregon Needs More Than Tiny Homes

Full-text: The 35-day session of the Oregon Legislature opened last week, and a hearing was held on the Governor’s top priority, Senate Bill 1537. Her goal is to increase the supply of housing.

Unfortunately, this goal is undercut by Oregon’s Urban Growth Boundaries, which are designed to limit urban growth. Under SB 1537, cities will be allowed to add tiny amounts of new land inside the boundary, but only if the proposed development meets stringent criteria.

In the Portland region, new neighborhoods will have to have at least 17 housing units per acre. That means most residents will be living in apartments.

The majority of Oregonians aspire to live in single family homes with a yard. Providing a housing solution that most people don’t want is not a solution.

There is no policy reason for density mandates. Oregon is 98% open space and 2% developed. More than half the state is owned by the federal government, and those lands will remain open space. There is plenty of room for the kind of low-density housing that most people prefer.

Oregon’s Urban Growth Boundaries have essentially created land cartels run by the government. The effect of any cartel is to make commodities both scarce and expensive. That certainly describes Oregon housing, and SB 1537 doesn’t solve the problem.

Feb 16, 202401:57
QP: Oregon’s highway freeze is not about the weather

QP: Oregon’s highway freeze is not about the weather

Full text: The last segment of Oregon’s Interstate Highway system opened in 1982. One would think that since Oregon has a nationally prominent planning system, there would be efforts underway to plan for the next generation of great roads.

But that is not the case. Planners almost universally hate highways, so they have made sure that the Interstate system remains stagnant. Even where changes are being contemplated, such as a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River, they are not designed to address growth.

The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, now in its 26th year of planning, will have no effect on traffic congestion because it doesn’t add capacity. We will still have only two bridges over the Columbia River in the Portland region.

What we need is several new bridges, with at least one providing a direct, high-speed connection to HWY 26 on the west side. We need new bridges and highways for the same reasons that cities eventually need new streets – you can’t pack every urban activity into one small area.

The Oregon Transportation Commission is determined to impose highway tolls without providing motorists with new highways. This is the wrong approach. If the Commission wants public support, it should start planning for the new roads the public wants.

Feb 08, 202401:29
QP: Survey: 72% of Parents Said They Considered a New School Last Year

QP: Survey: 72% of Parents Said They Considered a New School Last Year

Full-text: The National School Choice Awareness Foundation conducted a survey of parents of school-aged children in early January. The results indicate that parents “increasingly see school choice as the ‘new normal’ in a post-pandemic world.” The survey report, New Year, New Schools: U.S. Parents View K-12 School Choice as the “New Normal” in 2024, shows 72% of parents said they considered new schools for their children last year.

According to Andrew Campanella, President and CEO of National School Choice Awareness Foundation, the survey reveals three important things about parents today:

  • “Parents considering new schools…[are] up 35% from 2022….In 2023, 20 states expanded school choice, and parents want in.”
  • “64% of parents say they wish they had more information about education options for their children….”
  • “Only 29% of surveyed parents say that the same school type works well for all of the children in their home. Parents know their children best, and finding the right school fit…is paramount.”

National School Choice Week (January 21-27, 2024) celebrates all the ways children learn, including district public schools, charter and magnet schools, private schools, home schools, online schools, and hybrid options. Empowering parents to choose the best educational environments for their children as individuals helps each student have effective opportunities to succeed.

Jan 31, 202401:32
QP: Local Celebrations Highlight All the Ways Oregon Students Learn

QP: Local Celebrations Highlight All the Ways Oregon Students Learn

Full text: January 21-27 is National School Choice Week, the world’s largest annual celebration of parental choice and effective education options for all children. In 2024, 183 Oregon schools and organizations will participate in National School Choice Week to raise awareness about K-12 education in our state.

The landscape of options for Oregon students includes district public schools, public charter schools, private and parochial schools, homeschooling, magnet schools, online learning, and microschools. Different learning environments meet the needs of unique students in the ways they learn best.

Empowering parents to choose among all options unlocks the potential of each child. Last year, seventeen states enacted or expanded school choice programs. Approximately 20 million American children—about 36% of students—are now eligible to participate in a private choice program.

As part of National School Choice Week, Education Freedom for Oregon and the National School Choice Awareness Foundation will host a school fair at the Salem Convention Center on Saturday, January 20th. This free event will showcase Oregon schools representing a range of education options. Attendees can meet educators and get questions answered to help make informed choices for their families.

For more information about this fun, family-friendly event, visit https://schoolchoiceweek.com/events/salem-school-fair-2024/.

Jan 17, 202401:31
QP: Three Ways Oregon Can Help Kids Get the Education They Deserve

QP: Three Ways Oregon Can Help Kids Get the Education They Deserve

Full text: In 2023, eight states passed universal or near-universal educational choice laws. Education Savings Accounts, vouchers, and education tax credits are different policy approaches; but the goal of each is the same: to put parents “in the driver’s seat” of their kids’ education.

A strong majority of voters agree that parents should be able to choose among schools and resources they believe will best meet their children’s academic and developmental needs. Here are three ideas for expanding education options for Oregon students:

  1. Raise the 3% cap on charter school enrollment. Oregon law restricts charter school enrollment to the equivalent of 3% of students residing in the school’s local district. Removing the enrollment cap would allow successful charter schools to grow in response to student demand.
  2. Expand public school transfer policies. Making it easier for students to transfer to other public schools or districts where open seats are available would create incentives for schools to respond to families’ needs and concerns. It also would reward district schools that achieve better outcomes.
  3. Enact an Education Savings Account (ESA) program. In Oregon, state-level education funding is allocated per child and paid directly to district schools, regardless of student outcomes or parent satisfaction. Seven states have universal ESA programs, meaning per-pupil funding can be converted to portable accounts for students who choose to opt into the program, to use where they learn best.

Approximately 20 million American children are eligible to participate in a private choice program. Oregon should learn from the ten states that now offer universal school choice and expand options for students here, so families can match their children’s needs and goals with the educational environments that will serve them well.

Jan 10, 202401:33
QP: Oregon’s Reliance on Fossil Fuels Is Growing, Not Shrinking

QP: Oregon’s Reliance on Fossil Fuels Is Growing, Not Shrinking

Full-text: During the holidays, the Oregon Department of Energy quietly updated a chart it maintains showing where Oregon’s electricity comes from. The chart shows that from 2012 through 2021, Oregon’s dependence on fossil fuels increased from 44.7% to 46.3% of annual electricity consumed.

This may come as a surprise to people who thought Oregon was phasing out fossil fuels. Indeed, the Oregon legislature banned coal in 2016 and natural gas in 2021, and mandated that most new electricity come from large wind and solar farms.

The problem is that wind and solar facilities are classified as “intermittent” sources because they don’t generate electricity most of the time. In order to keep the lights on, grid operators must rely on natural gas plants to maintain voltage and frequency. Thus, even though the market share of wind generation went up from 5% to 9% over the past decade, natural gas generation increased from 12% to 24%.

