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The 2012 Bullet Train to November – Part XIII: Oregon

Kyle Stanley — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:00:48 +0000

Stories of rugged individualism and independent streaks are common sights in two distinct states that have evolved quite differently over the course of the last 40 years. For yesterday’s stopover in Wyoming, the Elephant Stampede has become virtually bulletproof. But a different story has played out in Oregon, where a Republican has not been elected Governor since the White House belonged to one Ronald Reagan and the Donkey Brigade has won the state’s electoral votes dating back to 1988 and Michael Dukakis. And with Democrats in control of both Senate seats and the Governor’s Mansion, and the lack of a Senate or gubernatorial race to buoy its House candidates, Republicans could be looking at their deepest, darkest hour in a state where the GOP was once king.

District 1 | Solid DEM

Voters in Portland and surrounding suburbs and other areas west of the Willamette River to Astoria have been witnesses to the rise and fall of Democratic Congressman David Wu, whose bizarre behavior generated enough headlines to sour voters who otherwise would have been loyal backers, and culminated in his eventual resignation. Had Wu not done so, Republican businessman Rob Cornilles would have generated significant attention from the NRCC. Wu’s resignation meant a special election with a more stable Democratic candidate, which turned out to be the eventual winner and current incumbent, former State Senator Suzanne Bonamici. Now Cornilles is out, Bonamici is still in, and the incumbent will enter November the 6th heavily favored over Republican challenger Delinda Morgan, whose campaign in contrast to Cornilles’ has failed to generate any significant buzz.

District 2 | Solid GOP

This is (and still will be) the only congressional district in the Beaver State that does not touch the Pacific Ocean; it covers such areas as Medford, Bend, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, Grants Pass, The Dalles, and Burns. And in this the state’s only pro-McCain district, incumbent Republican Greg Walden is a lock for reelection over repeat Democratic challenger Joyce Segers.

District 3 | Solid DEM

This heavily Democratic, hipster-stocked district centered in the lion’s share of Portland and a few surrounding areas to the east will continue to remain the bully pulpit of veteran Democrat Earl Blumenauer. Republican candidate Ronald Green offers an alternative choice but little else.

District 4 | Favor DEM

Arguably the most competitive district in one of the least competitive states in the country, longtime Democratic incumbent Peter DeFazio is facing a rematch against his 2010 challenger, scientist and academic Art Robinson, whose position is rather common considering the district’s location in the southern parts of the state’s coastal regions, including all parts of the Eugene television market (Eugene, Coos Bay and Roseburg) as well as both the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. Boasting a significant following of well over 120,000 likes on Facebook, Robinson has also outraised the incumbent in individual donors without taking a single PAC donation. Given that the district leaned towards Barack Obama two years prior, however, the NRCC has only listed Robinson as an On the Radar candidate. If the NRCC were to look past some of Robinson’s unconventional stances as well as his age, this seat could become competitive. Until then, this race is still DeFazio’s to lose.

District 5 | Solid DEM

Given sophomore Democratic incumbent Kurt Schrader‘s narrow 2010 victory and predictions then that he would lose to his Republican challenger that year, 2012 is all but certain to be a far different outcome. His GOP opponent this time, businessman Fred Thompson (and no, not that Fred Thompson), has failed to generate the attention of national Republicans despite the swing district’s location in the southern suburbs of Portland, the area around the state capital of Salem, and coastal parts of the state from Tillamook to Newport.

President | Barack Obama

Throughout my 25 years of life on Earth, I have never witnessed a presidential election where Oregon’s seven electoral votes went to a Republican. And if and when a Republican does accomplish exactly that, I will have turned no younger than 30 years old. But to declare Oregon as clearly in the bag for Barack Obama is also difficult to comprehend. The rise of the Ron Paul wing of the Republican Party, combined with Oregon’s tendencies to vote along fiscally conservative and socially liberal lines, has been enough to sour some voters on the Obama Effect. With that in mind, while the President is likely to defeat Mitt Romney, more recent polls suggest the margin of victory may not be as large as last time.

Current Score

President: Romney 77, Obama 25, Tossup 51. (385 to go)

Senate: 13 Republicans, 9 Democrats (including Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden), 1 Independent caucusing with Democrats, 3 Tossups (74 to go).

House: Elephant Stampede 77, Donkey Brigade 45, Splitsville 5. (308 to go)

Governors: 1 Democrat and 1 Tossup, plus 10 existing Republicans and 1 existing Democrat (John Kitzhaber). (37 to go)

Next stop: North Dakota.

