IMPORTANT: The Hearing Date for the New Healthy Kids Plan Has Changed!

(click to zoom in) The date scheduled for the hearing, originally today, has changed to tomorrow.

June 1, 1:30 P.M., HR A
HB 3358 The "New" Healthy Kids Plan.

For more information on this bill, and on the Senate version click, HERE and HERE.

To watch the hearing online tomorrow click HERE.

Bill allowing former prostitutes to teach passes House committee

SALEM -- A House committee Wednesday passed a bill allowing persons convicted of misdemeanor prostitution to become teachers, but not before adding amendments that require state and federal background checks of school volunteers who have unsupervised contact with students.

Left: Bill sponsor Senator Carter (D-Portland)

The House Education Committee, in its last meeting of the 2007 session, moved Senate Bill 724 to the Committee on Ethics, Elections and Rules on a 7 to 1 vote. Chairman Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, said the bill needed more work.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Margaret Carter, D-Portland, gives individuals convicted of misdemeanor prostitution the right to be considered for a state teaching license if more than five years have passed since conviction. The licensing agency, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission the prospective employer would be able to consider the applicant on a case-by-case basis. Current law bans persons convicted of prostitution from teaching.

Several committee members pressed to add background checks on school volunteers to the bill, citing several recent cases in which volunteers had been accused of sex crimes against students. Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha, said proper background checks could have prevented these individuals from being near children in schools.

Background checks on school volunteers now are voluntary on the part of school districts. The amendments would make them mandatory, if the district determines the individuals would have unsupervised contact with students. The background checks could be paid for by the district, or by the volunteer.

What the article failed to mention, is that Republican Representatives, Flores, Krummel, and Democrat Barker were the people pushing the Amendments. If it weren't for their efforts, background checks would not have been added (at least it helps a little).

Well, we see how busy our Legislature is! O yes, their passing important bills -- for the future of Oregon!

A couple days ago, I reported on this; click HERE to see that post.

The Not So Healthy Kids Plan – Update

The Senate is proposing a Constitutional Amendment that, if passed, would implement the Healthy Kids Plan – and by-pass the needed 3/5 majority in the House to pass the statutory plan. The actual implementation of the Senate plan is still being drafted – but it will be finished soon.

The Senate version of the bill, reportedly, is very similar to the original Healthy Kids Plan the House proposed. The Constitutional Amendment language actually passed in the Senate yesterday, but until the implementation language is finished, we won’t know anything more about the bill.

Basically, the Democrats are using a two pronged attack. They will try to push through the statutory changes, if that fails, they WILL push through a Constitutional Referral (all it takes is a simple majority for the Constitutional Referral).

It is possible, and very likely we can stop the House Statutory “Healthy Kids Plan”. But, when the Senate version passes, and is put on the ballet, that will be a different story – we’ve got a long fight ahead of us….

In the long term, the Democrats will probably get there tax hike. The referral will go to the voters; they will say o, cigarette tax, helps to pay for health care, why not. So, the Democrats will have effectively told your elected officials, your vote does not matter…and they will have their tax.

The Return of the {not so healthy} Healthy Kids Plan and Cigarette Tax

That's right: the Healthy Kids Plan is coming back...again.

HB 3558 (which you can view Here) sponsored by those champions of children -- Representatives KOTEK, GELSER, and GREENLICK.

This version of the bill is different from the original (to see the original bill click Here.) It adds a referral to the voters and streamlines the bill substantially.

As you can see, to the left (click to zoom in), the bill went through first reading last Friday. It was subsequently referred to Revenue, and a Public Hearing and possible WORK SESSION have been scheduled for Thursday, May 31.

Do the Democrats think they can pick up the 5 Republican votes needed (I count Berger as a Democrat)? Is that why they are trying it again?

With the added referral to the voters, could that change the dynamics of a vote? The Dems could possibly pick up votes from Jenson, Bruun, and Nelson. Bruun is actually on the record saying he supports a tobacco tax, he just did not like how the Healthy Kids Plan was set up.

