Coffee with Cascade

Metro will soon be revising its 1995 Regional Framework Plan, also known as the 2040 plan. The vision of 2040 advocates was for the Portland region to “build up,not out” by maintaining a tight urban growth boundary, mandating the construction of apartments rather than single family homes, stopping any more highway building, and spending billions of tax dollars on transit. They assumedthat this would lead to a better quality of life, but they were wrong.Housing is now unaffordable due to land scarcity and the high construction cost of building high rises. High priced housing has doubled the homeless population and Metro's reliance on bond measures for homeless services and other programs has made Portland one of America's most heavily taxed cities.Traffic congestion now has Portland commuters wasting 75 percent more time in traffic, while billions spent on light rail failed to increase ridership.Although it's hard to believe, the Metro 2040 plan was based on emulating the traffic congestion and high housing density of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, they succeeded.Instead of creating yet another long-range vision, Metro should help build the communities people actually want by reducing congestion, lowering taxes, and increasing the supply of land for single family homes.

House Bill 2808 and House Bill 2165 seek to address the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) budget shortfall of $875,000, but through different methods. Instead of choosing which bill offers the best path towards good governance, the legislature is saying, “both.” HB 2808 would increase the permitting and licensing fees related to wells. HB 2165 would provide an increase in funding to OWRD from the general fund of $830,415.Initially proposed as a one-or-the-other approach, the current recommendation from the committee is that both bills are needed, with no downsizing. The solution addressed by these bills is critical to the one-in-four Oregonians relying on domestic wells. But well owners, not taxpayers, should pay for increased employment costs at OWRD. Permit fees are a means of ensuring that the agency has a fiscal responsibility to process applications, versus relying on a one-time bailout from the general fund that has no statutory requirements for processing applications.When fees are required by law, project beneficiaries should pay the price, not taxpayers. Fee increases should be permitted only when agencies can show increasing employment costs, increasing demand for processors, and that no agency rulemaking has created obstacles to processing. In the case of OWRD, funding increases are needed, but this should come from landowners wanting a new well, not unsuspecting taxpayers who are already paying their own monthly water bills.

Over-promising and under-delivering has been the habit of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) for decades, with businesses and counties enduring financial hardships from ODF's inconsistent timber sales. House Bill 3103 with the -1 amendment seeks to address these concerns by requiring ODF to create five-year projections on Sustainable Harvest Levels (SHL) by December 31, 2026 and to offer one-fifth of this timber for sale annually.If there is a deficit in volume from the previous year, it will be added to the volume of the following year. The proposal also accounts for exceptions due to changing forest dynamics like wildfire, disease, and pests. HB 3103 also grants standing for those receiving funds from state timber sales to sue ODF if the SHLs are not published or met.In the 1940s, counties placed thousands of acres of forest land in a public trust with the state of Oregon. Millions of dollars were expected to be generated from this arrangement. But in recent decades, ODF has consistently failed at meeting sale projections.In a state with some of the most stringent timber harvest regulations worldwide, unpredictable harvest levels will cause end-users to import timber from less regulated regions. Oregon timber is harvested responsibly, but the only way to ensure that Oregon's environmental priorities are impactful is by creating a consistent supply of Oregon timber products.

It's official: More than half of America's K-12 students are now eligible to participate in a school choice program.Last Saturday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2 into law, making the Lone Star State the latest to enact a universal Education Savings Account program. According to the American Federation for Children, the one-billion-dollar Texas legislation will be the largest new school choice program in history. Individual ESA accounts, which will be valued at $10,000 or more, can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, transportation, special needs therapies, and other education-related expenses.The program will begin serving 90,000 children and expand as needed. If initial demand exceeds available spaces, priority will be given to low-to-middle-income students and students with disabilities.This year, Tennessee, Idaho, Wyoming, and now Texas have given parents greater access to the learning environments that will best help their children through educational choice. With school choice laws on the books in more than two-thirds of U.S. states, fifty-five percent of American children now have a chance to get the educational opportunities they deserve. Let's bring school choice to Oregon soon.