Beerchaser of the Month for August 2012 - Craig Hanneman -- "The Dude"

thebeerchaser — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 22:23:59 +0000

The Dude

The Dude in Uniform in 1970 at OSU

According to the 2010 US census, Turner, Oregon had a population of 1,199. In 1949, the population was not dramatically different . Gas sold for 17 cents per gallon, the Dow Jones reached a high of 200, 45 RPM records and NATO were both rolled out.

AND

Craig Hanneman was born in Salem. He grew up in Turner and the population may have jumped by the equivalent of 2.5 people. That’s because his accomplishments as an athlete, business executive and family man in the next 63 years would exceed what many individuals accomplish in a lifetime.

For those who are bored or with a morbid sense of curiosity, Turner was incorporated by the Oregon Legislature in 1905 and has a total area of 1.6 square miles. Its motto – “The Good Neighbor Town.”

Incorporated in 1905

Craig recently stated, “Turner had one sawmill and two taverns but no medical facility, so I was delivered in the big city of Salem. I went to Cascade Union H.S. for three years but transferred to South Salem my senior year.”

Cascade Union High – Where Hanneman First Played on the Gridiron

Former OSU All-American tackle, Olympic wrestler and Craig’s future SAE fraternity brother, Jess “Froggie” Lewis, also went to Cascade Union High.

All American and Olympian

Hanneman’s taste for our favorite beer – “Blitz“ – at Price’s Tavern in Corvallis, helps to earn Craig (hereafter “The Dude”) the August Beerchaser of the Month. However, his off-season exploits at Prices and other long gone venues such as Don’s Den and The Peacock (it seems to be the only pub we frequented that is still around) are overshadowed by other contributions to his athletic teams, state and his recent high-profile exploit shown below:

: Mt. Everest 29,029 Feet in Elevation

For in May, Craig become the first former (or for that matter, active) NBA or NFL player to successfully reach the summit of the world’s highest peak which equates to 2.6 times the elevation of Oregon’s Mt. Hood.

This 2012 Mt. Everest climb literally capped a mountaineering hobby started when Craig turned 50 and climbed Mt. St. Helens with football buddies, Mark Dippel, Scott Freeburn and Bob Jossis and includes reaching the top of Mt.McKinley in Alaska and Mt Vinson in Antarctica (and perhaps Mary’s Peak back in Corvallis.)

Accommodations on the Ascent

Thebeerchaser (known as “Dirt” in college) was privileged to be Craig’s SAE fraternity brother, and in 1969 was even his room-head in a four-person study room in which we became much better acquainted. In college I was about 5″10″ and weighed 140 pounds dripping wet, so you can see by the relative comparison below that The Dude’s athletic prowess as a defensive tackle was due to speed, quickness and desire rather than bulk…..

: “Dirt” (aka Thebeerchaser) and “Dude”

—-

First let’s look at his athletic accomplishments:

——–

Oregon State: Defensive tackle from 1968 to 1970 under legendary Coach Dee Andros. Some of the awards include Rookie of the Year and culminate with being named Team Captain and Most Valuable Defensive Player in 1970. In the Cal game, he had 13 tackles!

He was 2nd Team All American and First Team All Pac 10 and All Coast in addition to playing in the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, the All America Bowl and the College All-Star Game. In 1992, he was inducted into the OSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

—-

NFL: Although his career was relatively short (1972-76) because of injuries, he played for the Steelers in the 1972 Divisional Playoff Game against the Oakland Raiders – a contest most remembered for the “Immaculate Reception” by teammate, Franco Harris. The Dude’s anecdotes about Harris, Mean Joe Greene and Terry Bradshaw are very entertaining. He also played two years for the Patriots.

——-

Besides his Mt. Everest accomplishment, another “first” for the The Dude was in 1970 in Dr. Ed McGrath’s upper-division political science seminar . That’s when he and teammate, Mark Dippel, a starting guard on the OSU Football Team, became McGrath’s first students to chew tobacco during class. McGrath, who was my advisor and always glared at me because I walked into class with the “chewers,” at least appreciated the fact that they used a pot-pie tin for the residue……..

Chew in the Context of Political Theory

—————

His fraternity brothers will also remember the restraint he showed after being bitten in the shoulder (three stitches required) by a Sigma Chi center in the C-Team Intramural Basketball Championship Game at OSU.