Hydropower is also a good balancing mechanism for intermittent sources, but the era of big dam-building is over. In fact, hydropower capacity in the Northwest will steadily shrink over the coming decades as dams are decommissioned to protect salmon.

PGE rates are rising by 18% this month, in part due to the phase-out of fossil fuels. But the ban will never work, because the grid needs reliable power sources.

Sometime between now and 2030, the legislature will be forced to extend the lifespan of natural gas plants, just as California has done repeatedly since 2017. The sooner politicians admit that they made a mistake, the sooner we can address the looming shortage of electricity in Oregon.

Jan 04, 202401:30
QP: Pennsylvania’s Christmas Gift to K-12 Students

QP: Pennsylvania’s Christmas Gift to K-12 Students

Full text: Christmas came early for children and parents in Pennsylvania when the state legislature expanded funding for their K-12 education tax-credit programs in mid-December. Almost 80,000 lower-income children receive scholarships to attend private schools chosen by their families through Pennsylvania’s two school choice programs. The approved increase reportedly will fund about 35,000 more scholarships.

Pennsylvania has two school choice programs that help children from low-to-middle-income families attend private schools. The Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit offer tax credits to businesses that voluntarily donate to scholarship-granting organizations and other groups that promote educational improvement.

The bipartisan agreement to expand educational opportunity in Pennsylvania is a victory for families over political differences in a “purple state.” Colleen Hroncich of CATO’s Center for Educational Freedom and Sharon Sedlar of PA Families for Education Choice pointed out in a recent op-ed that “[s]upport for giving families a say in education is broad and bipartisan, but it often gets stymied by political fights in state legislatures.” The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board noted, “All House Democrats and most in the Senate supported the legislation, which included funding for public schools and other provisions.” Policymakers across the political spectrum are realizing that opportunity and choice in education are important to a lot of parents who live and vote in their states.

Dec 27, 202301:23
QP: Why 2023 Is the “Year of Universal School Choice”

QP: Why 2023 Is the “Year of Universal School Choice”

Full text: Nationwide polling this year revealed seventy-one percent of voters say parents should “have the right to use tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.” State policymakers should note it’s increasingly important to families to match their children’s educational needs with school environments that serve them best.

Oregon should expand students’ education options, and many ways exist to achieve that successfully. In a December article in Forbes, Michael McShane, Director of National Research at Ed Choice, explains why 2023 should be called “The Year of Universal School Choice”:

"Policymakers in 40 states debated 111 educational choice bills….As the months ticked by, a total of seven states enacted new choice programs and 10 expanded ones already in operation….[E]ight states have joined Arizona and West Virginia in offering all students choice, making 2023 the Year of Universal Choice….[A]pproximately 20 million students—or 36 percent—are now eligible for a private choice program.”

Ten states now have universal or near-universal school choice laws: seven Education Savings Account programs, two voucher programs, and one tax credit program. Each of these approaches empowers parents to choose the best education options for their children. States can learn valuable lessons from each other’s policy approaches as they craft programs that suit the needs of their own families and voters.

Dec 20, 202301:29
Student-Focused Solutions Can Address Pandemic Learning Losses

Student-Focused Solutions Can Address Pandemic Learning Losses

Full text: The New York Times published an editorial November 18 regarding learning losses experienced by K-12 students since the COVID-19 pandemic. The editorial board’s recommendations are predictable: spend more money, combat chronic absenteeism, and increase teacher compensation.

CATO education policy analyst Colleen Hroncich takes a more incisive approach.

“We’ve spent a lot of time and money on the system‐​focused approach,” Hroncich writes. “Let’s try focusing on the kids now….

“Pouring more money into the system and making children spend more time there isn’t what’s needed. It is individual children who are struggling, so they need individual—not system-focused—help….”

“One size does not fit all when it comes to education….School choice programs that allow state funding to be used for private schools or home education expenses are spreading. While no state had universal school choice in 2020, 10 states now have universal or nearly universal programs.

“More of the same is not the solution for what ails our education system. All states should move to universal choice so all kids can attend the learning environments that work for them.”

The student-focused approach represented by school choice addresses many of the problems raised by the Times. School choice empowers parents to match their students with the teachers, schools, and learning environments that best keep them engaged on the path to educational success.

Dec 13, 202301:34
QP: Why More Money Won’t Solve the Problems in Portland Public Schools

QP: Why More Money Won’t Solve the Problems in Portland Public Schools

Full text: At the Portland Public Schools board meeting last week, the Portland Association of Teachers and the school board members were united on one issue: They all blamed the state legislature for the November teachers strike. However, parents should be aware of the following sections of the new PPS contract:

  • “Bargaining unit members who participated in the strike will receive their full pay for November 2023 and the remainder of the 2023-2024 contract year….” (Page 2, paragraph N)
  • “All bargaining unit employees will receive all fringe benefits provided by the collective bargaining agreement as if the bargaining unit members worked continuously and no strike had occurred….” (Page 3, section 5)
  • “Student behavior is an expression of unmet needs, and makes sense when put in context. The disciplinary response process should be aimed at meeting these needs and create an environment that helps students find new ways to meet their needs. With this belief PPS will begin to move from exclusionary discipline to Restorative Practices for all Pre-K to 12 grades.” (Article 9)

If teachers get paid for not working and there is no student discipline, more money from the legislature won’t solve the district’s problems.

Dec 08, 202301:26
QP: TriMet’s Existential Crisis

QP: TriMet’s Existential Crisis

Full text: For those of us who came of age in the 1970s, the conventional wisdom was that cars were gas guzzlers and the environmentally correct way to travel was via transit.

That is no longer the case.

Last month the Federal Transit Agency (FTA) released its 2022 National Transit Database. According to Oregon economist Randal O’Toole, the results show that transit used more energy per passenger-mile than the average car or light truck in every urban area. Transit vehicles also emitted more greenhouse gasses than the average car or light truck in every urban area except New York.

Local planners seem to have missed this development. Metro’s proposed Regional Transportation Plan, which the agency will adopt in early December, recommends that we provide more funding for TriMet and take measures to increases ridership as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Obviously this strategy will fail, because transit itself is failing.

TriMet’s share of all regional trips today is about 4%, which means it’s irrelevant to most regional travelers. This suggests that it’s time to reconsider the basic purpose of the agency. Ridership peaked in 2012, and there is no evidence that it will ever come back. If there are few riders and transit vehicles are less efficient than cars, what is the point?

Nov 27, 202301:28
QP: Oklahoma’s Education Tax Credit Puts Families First

QP: Oklahoma’s Education Tax Credit Puts Families First

Full-text: Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit Program is the first universal, refundable tax credit for K-12 education expenses. Education Tax Credits: Restoring Trust in Families, a new report published by yes. every kid., explains how education tax credits can be a direct, unbureaucratic approach to expanding education options for all students.

“Personal education tax credits,” the report says, “are tax credits received by a parent or guardian for educating his or her student outside of the existing public school system. They are a simple way to give families support to offset the cost of educational expenses by returning their taxes to them and, in some cases, providing them with a refund.” Following the model of the federal Child Tax Credit, education tax credits “provide families direct funding with little bureaucratic interference and allow families to spend these funds in the most flexible way.”