Recently The Oregonian published a feature about TriMet's ongoing death spiral. Since 2015, the agency's annual revenue from passenger fares has dropped from $117 million to $59 million, while operating expenses have grown. As a result, TriMet's operating loss last year was $850 million.TriMet is begging state legislators for a bailout, but we've already tried that. The legislature approved payroll tax rate increases in both 2003 and 2009. As a result, TriMet is now almost entirely funded by taxpayers.TriMet anticipates that it will have to eliminate up to 51 of its bus lines by 2031 if it cannot improve its financial condition. We should probably let that happen. Transit is important only if people choose to use it. Most people in the metro region are making other choices.Unfortunately, TriMet is in denial about these trends. The agency is planning to expand light rail service to Vancouver and tear up 82nd Avenue to accommodate bus rapid transit.The TriMet Board is holding a strategic planning retreat this week. The Board should shut down plans for new service and prepare for the retrenchment that the market is demanding.

On Monday, the North Dakota legislature passed the state's first private school choice program. If signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong, House Bill 1540 would establishEducation Savings Accounts for North Dakota students beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Award amounts wouldbe determined by a family's income level, and the lowest-income students could receive more than $4,000 each. A separate bill, signed into law this week, has authorized the establishment of public charter schools in the state.Education Savings Account programs allow parents to use a defined amount of state education funding on behalf of their children for qualifying education-related expenses, including tuition, textbooks, tutoring, and transportation.North Dakota's ESA and charter school laws will empower parents to choose the educational environments that best help their children succeed. When parents have choices, students have more opportunities for their individual learning needs and goals to be met. North Dakota is taking strong steps to make sure every child has access to an effective, meaningful, and empowering education.

On April 14, Governor Tina Kotek held a press conference to reaffirm her commitment to protecting students from discrimination based on race, national origin, or immigration status in Oregon schools.The point of the announcement was to focus on the implied future threat from President Trump, but discrimination is already occurring in Portland.For the past decade, the Portland Public School district has been providing extra funding to schools in part on the basis of race (2024-2025 Proposed Budget – Volume 2, pp. 4-5). Students who are Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander are automatically characterized as “historically underserved,” which means the schools they attend receive more money. This is true even if their parents are rich and the students themselves are high achievers.For the current school year, the elementary school receiving the most generous funding is Rosa Parks, with $17,891 per student. The school with the least amount of funding is Richmond, at $7,649.At the high school level, Jefferson receives $15,812 per student, while Grant gets $8,109.It's not clear why Portland school parents have been tolerating this for so long. ORS 659.850 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any public school, and PPS funding is clearly discriminatory.The Governor should stop grandstanding about President Trump, start enforcing civil rights laws in Portland, and put an end to race-based school funding.

What if every child could attend the school where he or she would learn most successfully? Empowering parents to choose their children's school is called educational—orschool—choice.  School choice allows parents to better meet their children's tailored educational needs and circumstances.Nationwide polling shows that strong majorities of voters support parents having “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.”  So far this year, Tennessee, Idaho, and Wyoming have joined 12 other states enacting universal or near-universal school choice laws for their students. According to the nonprofit organization EdChoice, approximately 40% of American children are now eligible to participate in a school choice program that includes private options. Millions more attend charter schools or benefit from other kinds of publicschool choices.Children are unique, with different talents, interests, and learning styles. Schools that work well for some don't always meet the needs of others. It's time for Oregon to join the “school choice states,” so every child has the chance for aneffective, motivating, and successful school experience.