———–

Craig absorbed the lessons from Dr. McGrath’s and other classes at OSU because he had a very successful business and political career after his NFL Days. Perhaps the best summary from the following excerpts in a testimonial by Oregon Republican Congressman Greg Walden, from the September 28,2008 Congressional Record:

___________

“Hanneman didn’t exactly coast into the next chapter of his professional life when his football career concluded. Craig owned and managed a 200 acre farm and forest operation in Polk County, Oregon for seven years after his NFL career, where he honed his expertise in the agricultural and natural resource arena.

Craig was elected County Commissioner of Polk County in 1985, and his determination and inclusive ways were instrumental in eliminating an inherited county budget deficit and establishing a $1 million reserve fund without levying new taxes

Throughout 12 years at Willamette Industries (as Director of Public Affairs), 2 years at the Weyerhaeuser Company (which bought Willamette Industries in 2002), and 5 years at Oregon Forestry Industry Council, Craig has achieved a tremendous list of accomplishments and established a sterling reputation throughout Oregon and his industry nationally as a highly effective and inspiring leader of great integrity.

Madam Speaker, as you can see, Craig Hanneman is a special leader. I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t note that Craig is also a great family man. Craig and his wife, Kathy, an educator, have been married for 34 years. Together they have raised three outstanding and successful children. Molly is a public servant here in our nation’s capital, Paul is an Army Staff Sergeant serving his second tour in Iraq, and Annie is a junior at Oregon State University.”

Tribute From a Republican Beaver…

However, let’s finish with a little bit more about the Mt. Everest climb. I quickly learned when rooming with him in 1972, that Dude had an obsession with Dean Martin. I learned, through endless repetition, the lyrics to “Thirty More Miles to San Diego” and “”Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” which to this day periodically return during night sweats.

And as a recent e-mail from Craig attests, it may have been some of the “conditioning” he got in Room 2 at the SAE house that helped him in his climb:

“Okay, I’ll admit it, all those late night sessions playing “flinchies” (that’s another story…..)really hardened me up to climb Everest! And to prove some things never change, you’ll be pleased to know I had plenty of Dean Martin tunes on my iPod Nano to help drown out the noisy wind at night.”

Thirty More Miles to San Diego or 7,500 More Feet to the Summit…

_____________

Another climb issue worth noting was the MIA Flag that Craig carried and planted at the Summit.

“My son is an Army 10th SF Group guy and he and his team are very supportive of what the MIA flag stands for. So I flew it in Base Camp for over a month and carried three to the summit. I planted one and brought two down. I gave one to Paul’s 10th Group and the other I would like to give to a POW-MIA organization so they can have the first MIA flag that flew on top of the world to honor those who never returned.”

Craig and the Sherpa, Phunuru, plant the MIA Flag on the Summit

——————

Mike, Heidi (fellow climbers) and Craig

Mt. Everest, Lhutsa and Nupte from Pomoroi

So What’s Next??

Who knows what the Dude plans to do next. Based on his Everest Climb in 2012, however, and his trip to Pamplona, Spain in 2011, where he and four other former defensive lineman on the 1970 OSU Football team Ran with the Bulls, he’s not going to be passive.

The Dude, Scott Freeburn, Mark Dippel, Jim Sherbert and Bob Jossis drink beer after their run in Pamplona

SAE’s at OSU in 1969 (Hanneman 3rd Row up on Left)

Congressman Pays Tribute to Home Care Providers in the U.S. House of Representatives

hcafadmin — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:01:10 +0000

The House Republican Leadership Chairman, Rep. Greg Walden, (R-OR), delivered a tribute to home care providers in a written statement submitted on the House floor and entered into the Congressional Record this week.

Touting the benefits of home care, Walden said “Fortunately for Medicare, home health care providers go above and beyond to deliver high-quality, clinically effective, efficient care, and many medical treatments that were once offered in hospital or nursing home settings are now being safely and more cost-efficiently provided in patients’ homes. Further, the home health and hospice industry helps fuel the economy with nearly 1.5 million jobs nation-wide.” Walden serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid.

Walden cited his own first-hand experience with compassionate and highly skilled care home health nurses, both on a personal level with his family, and talking with Oregonians “who are grateful for the opportunity to recover in their own home with their spouse and loved ones by their side.” Walden appeared on the cover of CARING Magazine in a picture taken while he was on a visit with a home health patient in his district.