The report recommends that states looking to enact a strong education tax credit policy should ensure that it applies to all families, retains parental autonomy over education decisions, ensures administrative efficiency, and is built on a sustainable basis.

Ten states now have universal or near-universal school choice laws: seven Education Savings Account programs, two voucher programs, and one tax credit program. Each of these approaches empowers parents to choose the best education options for their children. States can learn valuable lessons from each other’s policy approaches as they craft programs that suit the needs of their own families and voters.

Nov 22, 202301:38
QP: What The New Homeschool Demographic Means For School Choice

QP: What The New Homeschool Demographic Means For School Choice

Full text: The homeschool landscape is changing. Our approach to school funding should, too.

A recent Washington Post study found that homeschooling is booming in popularity. In districts with available data, the homeschool population has grown on average 51% since the 2017-2018 school year.

Homeschooled students do not come from one ideological, racial, political, or religious background. The reasons families choose homeschooling are also diverse. Homeschoolers come from liberal districts and conservative districts alike, with diverse cultural makeups, pointing to the benefits of homeschooling and other non-traditional education settings for children from all walks of life.

As education options expand, states should let education funding follow the students so they can learn in the environments that best meet their needs. In 2023, school choice programs don’t serve one interest group. They serve everyone. States that are enacting school choice laws are helping families find the right fit for their children to succeed, whether that’s through public, charter, magnet, private, online, or home education. All children should have the opportunity to learn in the schools that are best for them.

Nov 08, 202301:28
QP: We don’t need a Ministry of Truth

QP: We don’t need a Ministry of Truth

Full text: Last August, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade issued a Request for Proposal for services to identify and mitigate “harmful information online as it relates to elections” (to see the full RFP document, click HERE). The Secretary is concerned with what she refers to as “misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation”, or MDM.

According to the RFP, the selected vendor shall review social and online media for alleged instances of MDM on a 24/7 basis, and share relevant information with local stakeholders including the FBI and State Police.

Assuming bids were received, the Secretary of State was scheduled to sign a service contract on October 27th.

While election integrity is a noble goal, it’s troubling that the Secretary is placing herself as the arbiter of truth regarding supposed problems of misinformation. Over the past decade, Oregon public officials have repeatedly shown themselves to be untrustworthy. Specific cases include the early resignations of Secretary of State Shemia Fagin and Gov. John Kitzhaber; the disastrous mismanagement of the Oregon Public Employee Retirement system; and Gov. Kate Brown’s indefensible shutdown of public schools during the pandemic.

Moreover, it’s inevitable that monitoring social media related to elections will be broadened to include other kinds of speech that the government disapproves of.

This is an ill-advised move by the SOS, and should be terminated before it ever gets started.

Nov 01, 202301:34
QP: It’s Time to End Home Equity Theft in Oregon

QP: It’s Time to End Home Equity Theft in Oregon

Full text: It’s time to end home equity theft in Oregon.

In Oregon, if a property has unpaid taxes, the county can legally seize and sell the property, and keep the proceeds.

Pacific Legal Foundation found that, most of the time, property owners’ tax liabilities are minuscule compared to the value of their homes: 75% of homes seized by Oregon counties had tax debts less than the price of a 10-year-old Ford F-150. Yet, the average homeowner lost $237,000 in equity beyond the debt owed.

Oregon counties have pocketed an excess of $11 million in home equity that was not owed to them. This behavior was both unethical and unconstitutional. The Fifth Amendment states, “Nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” When homeowners fall on hard times and don’t pay their property taxes, the government has the right to collect what it’s owed. But the Fifth Amendment should stop governments from keeping more than what is due.

The solution is simple and uncostly. In a 9-0 decision in May, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that this government behavior is unconstitutional. The Oregon legislature should amend state law during the 2024 legislative session to comply with Tyler v. Hennepin County, the Supreme Court’s decision on home equity theft.

Oct 25, 202301:29
QP: School Choice Programs Don’t Cause Tuition Inflation

QP: School Choice Programs Don’t Cause Tuition Inflation

Full-text: A long-standing question about taxpayer-funded school choice programs like vouchers, education tax credits, and Education Scholarship Accounts is whether such programs would cause tuition to rise at private elementary and high schools.

A new study by the Heritage Foundation shows that school choice programs have kept elementary school costs from increasing in their states and had no impact on high school tuition. Lucy Graves at The Daily Signal reports: “Over the past 10 years, states that adopted school choice policies had lower rates of tuition increases than states that never had school choice policies. When adjusted for inflation, the cost of tuition rose more slowly in states that had previously adopted school choice. States without school choice had an average 27.6% increase in tuition, while states with school choice saw a 15.4% increase, the study found.”

In recent polling, seventy-one percent of voters said parents should “have the right to use tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.” School choice laws make it easier for families with fewer financial means to choose tuition-based education options. Data from the Heritage Foundation study should reassure policymakers that “letting the money follow the child” doesn’t cause inflation in K-12 school tuition.

Oct 18, 202301:31
QP: North Carolina Becomes the 9th State to Offer Students Universal School Choice

QP: North Carolina Becomes the 9th State to Offer Students Universal School Choice

Full-text: North Carolina has become the ninth state to enact universal school choice for K-12 children. The Opportunity Scholarship Program, created in 2013, offers vouchers applicable to private school costs, including tuition, fees, transportation, and necessary expenses.

In September, the General Assembly expanded eligibility to all families through an income-based system. Lower-income households have first priority. Middle- and upper-income families may apply as funding remains available, up to the statewide program cap. Lower-income families are eligible for 100 percent of the average state per-pupil allocation based on the prior fiscal year, about $7,200 in 2023-24. Households in higher income brackets will receive scholarships at reduced rates.

Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Utah, and West Virginia now have universal Education Savings Account (or “Scholarship Account”) programs. Indiana’s ESA program allows about 98% of families to participate, making it nearly universal. Oklahoma recently passed a universal tax credit program, and Ohio made its voucher program universal.

According to recent polling, seventy-one percent of voters say parents should “have the right to use tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.” Oregon policymakers should note that it’s increasingly important to families today to match their children’s educational needs with school environments that will serve them best. It’s time to offer more options to students here.

Oct 12, 202301:35
QP: Offshore Wind Takes a Blow

QP: Offshore Wind Takes a Blow

Full-text: Lawmakers and activists across the country continue to push for massive increases in renewable energy, and here on the West Coast, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has unveiled a plan for large scale offshore wind farms.  Representative David Gomberg of Oregon’s 10th district hosted a listening session on September 28th in Newport to hear the thoughts of his constituents on this subject. The response was overwhelmingly negative.

Over the course of two hours, coastal residents made it clear that they had no interest in BOEM’s plan, a sentiment that was expressed at similar meetings in Gold Beach, Brookings, and Coos Bay. Individuals from every part of the community had something to say, from engineers to fishers to city officials. Installing these farms would cost far too much, and the output would be far too little. The structures would negatively affect the ocean wildlife which in turn would be detrimental to the fishing trade, something the coastal cities heavily rely on. Turbines have a history of breaking after a short time, and they are rarely cleaned up well even on land.