A decade ago, 21 youth plaintiffs in Oregon filed a lawsuit asserting that the government had violated their due process rights of life, liberty, and property by encouraging and permitting the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels such as oil and gas.The plaintiffs were represented by Our Children's Trust, a litigation firm based in Eugene.The case, known as Juliana v. United States, was dismissed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2020 for lack of standing and upheld in February 2021. An amended suit was dismissed by the Ninth Circuit in May 2024 again over lack of standing, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in March 2025.The proponents are now attempting to put their hydrocarbon paranoia into the Oregon Constitution. On March 26 the state legislature held a hearing on SJR 28, which would add the following language to the Constitution:"All people, including children and future generations, have the fundamental right to a clean, safe and healthy environment."This is just performative politics. Hydrocarbons power the modern world; but if lawmakers think the public wants to return to the 18th century, they should vote to outlaw fossil fuels right now and run for re-election on that record.

This month Wyoming became the 15th state to give students universal school choice. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, any K-12 child in Wyoming may apply for an Education Savings Account of $7,000 per student. The new law also includes preschool children from low-income families.The Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act allocates $30 million to Education Savings Accounts that will initially serve about 4,000 students. Education Savings Account programs allow parents to use a defined amount of funding on behalf of their children for education-related expenses like school tuition and fees, classes, tutoring, textbooks, and transportation.Wyoming's new ESA law will empower parents to choosethe educational environments that best help their children succeed. When parents have choices, students have more opportunities for their individual learning needs and goals to be met. Every child should have access to an effective, meaningful, and empowering education. Wyoming has taken a major step to make that happen.

Charter schools are public schools, but students attending Oregon charter schools receive a fraction of the public education funding allocated to regular district school students. According to the Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools, charter school funding works out to about 48% of regular district schools' per-pupil funding. It's time to address this disparity so that charter schools—which successfully meet the academic and social needs of so many children—have the wherewithal to serve their students well.House Bill 3444, which received a hearing in the House Committee on Education March 12, would allow charter students to receive 95% of the ADMw (per-pupil funding) provided by the State School Fund. It also would permit charter schools to have access to other forms of funding currently restricted to district public schools, and help charters provide transportation services to their students. These changes would allow education funding to better “follow the child” to the schools of their choice and expand education options available to Oregon families.Charter schools play an important role in Oregon's education landscape. They offer local communities more diversity among their public school options and give educators opportunities to use their talents in innovative learning environments. Oregon education policies should value all options that empower students to achieve academic proficiency and reach their personal best, including Oregon charter schools.

On March 11 the Joint Transportation Committee of the Oregon Legislature took testimony on HB 3453, which would create a new transit authority with a mission to take over TriMet's Westside Express Service (WES) commuter line and expand it to Eugene.While I share the enthusiasm of the bill's sponsors for passenger rail, the history of WES shows that a market for commuter rail does not exist.WES was originally projected to cost $65 million and open in 2000. It actually cost $161.2 million and opened in 2009. TriMet predicted that opening-year ridership would average 2,500 average daily boardings. Actual ridership averaged 1,140.Daily ridership peaked in 2014 at 1,964 daily boardings, then dropped in each successive year. During 2024 WES averaged just 477 boardings per day.Since each rider typically takes two daily train trips, that means WES only has about 240 actual customers.With such little ridership, public subsidies are costly. Last year the operating cost per boarding ride on WES averaged $103, far in excess of the standard TriMet fare of $2.80.There is no business case for expanding commuter rail. In fact, taxpayers would be better off if we canceled WES, sold the train cars, and moved the few customers back to buses.

At its March 4th meeting, Portland Public School board will hear an update on the Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE). The $60 million CBSE was included in the bond measure approved by voters in 2020, without any prior due diligence. None of the money has been spent.It hasn't been spent because no one at PPS can explain what the Center is supposed to be or how it will improve academic performance. Nor has the Board clarified how a center focusing solely on Black students complies with Title VI of the 1964 U.S. Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race.None of those problems are solved in the Power Point being distributed for tonight's meeting.  The handout is a 9-page word salad of phrases like “Pages of Possibility” and “Bridges to Brilliance.” It does propose reading campaigns, parent partnerships, and mentoring programs that could benefit students of all races, but those activities do not require a dedicated building. The Board will be asking voters in May to approve another construction bond in the amount of $1.8 billion. Before demanding more money, PPS should apologize for its failure with the CBSE, and ask voters for permission to reallocate the $60 million to actual construction needs within the District.