In his statement Walden summed up the unique advantages of using home care for the Medicare program. “In addition to being good for patients,” Walden said, “ home health is also good for federal taxpayers. When seniors choose home health, they stay in their own beds, pay their own utilities, do their own laundry, and provide for their own meals. This is also often supplemented by family members who help keep them safe and well in the place they most want to be – their home. When Medicare covers the costs of room and board and 24 hour care in more expensive institutional settings, taxpayers spend thousands of dollars they would otherwise save in home health settings.”

Walden sounded the alarm about the negative impact of a few unscrupulous home health providers: “Unfortunately… for the majority of compassionate, skilled home health providers truly dedicated to the patients they serve, a narrow sliver of operators are tarnishing their good work. MedPAC has found that a small number of bad actors in just 25 counties nation-wide are disproportionately taking advantage of Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers.” He cautioned that future efforts to address Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse should target these higher spending counties rather than indiscriminately harming the good players in the industry.

He concluded by saying that he takes “comfort in knowing that there are many home health providers willing to serve seniors in Oregon and elsewhere. Because of these dedicated providers, patients receive the care they need in the comfort of their homes, with their families and loved ones at their side.”

Updates from Congressman Greg Walden

the Net economy — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:03:44 +0000

CONGRESS WATCH

Greg Walden discusses the central Oregon jobs and water plan on the House floor, YouTube [VIDEO 5:29]

Updates from Congressman Greg Walden

the Net economy — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:32:10 +0000

CONGRESS WATCH

Greg Walden tells Forest Service to scrap travel management plan, start over with local input, US Congress
Walden leads group of lawmakers urging inclusion of county payments, PILT in final transportation bill, US Congress
Our Future Network, U.S. Postal Service

Blatant attempt to buy legislation by AT&T other corps.

dmatcwu — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:58:24 +0000

This is definitely a gotcha piece in my opinion. In 2011 AT&T sought to merge/acquire T-Mobile. Cingular/AT&T is already the largest phone carrier. The FCC denied the merger due to anti-compete laws. The FCC did this to ensure that AT&T couldn’t create a monopoly in the cell phone arena. Instead of taking this FCC ruling laying down, they are now trying to purchase legislation to limit the FCC’s rule over them. They have enlisted Representative Greg Walden, Republican of Oregon, to do their dirty work. I say enlisted but I really mean bought him off. Yes I said it. They directly donated $11k to his campaign. This is three times their average donation to any elected official. T-Mobile kicked in another 10k as they are a beneficiary here. They wanted something special from this man.

He is returning the favor. He has submitted to congress H.R. 3309: Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2012. This bill, if passed, would significantly reduce the power of the FCC to block anti-competitive mergers from taking place. I’m sorry but this sounds like a cellular version of Glass-Steagall Act. I understand that the ramifications aren’t nearly as dangerous as the repealing of Glass-Steagall, but think about the long-term effects something like this could garner. AT&T could buy up any competition that gets in their way. This may be a small thing, but if the competition is gone, what’s to stop them from charging whatever they want? There is a reason for these anti-compete laws.

Let’s forget about the ramifications of AT&T being able to purchase T-Mobile for a second and focus on the REAL problem here. Are we really ok with a company that doesn’t agree with laws just donating to a congressman’s campaign so that they can change the laws in their favor? Is this not blatant purchase of laws. Hell, let’s take it a step further. It is government for sale.

Meanwhile Lobbyist Paul Unger is to be mentioned. He has donated 10k to Mr. Walden because he represents Comcast and NCTA. Both are donors to Walden; Comcast donated as much as $30k this election cycle. Time Warner Communications $15k. Do you see where I’m going here? Everyone that has skin in this game is donating big to Representative Unger. One might say, “they are just of the belief that Greg Walden is of similar political thought.” If that was the case, they would have been donating him in the last election cycle. Only AT&T was a donor of his last cycle.

He is being PAID to fight the FCC. This will probably not pass the Senate, but I am worried that we will forget the fact that this is Pay4Play.