One after another, locals made their point loud and clear: offshore wind farms are dangerous, unreliable, and ultimately not worth the cost.

Oct 04, 202301:26
QP: It’s Time to Bring Transit into the Twenty-First Century

QP: It’s Time to Bring Transit into the Twenty-First Century

Full-text: Portland’s TriMet transit agency and the Metro regional government have long tried to shape the city’s growth and transportation landscape. But it’s abundantly clear the current transit model is woefully outdated, a relic of the early 1900s. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this situation, accelerating trends like telecommuting, job dispersion throughout the suburbs, and increased car ownership among low-income commuters.

Cascade Policy Institute’s new report by Randal O’Toole, a land use and transportation expert, is a wake-up call.

In TriMet in the Twenty-First Century, O’Toole explains that today’s downtown Portland has made the transit model obsolete. The dispersion of jobs away from the city center, increased car ridership, and the expansion of remote work have increasingly become normal for the Portland area. TriMet’s downtown-centric transit route system doesn’t make sense when ridership may never recover to pre-pandemic levels, and commuters need more service to other destinations throughout the region.

Public transit can remain relevant and become financially solvent if it responds to riders’ 21st-century needs. O’Toole imagines the possibilities of modern hub-based transportation systems, a public ride-share bus system, and subsidies reallocated towards income-based transportation vouchers.

TriMet’s model worked many decades ago, but now it’s time for innovative responses to the region’s current and future public transportation needs.

Sep 27, 202301:42
QP: Portland Students Could Strike Out Because of Teachers’ Union

QP: Portland Students Could Strike Out Because of Teachers’ Union

Full-text: Have you heard of “No-School November”? Portland Public School (PPS) students could be away from their desks for a long time this fall. The district is bracing for a potentially imminent teacher strike at the behest of their union.

This is a classic example of how taxpaying families have lost power in public education.

Despite the union’s heavy demands, including a 23 percent hike in teachers’ compensation packages, the union stated at a September school board meeting that they wanted to find a resolution. But school officials revealed a different story. The union didn’t seem interested in a compromise; after reaching a formal impasse with the union, PPS released a statement indicating they were “disappointed” when the union made no counter-proposal, in addition to ignoring a compromise package created by PPS.

This event highlights one truth: Unions don’t represent the best interests of students; yet, they hold significant sway over what happens in publicly funded schools.

If parents want their kids at schools with quality education, it’s time to look to school choice. School choice allows state-level education funding to follow students to the schools that best serve their needs. Seven states now have universal or near-universal school choice laws, giving opportunities for every family to choose where and how their kids are educated.

Parents, not unions, should be in the driver’s seat of their children’s education.

Sep 20, 202301:41
QP: Westside MAX, Still a Dream at 25

QP: Westside MAX, Still a Dream at 25

Full-text: TriMet’s Blue rail line to Hillsboro opened on September 12, 1998. Westside MAX was unlike any light rail line previously built in America: It was deliberately routed through vacant land with the expectation that it would be a catalyst for so-called “Transit-Oriented  Development” (TOD).

TriMet planners claimed, “The success or failure of the public’s nearly $1 billion investment in Westside MAX will be determined in large part by what happens around its 20 stations. Unlike the East side MAX line, a substantial amount of land around the Westside is primed for development.”

After 25 years, has the strategy succeeded? Not really. Much of the land near light rail stations has been developed at high densities; but density is expensive so many of those projects were subsidized with below-cost land deals, tax abatements, or cash grants. And few people who live or work near rail stations actually use the train.

At Orenco Station in Hillsboro, a fully developed transit-oriented neighborhood, light rail ridership at the afternoon peak is only about seven percent of all passenger trips. Ridership is even lower at most other times.

The “Field of Dreams” strategy was a nice metaphor, but it has no basis in reality. TriMet and Metro should shut down their TOD programs and stop building light rail.

Sep 12, 202301:29
QP: Parents Say They Want More School Options for Their Children

QP: Parents Say They Want More School Options for Their Children

Full-text: As K-12 students return to school, more than four-fifths of them will attend a district public school. However, recent polling by EdChoice shows that only 29% of parents say their zoned public school would be their first choice, and about one in four parents say parental choice is one of their top three K-12 education issues.

Here are three ways Oregon can expand options for K-12 students and parents:

1.     EdChoice reports that 11% of parents polled would prefer a charter school. Raising Oregon’s cap on charter enrollment would allow successful charter schools to meet student demand.

2.     Thirteen percent of parents said they would prefer to send their children to a public school outside the district where they live. Expanding district transfer policies would create incentives for schools to respond to families’ needs and reward public schools that achieve better outcomes.

3.     Education Savings Account programs receive broad support in polling. Enacting an ESA program would allow parents to use state-level education funding allocated for their children’s education to pay for the schools or services that best meet their learning needs.

Seven states now offer universal or near-universal school choice programs. These states provide legislative models that states like Oregon can follow to help children everywhere find their best paths to educational success.

Sep 06, 202301:38
QP: 2023 – An Outstanding Year for School Choice

QP: 2023 – An Outstanding Year for School Choice

Full-text: 2023 has been an outstanding year for school choice.

Utah, Iowa, Arkansas, and Florida enacted universal school choice programs for K-12 students. Families who opt into these programs may use a portion of their state education funds to pay for education costs including tuition or other education services.

Indiana expanded eligibility for its school choice programs, making its voucher program available to 96.5% of families with school-aged children.

Nebraska’s Opportunity Scholarship Act, a tax credit-funded program, provides opportunities for children to attend private schools chosen by their parents.

Legislation in Oklahoma included tax credits to offset tuition or homeschooling costs, pay increases for teachers, and funding for rural and charter schools.

Wisconsin increased funding for its existing school choice programs, charter school students, and the Special Needs Scholarship Program.

According to RealClear Opinion, seventy-one percent of voters now say parents should “have the right to use tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.” States that are empowering parents to find the right fit for their children’s educational needs are opening doors of opportunity for generations of students. Oregon should join them, so every student has a chance to succeed.

Aug 30, 202301:36
QP: RealClear Opinion Poll Shows 71% of Registered Voters Support School Choice

QP: RealClear Opinion Poll Shows 71% of Registered Voters Support School Choice

Full-text: A June 2023 RealClear Opinion Research survey of registered voters shows public support for school choice has increased seven points since 2020. Seventy-one percent of voters—up from 64% three years ago—say parents should “have the right to use tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs.”

Support for school choice commands a strong majority across political affiliations. Sixty-six percent of Democrats, 80% of Republicans, and 69% of Independents polled said they support this definition of school choice. Seventy percent of Asian, 73% of Black, and 71% of Hispanic voters also said they support it.

It’s clear parents want more choices. This year, five states passed or expanded universal or near-universal school choice laws. Others expanded their state laws to include more students. States that are empowering parents to find the right fit for their children’s educational needs are opening doors of opportunity for generations of students. It’s time Oregon let the “money follow the child” so every student has a chance to succeed.