With the exception of Ms. RINO Berger the Republicans stood strong against the bill last time, hopefully they can do it again.

One more thing. Is this bill currently pushing through the process in the dark? I have heard nothing about it from the media, as of late. I wonder what the motive is there?

U.S. Selling Out Bosnian Christians to Muslims, Serb Leader Says

The man who helped overthrow Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic says the State Department is pressuring him to hand over Christian Bosnia to its powerful Muslim neighbor, threatening the delicate balance that ended the Bosnian War.

The Bosnian Serbian entity was created under the 1995 Dayton peace accords.

"At the U.S. embassy in Sarajevo, I was threatened that if I did not agree to these U.S. demands, I would have problems," Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik told NewsMax in an exclusive interview.

"The United States is trying to assimilate us into Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which is a Muslim entity," Dodik said. Today, Dodik will be meeting with Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, who is expected to reinforce these demands. Dodik told NewsMax, "I will refuse."

Nearly 1.4 million Serbian Christians live in the Republic of Srpska, the autonomous Serbian entity that Serbs say was "forced down [their] throats" under the 1995 Dayton agreement.

To see the rest of the story click HERE.

Love Thy Enemies -- Oops!

McCain vs Obama

The Iraq funding bill has triggered an all-out battle of words between presidential candidates from both parties after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) compared the “no” votes of Democratic frontrunners Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) with surrendering to al Qaeda.

“This vote may win favor with MoveOn and liberal primary voters, but it’s the equivalent of waving a white flag to al Qaeda,” McCain said, regarding the vote of his Democratic opponents.

Obama returned fire, saying that it is clear a new direction in Iraq is needed.

“And if there ever was a reflection of that it's the fact that Senator McCain required a flack jacket, 10 armored Humvees, two Apache attack helicopters, and 100 soldiers with rifles by his side to stroll through a market in Baghdad just a few weeks ago,” Obama said in a statement.

McCain responded immediately, mocking Obama’s lack of experience.

“While Senator Obama’s two years in the U.S. Senate certainly entitle him to vote against funding our troops, my service and experience combined with conversations with military leaders on the ground in Iraq lead me to believe that we must give this new strategy a chance to succeed because the consequences of failure would be catastrophic to our nation's security,” McCain said.

The former Navy pilot and prisoner of war then took a shot at Obama for making a mistake in his statement.

“By the way, Senator Obama, it’s a ‘flak’ jacket, not a ‘flack’ jacket,” McCain said.

To see the rest of the story click HERE.

Big Oil Gouges Drivers Just in Time for Memorial Day Weekend!

SB 707 Passes House: Bill Hurts Businesses

(click to zoom in)

SB 707 is an un-wise choice for Oregon's environment. Once enacted, this bill would do little to reduce litter and instead serve as a hidden tax on consumer products, such as bottled water. In fact, it is estimated that bottle of water (.5 liter) would cost 6 cents more. But, it only affects less than 1% of all the litter generated on Oregon's beaches, parks, and highways. Now that's a bad investment in our environment.

*SB 707 hurts small Oregon and other independent water bottlers

*Per ton, SB 707 is 56 times more expensive than curbside recycling for almost no overall impact on Oregon's litter streams.

SB 707 is not a 21st century solution to reducing litter and other solid waste. Real recycling is the answer. This is simply a waste of our tax dollars.

SB 707 passed the House yesterday 42-16.
Our Republican RINO's who voted yes:

• Vicki Berger
• Brian Boquist
• Scott Bruun
• Tom Butler
• John Dallum
• Sal Esquivel
• Bill Garrard
• John Lim
• Donna Nelson*
• Patti Smith
• Bruce Hannah
• Andy Olson

And there was one Democrat voting no Representative Mike Schaulfer (D-Happy Valley). Apparently his union told him to vote no.