Updates from Congressman Greg Walden

the Net economy — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:01:25 +0000

CONGRESS WATCH

Good for farmers, good for fish: Water solutions for our communities, US Congress
Greg Walden presses Forest Service for solutions on car commercial flap, US Congress

Updates from Congressman Greg Walden

the Net economy — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:39:16 +0000

CONGRESS WATCH

Reps. Greg Walden, Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader release draft of bipartisan O&C Trust, Conservation, and Jobs Act, US Congress

Oregon delegation proposes major forest plan

gbranecky — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:35:26 +0000

February 17, 2012

Bipartisan Oregon House Delegation Releases O&C Forest Management and County Funding Trust Legislation
American Forest Resource Council

Oregon U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio, Greg Walden and Kurt Schrader released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation aimed at resolving the forest management and county revenue crisis facing much of western Oregon. The legislative proposal comes after months of effort by the offices to consider the needs of the forests, communities and local governments in 18 western Oregon counties that include the Oregon & California Grant Lands (O&C Lands).

The proposal would establish a trust to manage younger forest stands for timber production and revenues for county governments while transferring older forest stands to the Forest Service to be managed to provide conservation values and wildlife habitat. All of the lands would remain under federal ownership. It also includes several new Wilderness areas and Wild & Scenic River designations.

“We commend Representatives DeFazio, Walden and Schrader for their bipartisan efforts to craft a thoughtful proposal for addressing the gridlock affecting the management of nearly 2.5 million acres of O&C lands in western Oregon,” said Tom Partin, President of the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC). “While aspects of this proposal are difficult for many in our industry to embrace, it is clearly a serious bipartisan attempt to end the forest wars that have crippled rural Oregon for nearly two decades.”

The O&C lands are unique to western Oregon and were established by the Federal government to provide timber and revenue to local communities, industry and county governments. Unfortunately, timber harvest levels have withered to less than one-quarter of the 1.1 billion board feet of annual forest growth of these lands. Ever since the early 1990’s the management of these forests has been subjected to a constant barrage of lawsuits, appeals and controversy.

“For nearly two decades county governments have relied on uncertain handouts from the federal government while their residents have watched their communities suffer,” said Partin. “It is vital to all the citizens of Oregon, and most particularly our rural counties where unemployment remains in double digits, that these unique lands be sustainably managed to provide economic opportunities and long-term stability for our rural communities.”

“While this proposal gives environmental groups over 100,000 acres of new Wilderness and excludes all the older forests from timber harvest, it also appears to give rural Oregon far more certainty than it has had in decades by ensuring that sustainable forest management will again contribute to the economic and social fabric of these forested communities,” continued Partin. “With the continuation of reduced Secure Rural Schools payments in serious jeopardy — and short-lived at best — it is high time for all of Oregon’s elected officials to begin confronting the real challenges facing rural Oregon, particularly the need for these forests to begin contributing to the economic vitality of these communities.”

We are encouraged that Representatives DeFazio, Walden and Schrader have also indicated that they plan to continue working with their Congressional colleagues, including House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA), to move their proposal forward as part of a broader effort to resolve the crisis facing rural communities dominated by federal forestland.

The American Forest Resource Council represents forest product manufacturers and landowners throughout the west and is based in Portland, Oregon. www.amforest.org

Updates from Congressman Greg Walden

the Net economy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:02:16 +0000

CONGRESS WATCH

Honoring Carrie Novick for her service to central Oregon, US Congress
Greg Walden asks EPA to grant Bend flexibility on $30 million water deadline, US Congress

Congress: Republican led House did 5min of the Peoples Business - the Senate considers S.2038, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK)

Nativegrl77 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:51:31 +0000

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/hub.1326407570.html

The Senate Convenes: 2pm ET January 30, 2012

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar #301, S.2038, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act with the time until 5:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
At 5:30pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2038, the STOCK Act.

5:30pm the Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to proceed to S.2038, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act.

Invoked: 93-2

The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2038, the STOCK Act; Invoked: 93-2

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed S.1236, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act.

Adopted S.Res.357, commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Mill Springs (January 19, 1862).

Adopted S.Res.358, expressing support for the designation of January 28, 2012, as “National Data Privacy Day”.