Aug 23, 202301:27
QP: Let Oregon Voters Reconsider Nuclear Power

QP: Let Oregon Voters Reconsider Nuclear Power

Full-text: Earlier this year, Oregon lawmakers proposed legislation allowing voters to reconsider their 1980 decision to effectively ban construction of new nuclear power plants in the state. The bills never received a hearing.

That was unfortunate, because state law requires electricity generation in Oregon to be 100% emissions-free by 2040. In order to phase out coal and natural gas, utilities will need other fuels that can provide clean, round-the-clock power; and nuclear is the only technology capable of doing that.

California has attempted to replace fossil fuels with wind and solar, but the effort is failing. During a heatwave in 2020, the state was forced to issue rolling blackouts as the sun went down and solar generation fell offline.

Ontario, Canada has been much more successful. The province completely phased out coal in 2014, and it now produces over 93% of its electricity emissions-free—with 63% of that power coming from nuclear.

The Oregon ballot measure approved in 1980 prohibits new nuclear plants from being built until a federally licensed waste depository becomes available; but after more than 40 years of waiting, the federal government still hasn’t followed through.

If Oregon legislators are really serious about cutting greenhouse gas emissions, they should place a measure on the ballot in 2024 allowing voters to reconsider the ban enacted 43 years ago.

Aug 16, 202301:29
QP: Making Driving More Expensive Won’t Fix Oregon’s Congested Roads

QP: Making Driving More Expensive Won’t Fix Oregon’s Congested Roads

Full-text: Metro is the regional government of the greater Portland region. It is tasked with managing regional issues like transportation, land use, and public parks. Metro’s Regional Mobility Policy guides the region’s transportation investments toward its goals—directing investments in roads, bridges, bike lanes, light rail, and more. 

One of Metro’s proposed policies for 2023 is the use of congestion pricing, meaning imposing tolls on users of high-traffic roadways. Cascade Policy Institute has long supported the use of toll lanes and congestion pricing to alleviate traffic, but Metro’s plans for implementing these policies leave much to be desired. Metro would use tolling revenues as if they were another form of general funding, financing unrelated projects like transit subsidization instead of reinvesting revenues back into the roadways that generated them. 

Using pricing in this way amounts to just another tax. Clearing up existing roadways by making driving more expensive does nothing to resolve the underlying problem. For pricing to be effective, revenues from busy roadways should be reinvested in additional lanes or alternative routes that allow everyone to get where they need to go quickly and efficiently. 

More taxes are not the solution to congested roads. Metro needs to seriously rethink its approach to pricing if it wants to make meaningful progress in reducing traffic in the greater Portland region. 

Aug 09, 202301:27
QP: Cascade Policy Institute’s Bill Expanding Access to the GED Exam Is Signed into Law

QP: Cascade Policy Institute’s Bill Expanding Access to the GED Exam Is Signed into Law

Full-text: During the 2023 session, the Oregon Legislature passed Cascade Policy Institute’s bill to ease state-level restrictions on taking the GED. Governor Kotek signed HB 3068 into law August 1.

General Educational Development (GED) tests are standardized exams that measure proficiency in science, mathematics, social studies, and language arts. When passed, the GED provides certification that the test-taker meets high school graduate-level academic skills. Higher scores demonstrate college readiness, and even higher scores can qualify students for college credit.

Oregon previously required that a person be 18 years or older to take the GED. The state permitted people as young as 16 to sit for the GED only in limited circumstances, such as if they already had dropped out of high school, were married or emancipated minors, or were in juvenile detention.

HB 3068 removes these restrictions. Cascade’s bill allows 11th and 12th graders (with parents’ permission) to graduate early by passing the GED. Importantly, students won’t have to drop out of high school to take the GED. Earning a GED while still enrolled in school provides students with a low-risk option to graduate early and move on to higher education or employment.

With bipartisan sponsorship and support, Cascade Policy Institute’s GED bill will make a meaningful difference to many students looking for a way to move forward more quickly toward college or a career.

Aug 02, 202301:24
QP: The Ghost Train

QP: The Ghost Train

Full-text: Metro’s 2023 Regional Transportation Plan calls for expanding many different high-capacity transit lines but includes no mention of reducing the most costly ones.

As of this spring, the WES commuter rail from Beaverton to Wilsonville only sees 450 daily boardings. That is only 225 riders, assuming a round trip. To put that in perspective, the least popular of the five MAX rail lines, the Orange Line, has more than 5,000 daily boardings. Meanwhile, the Blue Line has almost 30,000.

Metro intended WES to be a huge success, predicting between 3,000 to 4,000 daily riders by 2020. At the height of its ridership, WES barely exceeded 2,000 daily boardings and, right before the pandemic, consistently saw fewer than 1,500.

This ghost train is not just a waste of space, but a huge waste of money. Each ride costs taxpayers $103. Multiplied by the daily boardings, WES costs taxpayers more than $46,000 every day it runs.

Eliminating this line would cost money in the near term, but getting rid of a consistent financial drain would save taxpayers millions in the long run. Before expanding public transit, Metro should eradicate underperforming train lines first.

Aug 01, 202301:31
QP: The Memory Problem of Portland Public Schools

QP: The Memory Problem of Portland Public Schools

Full-text: For decades, Portland Public Schools (PPS) has tried to close the “achievement gap” between white and non-white students. “Race,” they wrote in their 2013 Racial Education Equity Policy, “must cease to be a predictor of student achievement and success.” To do this, they began dedicating 8% of their yearly budget to General Fund Equity. This fund has taken various forms, first as “action plan” reporting, then as professional development training, now as “transformative curriculum and pedagogy” through a Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) Lens. Funds are directed selectively toward inner-city schools with more racial minorities, like Jefferson High School.

After 10 years, it’s still not clear what this has accomplished. The district’s Citizen Budget Review Committee routinely wants to know how specifically PPS uses these mechanisms to meet their equity goals. The answer is more social workers and updated curricula, but these ideas seem no different from non-equity-related programs.

These supposed remedies for the achievement gap also appear disconnected from statistical reality. In middle schools, as General Fund Equity payments increase with the district’s budget, test scores for “historically underserved” students continue to lag about 40% behind white students in English Language Arts (ELA) and math. This is especially true for PPS’s “focus” schools in the inner city. Meanwhile, test scores for all students continue to decline.

Portland Public Schools can celebrate improving graduation rates, but not much else. Instead of following the same old strategy, PPS should get creative. More alternative schools could incentivize students, including non-white students, to improve their academic performance. The result: educational equity, what the district wants.

Jul 26, 202301:32
QP: Oregon's 2040 Electric Utility Mandates Rely on Future Technology--or Buying Electricity from Other States

QP: Oregon's 2040 Electric Utility Mandates Rely on Future Technology--or Buying Electricity from Other States

Full-text: Two years ago, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2021, which requires Oregon’s investor-owned electric utilities to phase out fossil fuels by 2040, producing all electricity from renewables—mostly wind and solar.