*In a sign of weakness Representative Nelson changed her vote from yes to no.

Americans Say NO to Amnesty

From a Pulse Opinion Research Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters

Is the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country too high, too low, or about right?

8% - Too Low
55% - Too High
32% - About Right
5% - Not sure

5. Do we need to allow more immigrants into the country to fill the jobs that require relatively little education? Or, are there plenty of Americans already here to do those jobs, but employers just need to pay higher wages and treat workers better?

14% - We need immigrants to fill jobs
77% - There are plenty of Americans here to fill jobs, employers just need to pay higher wages and treat workers better
9% - Not sure

8. With regard to the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country, ideally would you prefer they go home or be allow to stay legally?

58% - Go home
30% - Be allowed to stay legally
13% - Not sure

To see the rest of the results click HERE

BUSH: Listen to the people!

Good Job Oregon Legislature

An email from a truly ticked off Oregonian:

Well there is not much time left in this session and it appears that you have come up with some laws that are badly needed. Like SB-645 shopping carts, dirt law HJR 48, new task force for morale in Kindergarten HB 2584, and prohibition against the restrictive confinement of a pig SB 694, what did you dream up in Salem?

Oh! Yes Sales Tax HB 2530 without voter approval. Voters rejected a sales tax nine times, so now you want to go behind our backs.

Then there is Measure 5 limiting property tax yet you want to change it(?) oh yes so you will have more money to spend.

What about HB 2653, gas tax increase. We are paying more than $3.20 a gal now, it looks like it well go higher.

And then there is the Kicker law. Twice the voters approved kicker law yet our Gov. Kulongoski signed HB 2707 taking $300 million of the business kicker refund. How come you do not have to follow the law like us voter do? Why are you changing the kicker law, SB 819, so persons that do not pay taxes are rewarded?? If you do pay taxes why would you get a refund?? Lastly on the kicker law, SB 26, changing the forecast formula so that government gets most of the refund. Can you not follow the law and just refund the kicker money are required??

Government is growing at 14% without new taxes. Guess what my income is fixed and not growing at 14%. Try operating the State as we do, keep to a budget. Oregon budget has increase more than 15% a year for years, you do not need more you need to spend wisely. How about auditing the like of ODOT, all departments should be audited.

Were taking YOU OUT:

Yes, you David Edwards Socialist-Hillsboro (30)

House Minority Leader John Boehner Calls Immigration Bill 'Piece of S---'

Exactly what is is.

We lost the first skirmish in the 2007 Amnesty Battle

(May 22) Yesterday, the Senate voted for cloture on a motion to bring SB. 1348 to the floor for debate without going through a committee process. Approving the motion by a 69-23 margin, the Senate now subjects the bill to further debate and amendment. Debate will resume today after morning business is conducted. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that the Senate will not finish work on the bill prior to the Memorial Day recess.
(Above picture) From front left to right) Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Mel Martinez (R-FLA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MASS). NANCY PASTOR (THE WASHINGTON TIMES) laughing over there "victory".

Senators Smith and Wydon from Oregon both voted YES! Contact them and say NO AMNESTY!!!

Click HERE to see what the proposal would do.

Political Correctness

"Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal Whinority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

Kulongoski Still Wants Higher Cigarette, Beer Taxes

The state's general fund may be bulging with unexpected revenues, but Gov. Ted Kulongoski is still committed to raising two taxes to pay for two of his highest priority initiatives during this session of the Legislature.

Kulongoski said Wednesday that he still wants a higher cigarette tax to finance his Healthy Kids program and is now eyeing an increase in the beer tax to pay for an expansion of the Oregon State Police patrol division.

In an interview following a bill signing ceremony outside the Capitol, the governor said the additional $152 million in revenue projected in the May revenue forecast gives the Legislature "a pathway" leading to adjournment before July 1, a deadline legislative leaders have said. But Kulongoski made clear that the higher general fund revenue forecast has not affected his view of other tax increases.