Adopted S.Con.Res.34, Expressing the sense of Congress in Honor of the life and legacy of Vaclav Havel.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.2041, a bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline project and provide for environmental protection and government oversight. (Hoeven)

————————————————————————————————————————–

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 27, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on January 31, 2012.11:05:16 A.M. -The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 26, 2012, at 5:18 p.m., stating that that body had passed H.R. 3800 and H.R. 3801.11:04:40 A.M. -The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 26, 2012, at 5:50 p.m., stating that that body had passed S. 2039.11:03:51 A.M. -The House received a communication from Nick Strader, Central Oregon Office Director, Office of Rep. Greg Walden. Pursuant to Rule VII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Strader notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena issued by the Circuit Court for the County of Deschutes, Oregon, for witness testimony and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he would determine whether compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.11:02:51 A.M. -The House received a communication from The Honorable Paul D. Irving, Sergeant at Arms. Pursuant to Rule VII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Irving notified the House that the Office of the Sergeant of Arms had been served with a subpoena for documents issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, in connection with a civil lawsuit currently pending before that court and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he would make the determinations required by House Rule VIII.11:02:50 A.M. -ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the resignation of the gentlewoman from Arizona, Ms. Giffords, the whole number of the House is 433.11:02:18 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.11:02:13 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.11:01:22 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Alan Keiran, Office of the United States Senate Chaplain11:01:00 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Mac Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.11:00:44 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

Congress: Republican led House adjourns after receiving HR3800,3801&S.2039 from the Senate & being served a subpoena - the Senate will consider S.2038,the Stop Trading on Congressional knowledge(Stock)Act

Nativegrl77 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:45:05 +0000

The Senate Convenes at 2pm ET January 30, 2012

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar #301, S.2038, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act with the time until 5:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
At 5:30pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2038, the STOCK Act.

————————————————————–

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 27, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on January 31, 2012.11:05:16 A.M. -The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 26, 2012, at 5:18 p.m., stating that that body had passed H.R. 3800 and H.R. 3801.11:04:40 A.M. -The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 26, 2012, at 5:50 p.m., stating that that body had passed S. 2039.11:03:51 A.M. -The House received a communication from Nick Strader, Central Oregon Office Director, Office of Rep. Greg Walden. Pursuant to Rule VII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Strader notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena issued by the Circuit Court for the County of Deschutes, Oregon, for witness testimony and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he would determine whether compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.11:02:51 A.M. -The House received a communication from The Honorable Paul D. Irving, Sergeant at Arms. Pursuant to Rule VII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Irving notified the House that the Office of the Sergeant of Arms had been served with a subpoena for documents issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, in connection with a civil lawsuit currently pending before that court and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he would make the determinations required by House Rule VIII.11:02:50 A.M. -ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE - Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the resignation of the gentlewoman from Arizona, Ms. Giffords, the whole number of the House is 433.11:02:18 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.11:02:13 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.11:01:22 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Alan Keiran, Office of the United States Senate Chaplain11:01:00 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Mac Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.11:00:44 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

01.21.12 The Morning Buzz

elgl — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:06:21 +0000

Rewind

RSVP: ELGL Lunch Forum with Blazers COO Sarah Mensah

01.19.12 The Morning Buzz

ELGL Recommends. . . .

Information Request: Green Initiatives

Afternoon Delight

ELGL Forum: The First 90 Days

Join the ELGL Online Community

ELGL Facebook , ELGL Twitter, ELGL LinkedIn, ELGL Google+

Social Media

Stay connected by following these Twitter feeds and Facebook pages.

Twitter: Not Will Ferrell, High Line , Joel Iwanaga

Facebook: City of Mill City, Oregon, City of Snohomish Washington, Greg Walden

Participate

City of Tigard > City Hall > Boards and Committees > Intergovernmental Water Board

Open Position: Interested individuals who would like to be considered for the at-large position (2-year term) must complete and return an application by 2/13/12 at 5 p.m.

Bicycle Tourism Studio for Clackamas County – Travel Oregon

The Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce-in conjunction with the City of Wilsonville, Clackamas County Tourism & Cultural Affairs and the state tourism agency Travel Oregon-are sponsoring a bicycle tourism-development workshop for the Wilsonville area on Thursday, February 9, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, at the Rose Room of the Wilsonville Public Library, 8200 SW Wilsonville Road. To register for the workshop, which includes a catered lunch, go online to http://industry.traveloregon.com/Clackamas.

Spotlight

Straight Talk on KGW NewsChannel 8

Saturday at 6:30 p.m., General Manager Neil McFarlane will be a guest on KGW-TV‘s Straight Talk. He’ll be discussing TriMet safety, the budget and our union contract. Will you be watching?

Mayor of flooded Turner praises responders; says residents will bear “burden” of rebuilding

The Mayor of Turner gave an emotional thanks to emergency responders on Friday for helping evacuate his flooded town without any reported injuries. Mayor Paul Thomas says about 120 people were helped out of Turner ahead of the high water. Officials estimate another 100 people received help so they could stay in their homes, safely. Thomas says responders endured flooded roads to rescue people in the middle of the night.