But renewables have a problem: Wind and solar are notoriously unreliable. They must always depend on on-demand “dispatchable” resources, which in Oregon means natural gas and hydro. New hydro is nearly impossible to build, and with other dispatchables outlawed, Oregon could find itself without electricity when it’s really needed.

PacifiCorp, one of Oregon’s two investor-owned electric utilities, admits that it likely will be unable to meet customer needs without the invention of new technologies by 2030. Without such technologies, Oregon utilities will have two options: apply for exemptions to HB 2021’s requirements, or buy electricity from other states.

If other states don’t pursue similar policies, Oregon essentially would be paying a premium to shift the blame for its emissions onto its neighbors. It still would be reliant on other states’ on-demand fossil-powered generation, but would get to claim a “100% renewable” grid. If other states do adopt similar requirements, they will face the same reliability issues as Oregon and be unable to offer help.

Oregon shouldn’t be betting its energy future on technology that doesn’t exist, and it shouldn’t be forcing premiums on ratepayers to shift around blame.

Jul 12, 202301:31
QP: Metro Nature Parks are Hidden by Design

QP: Metro Nature Parks are Hidden by Design

Full-text: Last week the elected Auditor for Metro published a report showing that the agency misled voters when it promised that funds raised from the $475 million bond measure approved in 2019 would be used to make Metro’s nature parks more accessible to the public.


It’s nice to see this concern validated by the Auditor, but it’s been obvious for decades that Metro was more interested in acquiring park land than inviting people to use it. Since 1995, Metro has spent over half a billion dollars buying more than 14,000 acres, but less than 12 percent of that acreage is accessible.


Roughly 70% of Metro acquisitions have been outside Metro’s own borders. More than 80% are outside the Portland urban growth boundary.


Even for lands that are easy to reach, few Metro properties have signage, parking lots, or trails.


Over time, Metro has deliberately moved away from the idea that parks are for people. Now the philosophy is that Metro buys land just for its natural properties, and people should be discouraged from visiting.


The Metro Council should shut down any more land acquisitions by staff until access improves for parks they already own.

Jul 10, 202301:23
QP: Portland Needs More Than a Small Tax Break

QP: Portland Needs More Than a Small Tax Break

Full-text: Two weeks ago, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced plans to give a 2.6% tax break to businesses threatening to leave Portland. This is a win for businesses and could encourage some to stay. But it may be too little, too late.

Even after the worst of the pandemic, hundreds of businesses moved their headquarters out of Portland. And it’s not just businesses; people are fleeing, too. In 2022, Portland had a net loss of 8,000 people.

Mayor Wheeler finally learned one basic principle: High taxes discourage economic activity.

According to a study from ECONorthwest, Portland has the second highest marginal tax rate in the U.S. Only New York City is higher. Another study by Ernst & Young shows that Portland business taxes have increased by 32% since 2019.

Removing a 2.6% business tax is a good start, but Portland is far from being “business friendly.” In order for Portland (and more generally, Oregon) to attract more businesses, a substantial decrease in personal and business taxes is necessary.

Jun 28, 202301:21
QP: School Choice States Open Doors of Opportunity for Generations of Children

QP: School Choice States Open Doors of Opportunity for Generations of Children

Full-text: Three states recently expanded education options for K-12 students through school choice laws. States that are empowering families to find the right fit for their children’s educational needs are opening doors of opportunity for generations of students.

In May, Nebraska passed the Opportunity Scholarship Act. The tax credit-funded program provides opportunities for children to attend private schools chosen by their parents. The average scholarship amount is capped at 75% of state per-pupil funding (approximately $9,200).

Oklahoma passed a historic education package including tax credits for families with school-aged children to offset private school tuition or homeschooling costs, pay increases for teachers, and funding for rural and charter schools.

In June, Wisconsin increased the per-pupil funding for its existing school choice programs. Participating families will qualify for up to $9,500 for elementary and middle school tuition and $12,000 for high school. Funding for charter school students and the Special Needs Scholarship Program also increased. This bill expands Wisconsin’s school choice funding by almost $300 million, the largest increase in state history.

This year, Iowa, Utah, Arkansas, Florida, and Indiana passed or expanded universal or near-universal school choice laws, joining West Virginia and Arizona. The school choice states provide Oregon with legislative models we can follow. Oregon needs to give students viable alternatives to zoned district schools that may not serve them well, so every child has a chance to succeed.

Jun 21, 202302:09
QP: A Nightmare Waiting to Happen: Parking at 3000 SE Powell

QP: A Nightmare Waiting to Happen: Parking at 3000 SE Powell

Full-text: “3000 SE Powell Boulevard” is the name of Home Forward’s 6-year-old low-income housing development with a massive expenditure: $87 million, $75 million of which came from government tax credits and bond monies. Burdened by building height and design constraints, soil contamination worries, and delayed materials delivery, the expected opening date has been pushed back to next winter.

But perhaps the most distressing thing about 3000 Powell is parking, which seems tragically inadequate. Just 31 parking spaces will accommodate 206 housing units. Comparatively, the 90-unit Sunshine Portland Apartments, directly behind the complex, offer 34 parking spaces. Home Forward has made improvements to its parking plan, but the lot can only be accessed through a narrow road likely to be bustling with commuters.

With extra space reserved for a playground and a smoking shelter, parking is not a high priority here. Yet cars remain a crucial source of transportation for the poor. Counterintuitively, roughly 8 in 10 low-income workers have cars to drive; because they have less mobility and job stability, they must rely on them to commute.

If Home Forward’s “urgent” humanitarian aid includes accessible housing, shouldn’t it also include a convenient spot to park a car? For their safety, the poor cannot afford to miss the latter.


Jun 14, 202302:10
QP: The Oregon Senate has been shut down for a month. Does anyone care?

QP: The Oregon Senate has been shut down for a month. Does anyone care?

Full-text: Most Republican members of the Oregon Senate have refused to participate in floor sessions since May 3, in a show of opposition to Democratic leadership. As a result, hundreds of bills are waiting for floor votes, which may never be taken before the mandatory adjournment date of June 25.

While this is frustrating for legislative insiders, the average Oregonian probably doesn’t care. Most people have no idea what is going on in the Capitol, for good reason. Bills are usually introduced for the benefit of narrow interests. If passed, they would eventually raise taxes for voters. Only on rare occasions does legislation actually benefit the public.

Some political analysts are focused on how future legislators can be compelled to show up, but perhaps the real lesson is how useless the legislature is.

This may be the Wally Pipp moment for politicians, a nod to the New York Yankees first basemen who sat out a game in 1925 and was replaced by Lou Gehrig— for the next 2,129 consecutive games.

Legislative arguments about the walkout sound like kids arguing in the sandbox. If politicians can’t do better, they should all go home, where they won’t be missed.

Jun 07, 202302:01
QP: More Money, Same Result

QP: More Money, Same Result

Full-text: “More money, same result” is what Oregon’s Senate voted for this March. Now, the bill enters a different chamber, but faces a similar fate.


If passed, Senate Bill 442 allows government contractors to grant preferences to in-state bidders if the “goods or services cost not more than five percent more than [out of state] goods or services.”