Idaho families are the winners after the state's legislature passed a refundable $5,000 education tax credit last week. Idaho's Parental Choice Tax Credit (House Bill 93) will help parents pay for private school tuition, textbooks, transportation, and other qualifying education expenses. The program is universal, meaning any family can apply, but families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level will receive priority for the credit. Students with disabilities will qualify for a higher credit of $7,500. The program is capped at $50 million. The bill awaits Governor Brad Little's signature.A December 2024 poll conducted by the Mountain StatesPolicy Center shows 66% of Idaho registered voters favor this education tax credit. The nonprofit policy organization also notes that the tax credit program does not take funding from public schools. Idaho's new tax credit will empower parents to choose educational environments that best help their children succeed. When parents have choices, students have more opportunities for their individual learning needs and goals to be met. It's time for Oregon to expand education choices for parents here.

Oregon's death tax has earned our state a reputation as “the worst place in the U.S. to die.” The 10-16% tax is levied on Oregon estates valued over $1 million at the time of death. The $1 million threshold hasn't changed for 20 years, not even to adjust for inflation. It's time for this to change. House Bill 2301 would raise the tax exemption level to $7 million and decrease the tax rate to 7%.A primary reason to support this bill is the number ofOregon citizens we would stand to keep. People who have enough assets to be affected by the tax also have other valuable attributes for Oregon communities. They are volunteers for charitable organizations, reading tutors in schools, and mentors to young people.We have thousands of people like this in the state, butOregon legislators have preferred to chase them away with a punitive tax. We can't tax ourselves to a better future.Given that Oregon's population has remained stagnant overthe past four years, we should be thoughtful about how to attract and retain older people who are in their prime professional and philanthropic years.A simple way to start would be to pass HB 2301,exchanging a small amount of tax revenue for a growing cohort of individuals investing their time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of Oregon communities.

Tennessee's Education Freedom Act of 2025 has become the nation's 13th universal school choice law. Tennessee lawmakers last week passed the statewide educational choice program, which will initially fund 20,000 scholarships—worth about $7,296 each—to children who want to attend private schools. Half of the scholarships in the first year are reserved for families whose incomes are at or below 300% of the eligibility level for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program. The rest of the scholarships are open to children of any income. Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson explained, “This legislation has been marketed as a parental empowerment tool….We're not going to penalize people who work hard and might do a little better than someone else. We want these to be universal.” School choice empowers parents to choose the educational environments that will best help their children succeed. At least 40% of all students nationwide are eligible to participate in a school choice program. When parents have choices, students have more opportunities for their individual learning needs and goals to be met. Tennessee deserves congratulations for opening the doors to success for children in the Volunteer State.

This week parents, educators, and students nationwide are celebrating National School Choice Week, an annual event highlighting education options available to K-12 children today. School choice means empowering parents to choose the educational environments that will best help their children succeed. To really improve academic outcomes in Oregon, families must be able to send their children to schools that meet their learning needs. Here are three ways Oregon leaders can expand educational opportunity during the 2025 Legislative Session, now underway in Salem: Raise the cap on virtual charter school enrollment so successful charter schools can serve more students. Currently, school districts may prevent students from enrolling in virtual charter schools if three percent of the district's students are already enrolled in a virtual charter school sponsored by another district. Expand public school transfer policies so students can attend different public schools with open seats. This would help district schools respond to students' needs and reward those that achieve better outcomes. Enact an Education Savings Account (ESA) program so students choosing to opt in can use their state-level, per-pupil education funds where they learn best. 17 states currently have ESA programs. When parents have choices, students have better opportunities to learn, grow, and reach their potential. Oregon education policies should expand students' options, so all children can have an effective, meaningful, and empowering school experience.