5 Things To Look for in a Great Job Interview

In my career I have reviewed thousands of resumes and conducted hundreds of employment interviews for both The Trademark Company and other businesses for which I have worked. In doing so, I got to see the good, the bad, and the downright ugly in terms of resumes, interviewing skills, and the like. For other CEOs looking to hire, here’s what I think makes a great candidate stand out from the good ones.

Inside the UGB

Clackamas County rejects Oregon City’s offer to settle franchise fees dispute over $11 million broadband network

Damascus Mayor Steve Spinnett signs on as sponsor of Clackamas County anti-light rail initiative; Lake Oswego resident challenges ballot title

How do we value nature?

Portland police Chief Mike Reese seeks 9 new sergeants for use-of-force investigations

Columbian.com – Oregon may scale back CRC spending

Outside the UGB

Walden to EPA: Give Bend Break on Water Rules – News Story – KTVZ Bend

Gov. John Kitzhaber says feds could support health reform with $2.5 billion, easing state budget crunch

Weekend Reflections: US Federal Court Orders Records Unsealed In Obama Cap-And-Trade Fraud Case!

Volubrjotr — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:03:42 +0000

By Ian Talley, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. legislators have obtained a cour

MUST-SEE: Jack Cafferty rants against Democrats for secretive negotiations

Wintery Knight — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:00:50 +0000

Look at this radical left-wing extremist going non-linear against the Democrats!

(H/T Gateway Pundit)

Republican amendments being removed?

Congressman Greg Walden says that his amendments are being stripped from the health care bill after they were approved in committee.

(H/T Gateway Pundit)

Marsha Blackburn on the secret negotiations

Here’s a video of my other favorite Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn talking about the health care bill.

She did a great job debating this issue.

The Trail Blazer: A New GOP Star in the West by Gregory Hilton

Gregg Hilton — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:53:12 +0000

The Oregon Republican Party has a 23 year record of losing gubernatorial elections, but similar to the rest of the nation, independent and moderate voters are now shifting to the GOP column. George W. Bush lost the state twice, and John McCain was clobbered here in 2008 when Obama received 57% of the vote. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has so far been cruising to an easy 2010 re-election with a 55 to 33% approval rating, and no significant Republican challenger is on the horizon.
Oregon is definitely in Blue America, and Democrats have firm control of both houses in the state legislature. However the dismal approval rating of the incumbent Democratic governor (37%) and the state legislature (26%) has GOP strategists believing an upset is possible.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D), the two term incumbent, is not eligible for re-election, and former two term Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) is trying for a come back in 2010. Both Democrats have pushed tax increases and are in favor of an additional tax hike despite the state’s high unemployment. They do not understand the simple concept that trying to tax the state into prosperity isn’t going to work. They have also caved into every labor union demand.
Many Republicans had been hoping to nominate former Senator Gordon Smith or Rep. Greg Walden, but neither has stepped forward. Now considerable enthusiasm is behind former Portland Trail Blazers center Chris Dudley, 44. He is 6’ 11”, and graduated from Yale with degrees in economics and political science. He is already equal to the Democrats in fundraising.
Comparisons are already being made between Dudley and basketball sensations Bill Bradley and Dave Bing. Bradley of the New York Knicks began his campaign one year after retiring from basketball and served three terms in the Senate. Bing of the Detroit Pistons is now the mayor of his home town.
In 1994 Dudley signed a six year $24 million contract with the Trail Blazers. It was one of the NBA’s largest contracts at the time. He won the NBA’s Citizenship Award, USA Today’s Most Caring Athlete Award, and the Freedom Corp Award. His grandfather, Guilford Dudley, was the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark during the Nixon and Ford administrations.
The GOP basketball star enters the race with high name recognition and excellent fundraising prospects. Oregon’s 11.1% unemployment rate is well above the national average and Dudley says job creation is “the focal point of my campaign.” Over 100,000 Oregonians have lost jobs during the past year. “Our state is in a jobs crisis,” Dudley says, “All the legislature and Governor have done about this is punish job creators with higher taxes, cannibalize our education system with out-of-control pension costs, and let government spending grow at an unsustainable rate.”
He is promising to make Oregon more business friendly by wiping out regulations that are stopping economic growth. It is wrong to “overtax and over regulate the very people who are motivated to create jobs,” and he blames the states fiscal problems on public employee unions and an anti-business state legislature. Oregon’s reliance on high personal, corporate and capital gains taxes makes the state a less attractive place to locate a business, or keep one going.
Dudley has no experience in elected office, but says that is a plus: “I believe it is a strength and not a weakness that I haven’t spent the last 30 years in politics. Our state government has grown stale at the hands of insiders.”
Dudley’s must first get past four candidates in the GOP primary, and is already being criticized for not voting in 7 of the last 13 elections. His top challenger is Allen Alley, a former venture capitalist and co-founder of Pixelworks, a high-tech company. Alley was serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Kulongoski in 2008 when he resigned to accept the GOP nomination for State Treasurer, but then lost the November election.
Chris Dudley’s focus on job creation and economic issues is being well received. Polling data indicates the Oregon electorate is pro-choice and in favor of gay marriage. High profile pro-life and social conservative candidates have been rejected in many past general elections. A social conservative can win, but it would not be wise to emphasize those issues in the fall 2010 campaign.
The successful Oregon Republicans of the not too distant past include liberal Senator Mark Hatfield, and moderates such as Senator Bob Packwood and Governors Tom McCall and Victor Atiyeh. Oregon has never elected a hard right conservative to statewide office.
A GOP candidate has to walk a tightrope because if they stray too far from social conservative issues the religious right will mount a third party challenge. That happened to former Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer (R) in his 1990 gubernatorial campaign in which a social conservative third party candidate received 15% of the vote.
Republican hope Kerry Eggers, the Portland Tribune columnist is speaking for many when he wrote: “I’ll be voting for Chris Dudley for governor if he wins the Republican primary. I’m a full-fledged Democrat, and Chris is a Republican. I’m crossing party lines, and couldn’t be more than happy to do so. Mine will be a vote for a straight shooter, a man of integrity, a man I can believe in to run this state. I’ve known Dudley since 1993.”