 

Normally, when the government uses taxpayer dollars to purchase goods or services, it grants favor to the lowest bidder who offers an acceptable quality. This is similar to different retailers competing for your business. When faced with two equal-quality goods, you will usually choose the “lowest bidder.”

 

But sometimes, you might buy local to “help the environment” or “support local businesses.” That’s fine; it’s your choice. But when the government is spending your tax dollars, their main concern should be maximizing benefits while minimizing costs, not some version of their arbitrary goals. Under this bill, bureaucratic preferences triumph. The government is forcing you to buy local.

 

If the state government wants to prove they have Oregonians’ best interests in mind, they should vote ‘NAY’ on Senate Bill 442.

May 31, 202302:06
QP: A Failure of Political Leadership

QP: A Failure of Political Leadership

Full-text: The Oregon Senate has come to a standstill over the past several weeks. Most Republican Senators are boycotting floor sessions due to objections about both policy and process.

Media accounts have portrayed the missing Senators in a negative light, but voters should ask why the majority party has driven Republicans to such extreme measures. Democrats hold all the power, so only they can broker a compromise. They’ve been unwilling to do that.

One of the most basic rules of political leadership is to treat minority members with respect, because you won’t always be in control. Democrats have been unwilling to do that since they became the majority party in 2013. Their abuse of power has only grown, leading to repeated walkouts by Republicans.

Last November, voters passed Measure 113, which limits legislators to 10 “unexcused absences” during a session. The punishment for going past 10 is the loss of eligibility to run for a legislative seat in the next election. Most of the Republican Senators have already missed more than 10 days.

I respect that they are willing to pay the price, but it doesn’t bode well for the institution.

Reaching a compromise is possible, but the majority caucus has to play the first card.

May 24, 202302:03
QP: Money for Nothing

QP: Money for Nothing

Full-text: Over the next five weeks, the Oregon legislature will decide whether to make a down payment of $1 billion to replace the I-5 Interstate Bridge connecting Portland with Vancouver, WA. The total cost of the bridge is unknown, but is estimated to be at least $6 billion.

The legislature should reject this request.

There is no immediate need to replace the Interstate Bridge. It has decades of useful life remaining. The much bigger need is to accommodate growth by adding two new bridges - one upstream from the Glen Jackson I-205 Bridge, and one downstream from the I-5 Interstate Bridge. The new crossings would eliminate most congestion on the existing bridges, while providing essential redundancy in the event of a catastrophic earthquake.

We especially need a new Columbia River bridge with a direct connection to Highway 26 near Hillsboro. Not only would this reduce the total amount of driving for thousands of motorists, it would provide much-needed congestion relief at three current bottlenecks: the Sylvan hills tunnels on HW 26, the Fremont Bridge, and I-5 in North Portland.

Planning for a new Interstate Bridge began under Gov. Kitzhaber in 1997, and 25 years later we have nothing to show for it. We should stop fighting the last war. The region needs several new Columbia River crossings, not a single replacement bridge.

May 17, 202302:09
QP: With New Laws in Florida and Indiana, 7 States Have Universal School Choice

QP: With New Laws in Florida and Indiana, 7 States Have Universal School Choice

Full-text: Two more states recently expanded their school choice programs, bringing the total number of states with universal or near-universal student eligibility to seven.

In March, Florida became the fourth state this year to enact a universal school choice program for K-12 students. All Florida children now have the option to choose an Education Savings Account (ESA) funded at about $7,500 per year. Families who want to opt into the program may use ESA funds to pay for non-public-school tuition, tutoring, or other education services.

Last week, Indiana expanded eligibility for its school choice programs. According to the American Federation for Children, Indiana’s voucher program is now available to any family with an income below 400% of Free and Reduced-Price Lunch levels ($222,000 for a family of four). Income eligibility for Indiana’s tax credit scholarship and ESA programs also increased to the same level. This means that about 96.5% of Indiana families with school-aged children would qualify for one of the state’s educational choice programs.

Arizona, West Virginia, Utah, Iowa, and Arkansas also have enacted universal school choice laws. Oregon should join these education pioneers, so families can match their children’s needs and goals with the school environments that will serve them best.

May 03, 202302:09
QP: Homeowners, Business Owners, and Retirees: Multnomah County is Coming for Your Life Savings

QP: Homeowners, Business Owners, and Retirees: Multnomah County is Coming for Your Life Savings

Full-text: If you’re a Multnomah County homeowner, business owner, or have a retirement account, watch out for the May election. There’s a measure on the ballot that’s coming after you.

Measure 26-238 imposes a capital gains tax on Multnomah County residents. If you sell your home, you will pay the tax on the increased value since you bought it. If you sell your small business, you will pay on the gains from that sale. If you have a retirement account, every time you withdraw money, you will pay on the amount your investments grew over time.

Proponents say you don’t have to worry because the tax is based on the IRS definition of capital gains. But that’s not the whole story. That’s because Measure 26-238 does not include any of the IRS exemptions from capital gains. Under this measure, Multnomah County will put you on the hook for all of it—even if the Feds don’t tax it.

To make matters worse, Measure 26-238 clearly states that the tax rate is “adjustable.” Most of us have been around long enough to know that when a tax rate is adjustable, the only way is up.

To make matters even worse, the money will be used to fund lawsuits by evicted tenants against property owners. Think about that: Landlords will be hit with a tax to fund lawsuits against themselves.

Multnomah County has the second-highest marginal individual income tax rate in the United States after New York City. Measure 26-238 will push us over the top.

Apr 27, 202302:07
QP: Oregon’s Last Mask Mandate Has Been Lifted, But State Policy Guarantees More Lockdowns in the Next Pandemic

QP: Oregon’s Last Mask Mandate Has Been Lifted, But State Policy Guarantees More Lockdowns in the Next Pandemic

Full Text: Earlier this month, Oregon lifted its mask mandate for hospitals and other health care facilities. For many, it’s one of the last steps indicating the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us. But, it’s also a reminder that one state policy caused so much damage during the pandemic.

That policy is Oregon’s “Certificate of Need” laws. If a health care provider wants to open a new facility or significantly expand an existing facility, the provider must get permission from the state and demonstrate that there is a need for more facilities. As part of the process, competing providers can weigh in and provide evidence that current capacity is sufficient. This imposes a huge roadblock to expanding health care services in the state.

As governor, Kate Brown imposed one of the most stringent and long-lasting lockdowns of any state. She stated time after time that these lockdowns were necessary to avoid overwhelming the state’s limited supply of hospital beds. 

Oregon has the lowest number of hospital beds per capita in the country. There was a real risk that hospitals would be overwhelmed. That’s because our Certificate of Need laws stifled the construction of new hospital beds. 

Now that this pandemic is over, we should begin preparing for the next one by repealing Oregon’s Certificate of Need laws so we can have enough hospital beds to avoid future long-running lockdowns.

Apr 19, 202302:08
QP: Oregon Legislature Lines Up a Spending Blow-Out

QP: Oregon Legislature Lines Up a Spending Blow-Out

Full-text: While Oregonians are filling out their tax returns, their elected legislators are lining up some blow-out spending.