By The Oregonian. Click Here to view the full story.

Isn't that interesting? It does not matter if we have $$ falling out of our ears. It does not matter if we need anymore $$. What matters is that we higher taxes! After all, if we don't, people might be able to support themselves! And that would hurt the Liberal cause.

“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.” “A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.”

“From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.”

“The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years.”

“During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage”

Many people believe we are somewhere between 6 and 7. Can we stop this progression?

White House: 3.5 percent pay hike for troops unnecessary

Troops don’t need bigger pay raises, White House budget officials said Wednesday in a statement of administration policy laying out objections to the House version of the 2008 defense authorization bill.

Bush budget officials said the administration “strongly opposes” both the 3.5 percent raise for 2008 and the follow-on increases, calling extra pay increases “unnecessary.”

See the rest of the story here
We tell them to sacrifice everything. We tell them to leave their families, go to a foreign country, kill others, and possibly die themselves. And yet, report came out a while ago showing that many enlisted man are actually on welfare -- because they can't support their families with their merger salaries. And now, a 3.5% pay raise is suggested, and the White House opposes it? Get out of you chair and take a look around Mr. Bush. You armchair Generals, get off TV and
take a look at the real world.

House Judiciary Committee Hears Bill Today Restricting How You Can "Confine" Pigs!

SB 629 creates a Class A misdemeanor for “restrictive confinement of a pregnant pig” if a person does each of the following three elements:
1) confines a pregnant pig,
2) got more than 12 hours in any 24 hour period,
3) in a manner that prevents the pregnant pig from:
a) lying down and fully extending its limbs, or
b) turning around freely (defined as being able “to turn in a complete circle without an impediment, including a tether, and without touching any side of the enclosure.
Doesn’t it make you feel good to know your state government is working for you? *Shy of relief* Click here to view the bill.

Planned Parenthood looked the other way, Mason rape victim says

It was one of the worst cases of child abuse Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel has ever seen - and she has seen a few.

"I thought I would get held in contempt of court because I argued it so vigorously in court," she said, still outraged by the case eight months later. "The father was basically treating his daughter like she was his wife

Now the girl says in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that the abuse could have been stopped earlier. In November 2004, when she was 16, the girl was forced by her father to have an abortion. She reported the abuse at the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Cincinnati, her lawyer says.

"She tried to put an end to this abuse," said Brian Hurley, "by informing a Planned Parenthood employee that she has been forced to have sex and to do things she did not want to do. Tragically for her, Planned Parenthood's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy was in full force."

See the rest of the story Here

Do you mean to tell me that this is the same Planned Parenthood that claims to care so deeply about women? Shocking!

Hillary vs Obama

New coalition challenges gay-rights laws

Counties in red voted no, counties in green yes and counties in bold green yes by a 2/3 majority

The Oregonian

A new coalition filed papers Wednesday to lead a referendum campaign challenging two landmark gay-rights laws passed recently by the Legislature.

Opponents of the laws have formed a political action committee called Defense of Marriage and Family, AGAIN! and filed their intent to seek a referendum with the Secretary of State on Wednesday morning. The group includes Marylin Shannon of Brooks, a former Republican state senator, and draws support from members of Slavic churches; Restore America, a Lake Oswego-based organization that encourages evangelical Christians to vote; and the Constitution Party of Oregon.

Jack Brown of Grants Pass, chairman of the Constitution Party, said he and two other petitioners will withdraw referendum papers they filed Monday and join the coalition's efforts.

"It is a real shame that these few individuals who are out of step with the values of the majority of Oregonians are going to delay the protections of SB 2 and HB 2007 that families so desperately need," said Melissa Chernaik spokeswoman for Basic Rights Oregon, the state's largest gay-rights group.