The Trail Blazer: A New GOP Star in the West

Gregg Hilton — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:53:12 +0000

House Energy & Commerce Committee report on health care in Oregon's 2nd Congressional District

Main Street Alliance of Oregon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:06:17 +0000

Last Saturday, as four of Oregon’s five congressional representatives voted in favor of groundbreaking health care reform, Representative Greg Walden stood alone in his opposition.

Around a month ago, however, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which Representative Walden sits, published a report on how health care reform would affect Representative Walden’s district. Included in the report are facts and figures on the impacts of health care reform on individuals and small businesses.

Read the report here.

Another common sense reform squelched in Congress

sanityinjection — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:00:09 +0000

This time, it’s a bipartisan bill that would simply require that any non-emergency legislation should have its full text published online for anyone to read for three days before a vote is taken. The idea is to give both members of the public and just as importantly, members of Congress, the opportunity to actually read bills carefully before voting on them.

You might wonder why anyone would oppose such a common sense reform. The answer is that legislative leaders have a much easier time ramming things through if nobody has a chance to read them. Not only does this tactic reduce objections from the minority party, but also defections from within the party in power. In other words, Speaker Nancy Pelosi can ask a freshman Democrat to support a bill, and that freshman is much more likely to go along if they don’t know what’s in it than if they read it and find things that would be problematic for their district. But it’s not a partisan issue – the same rules would apply regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats are in power.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), Rep. John Culberson (R-TX), and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR). I commend these Congressmen as well as the 98 legislators who have signed on as co-sponsors. That’s about 1 out of every five house members, not too shabby. But the bill is stuck in committee going nowhere, and a petition to force it out is unlikely to succeed. (Some of the co-sponsors probably signed on in order to look good knowing it probably wasn’t going anywhere.)

If someone can easily discover the bill number of this legislation, please let me know, as I’d like to encourage my Congressman to support it, and I’d encourage others to do so.

Re: The Fairness Doctrine

Marc Whitman — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:48:58 +0000

Republican Congressman Greg Walden, a former owner of five radio stations in Oregon including a “classic rock” station joked that the Fairness Doctrine is “the musical equivalent” of “every time we’d play a classic rock song we’d have to play a polka!”

(From a CNN report.)

Oregon District #2

Dr. T — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:32:51 +0000

District 2 is the largest of Oregon’s districts — and the seventh largest district in the nation — covering roughly two-thirds of the state east of the Willamette Valley. It includes all of Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler counties and part of eastern Josephine County, including some of the Grants Pass area.

The district has been represented by Republican Greg Walden since 1999.