 

Last month, the Democratic co-chairs of the Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee unveiled a budget “framework” that proposes more than $6 billion in new general fund spending—a 24% increase from the last budget. The biggest increases are in K-12 education and human services, which includes Medicaid. 

 

Even though Oregon public school enrollment has dropped by 30,000 since before the pandemic, the co-chairs are proposing a stunning $1.2 billion increase in school spending. That’s an increase of more than $2,000 per student. 

 

Over the years, Oregon has added more and more people to its Medicaid program. Now, about one-quarter of the state’s population is enrolled in Medicaid or similar programs. Many of these new enrollees are not eligible for federal matching funds, so Oregon must pay 100% of the costs. As a result, human services spending has grown from one-quarter of the general fund budget to more than one-third of the budget. Even so, Oregon has the highest rate of addiction in the U.S., but ranks at the bottom for treatment facilities.

 

In addition, the co-chairs are earmarking more than half a billion dollars for salary increases and employee recruiting and retention. 

 

Over the past years, the state’s general fund spending has doubled. But, it seems the more they spend, the worse things get. Think about that when you’re paying this year’s tax bill and turning in your May ballots.

Apr 12, 202302:18
QP: Portlanders Are Voting with Their Feet

QP: Portlanders Are Voting with Their Feet

Full text: Oregon’s economic engine is losing steam. For the second year in a row, Multnomah County lost population. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the county now has 21,000 fewer people than in 2020. In contrast, Clark County, Washington added more than 11,000 in population.

It’s not an accident and it’s not a mystery. Over that time, housing prices in the Portland region have increased by 30%. But, it’s more than just housing prices.

Portland now has the second highest tax burden of any major city in the U.S. Only New York City has higher taxes. If you can save thousands of dollars just by crossing the river to Clark County, you might just cross the river.

For decades, Portland coasted on its reputation of being one of the most livable cities in the country. But those days are over. Crime is rampant, and much of the city looks like a waste heap. Last month, my car was stolen and used in a shooting. A day after that, my neighbor’s car was broken into. Just this week, my other neighbor’s house was burgled and their car was stolen. All that happened on one block in the space of one month.

It’s no mystery why people are leaving Portland. They are voting with their feet. 

Apr 05, 202302:03
QP: Educational Freedom: A Tale of Two Governors

QP: Educational Freedom: A Tale of Two Governors

Full-text: Last November, voters in Arkansas elected Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders as their new Governor. Oregonians elected Democrat Tina Kotek.

On March 9, Gov. Huckabee Sanders signed the Arkansas LEARNS Act, her top legislative priority. The new law creates Educational Freedom Accounts for all K-12 students, to be phased in by 2026.

Individuals choosing a Freedom Account will get 90% of what public schools get per student in state funding from the previous school year, equal to $6,600 for the current year. They can spend this money on private school tuition, textbooks, tutoring, and other approved educational expenses.

The new law also raises the minimum starting salaries for public school teachers from $36,000 to $50,000.

In Oregon, we have the dysfunctional government school monopoly. Students are assigned to brick buildings based on their ZIP Code. If families don’t like the assigned schools, too bad; they don’t get a refund.

Oregon public schools have lost 30,000 students since 2019. It’s clear that families want other options, but legislators aren’t listening.

It took Gov. Huckabee Sanders exactly 30 days to secure passage of the biggest school reform in Arkansas history. Gov. Kotek isn’t even trying.

Mar 15, 202302:13
QP: HB 3068 Allows Students to Take the GED for a High School Diploma

QP: HB 3068 Allows Students to Take the GED for a High School Diploma

Full-text: Cascade Policy Institute’s bill to make it easier for Oregon high school students to graduate early by passing the GED is getting a hearing this week. We hope you will reach out to the committee to voice your support for the bill.

This Wednesday, March 8, the Oregon House Committee on Education will hold a hearing on HB 3068.

Currently, it is almost impossible for an Oregon high school student to take the GED exam. In most cases, students must drop out of school before they’re allowed to take the GED.

HB 3068 lifts that restriction. If the bill passes, any student aged 16 or older can take the GED test. (Parental consent would be required for students under 18.) Students who pass will be awarded diplomas, meaning they will be considered high school graduates and free from compulsory school attendance.

HB 3068 will boost Oregon’s graduation rate because students who pass the GED receive diplomas and will be considered high school graduates.

HB 3068 will reduce Oregon’s dropout rate because students won’t have to drop out first before taking the exams.

Our bill has bipartisan support across both houses of the Oregon legislature. That’s because this is a common-sense solution that imposes no obligations on students, families, or the state. Even better, HB 3068 does not require any new spending or taxes.

Mar 08, 202302:07
QP: Snowstorm Shows Taxpayers the City of Portland’s Dystopian Side

QP: Snowstorm Shows Taxpayers the City of Portland’s Dystopian Side

Full-text: Last week’s snowstorm was more than a snow-pocalypse, it was a dystopian scene of the decline of Portland civil society.

The storm snuck up on all of us. Because it came so quickly and so hard, many drivers had to abandon their vehicles on the side of the road. In response, the City of Portland announced not only would it tow those cars, they’d also ticket the owners for abandoning them. The city made some people’s worst day even worse.

The next day, I went out to walk my dog in 11 inches of snow only to discover my car had been stolen from my driveway in broad daylight.

My wife said, “Why don’t the bad guys go after the abandoned cars?” It turns out they did. Many owners who had to leave their cars came back to find out they’d been vandalized and looted.

In the middle of the storm, the city opened the East Portland Community Center as a warming shelter. My friend who lives across the street from the center told me one night some of the folks who were warming up went over to the school next door, ripped the door off the sports supply shed, and looted it.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Taxes are the price of civilization.” But Portlanders seem to be paying ever higher taxes and getting ever less civilization.

Mar 02, 202302:02
QP: ODOT Says Households Will Pay $575 a Year in Its First Round of Tolls

QP: ODOT Says Households Will Pay $575 a Year in Its First Round of Tolls

Full-text: This next week is going to be a big week for Oregon’s off-the-rails tolling projects. On Tuesday, the feds released their “Environmental Assessment” for the I-205 tolls. On Friday, a statewide toll advisory committee is meeting. Next Monday, a regional toll advisory committee is meeting.

In the Environment Assessment, the Oregon Department of Transportation reveals some eye-popping numbers:

  • Toll payments on just the I-205 project will be $132 million a year; and
  • Households will pay an average of $575 a year in tolls.

If you think this sounds like it’s bad for the economy, you’re right. ODOT projects the toll project will cause job losses, reduce labor income, and have close to zero effect on economic output.

ODOT has finally shown its hand: Its I-205 tolling project will make the region noticeably worse off. It’s one thing to collect $132 million a year in tolls to make life better, but it’s an entirely different thing to impoverish families and stifle businesses with nothing to show for it.

Now is the time for your voice to be heard. ODOT is seeking comments on its Environmental Assessment, and the Monday meeting has set aside time for public comment.

Our policymakers need to hear from you. It’ll be too late once the toll booths go up.

Feb 22, 202302:06