O really ms. Chernaik? Values...majority of Oregonians...how much did Measure 36 pass by? A majority...so logic tells us that the majority of Oregonians can't hold your point of view. That was really a self-refuting statement you made. Maybe consider saying something more intelligent next time? Maybe?
See the rest of the story Here.

Oregon Senate Passes Prostitute Teachers Bill

The Oregon State Senate passed a bill yesterday that would let former prostitutes become teachers!

The so dubbed "Second Chance Act" passed 20 -7 in the Senate and will no move on to the House.

Democrat Senator Margaret Carter (Portland) introduced the bill. She wants to allow women convicted of misdemeanor prostitution charges who have been "clean" for five years to apply for a state teaching license.

"I think that they have something to offer," said Senator Carter, "They can say to a kid, you know kid I've been there, done that." {And kid, I can tell you from personal experience, always ask for cash upfront!"}

Quite frankly, this bill is a disgrace. How would you like a former male homosexual prostitute to be teaching your kids? What kind of example does that teach your children to have prostitutes teaching them? How is a student to respect a teacher, when everyone knows that he or she used to be a prostitute? What kind of danger does that put your kids in?

HB 2626 Another Mandate

10:40 AM, Tuesday, May 15, 2007

HB 2626 passed unanimously out of the Oregon House of Representatives. The bill, which mandates a state run "recycling program", is another of the many mandates the Democrats are forcing upon us. These are the top three reasons that HB 2626 is a bad idea:

Left Bill sponsor Representative Jackie Dingfelder D(-Portland District 45)

1. Section 1 of the bill mandates that the "manufactures of electronics" will provide the funding for this endeavor. The state is mandating the costs of the program will be paid for by a specific industry. Why doesn't the state pay for it itself using general fund dollars?
2. The bill arbitrarily excludes such products as telephones and microwaves, but includes such products as computers and monitors. Shouldn't an "electronic waste management program" deal with all electronic waste issues?
3. Electronic recycling is a market driven issue. The state is creating another unnecessary bureaucracy that will unduly influence the market. If there was a demand for such a program, someone in the market would be supplying the service.

Take a look at this press release form the Senate Republican Office:

SALEM - Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day) had the following to say after today's release of the May 2007 economic forecast:

"If there was every any question, this proves beyond doubt that we can fund state government without raising taxes. With well over 20% more revenue to spend, we can fully fund the important priorities like higher education, Healthy Kids and state police. Let's show Oregonians that we can balance the budget and provide for what matters most without raising taxes."

My question to him and the rest of the Republicans is if we have dollars falling out of our ears, why do we need to mandate new fees on the electronics industry?

What Our Kids Learn At College: How to Define Their Terms Properly

Comic Copyright ©2005 LarsLarson.com. All rights reserved. LarsLarson.com

When I saw this comic, I simply could not help myself. It is so true! We send our smart Christian Conservative children off to "prestigious" universities where they are indoctrinated. Then after four years of "learning" our children finally "understand" how to correctly define their terms. The following is an inspiring prayer given a couple years ago by a pastor before his state legislature. Notice the definitions.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know your word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that:

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word and called it pluralism.

We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it political savvy.

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

And we have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

In the Name of your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Representative Lim Standing Up to Dictator Merkley (Oregon Legislature)

I reported on Lim refusing to vote a couple days ago click here and here to read. This is one part of what happened. Notice how irritated Merkely is.

Oregon Ranks In the Top Eleven Most Unfriendly States to Business. Surprise Anyone?

Top eleven most unfriendly states in the nation. Not bad

(As always, click to zoom in)

Maybe it has something to do with the 31 mandates on insurance companies? Maybe it has something to do with our ridicules urban growth boundary and our land "use" laws? Maybe it has something to do with the overflowing illegal population that is bankrupting our state? Maybe it has something to do with our dedication to "big brother"? Maybe it has something to do with our tax structure?

Maybe our government is the problem not the solution?

Barack Hussein Obama Overstates Kansas Tornado Deaths