This week marks the inauguration of President Trump and the opening of the Oregon legislative session. With new opportunities ahead, policy makers should think hard about why government exists. The most basic thing we expect from the government is protection of lives and property. Unfortunately, many elected officials find this boring. They are obsessed with electric vehicles, fossil fuels, plastic packaging, iconic fish species, preferred pronouns, equal outcomes, and dozens of other boutique issues. They prefer working on passion projects rather than protecting public safety. It's not working. Looking at the Executive Orders issued by President Trump on his first day in office, it's refreshing to see how many of them are designed to simply get government out of the way. That's why he was elected. Of course we won't see any such directives issued by Gov. Kotek. She's a believer in central planning. But even she knows that most Oregon cities are over-taxed and over-regulated. Elected officials in Oregon are trying to do too much, for the wrong reasons.  A great New Year's Resolution would be to do less and do it better.

January 26-February 1 will be the 15th annual National School Choice Week, the world's largest celebration of parental choice and effective education options for all children. National School Choice Week (NSCW) “informs, inspires, and empowers parents to discover the K-12 education options available for their children.” Week organizers say the event will partner with 209 schools and organizations in Oregon to raise awareness of the K-12 education options available to students here, including traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home schools. School choice means empowering parents to choose the educational environments that will best help their children succeed. Thirty-three states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have expanded students' academic opportunities through 75 school choice programs. More than 22 million students are eligible to participate in a school choice program—about 40% of all students nationwide. When parents have choices, students have more opportunities for their individual learning needs and goals to be met. Oregon should put parents “in the driver's seat” of their children's education through school choice, so all students can have access to an effective, meaningful, and empowering education.

The Portland School Board (PPS) wants voters to approve a construction bond measure of $1.8 billion in May. If approved, the measure would authorize the Board to impose taxes on all properties within the district to pay the principal and interest on bonds for the next 30 years. The total cost of debt service would likely be $3.5 billion or more. In any bond campaign, advocates are saying to voters, “trust us.” Should we trust the school board? No. Voters approved a $1.2 billion school bond measure in 2020, which allocated $311 million to rebuild Jefferson high school. Four years later, the budget has been increased to $491 million, but there is no school. The 2020 bond also included $60 million to create something called the Center for Black Student Excellence. None of the money has been spent, and no one at the district can even explain what the Center will be, who will operate it, or how many students it will serve. In 2022, the state legislature gave PPS $120 million to relocate Tubman middle school. The money hasn't been spent, and the district now admits there are no available sites for a new school in NE Portland. The school board needs to show that it can manage money before asking voters for more.

What if all parents could choose schools based on where their children learn best, regardless of neighborhood zoning or income level? With school choice, they can. School choice programs allow education funding to follow students to the schools or learning services their families choose. It puts parents, not bureaucracies, “in the driver's seat” of education, helping families customize schooling to meet students' specific needs and circumstances. Educational choice for K-12 students continued to expand in 2024. With new laws passed, 75 programs are on the books in 33 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. According to EdChoice (a nonprofit that promotes educational choice), more than 22 million students are eligible to participate in a private school choice program—about 40% of all students nationwide. More than one million students currently participate in a private school choice program. Each state's approach to school choice empowers parents to choose the best 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. Children are unique, with different talents, interests, and learning styles. A school that works well for one child doesn't necessarily meet the needs of another. Wouldn't it be wonderful if students could go to school where they learn best? Universal school choice is the gift that keeps giving, for today's students and for the future.

At a December 17th meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Interstate Bridge Replacement, legislators were promised that the proposed light rail service to Vancouver, WA would arrive every 6.7 minutes during weekday rush hours. We don't need to guess whether this forecast will be wrong. We already know it. Before the Yellow Line opened in 2004, TriMet promised that peak-hour trains would arrive every 7.5 minutes by 2020. That never happened. In fact, the Yellow Line only arrives every 15 minutes, 50% below what was promised. Not only did TriMet planners give the wrong forecast for levels of service, they weren't even close on the ridership estimates. TriMet predicted 35,320 weekday riders on the Yellow Line by 2020. Actual ridership is 10,611, 70% below the forecast. The transit agency for Vancouver already offers express bus service to Portland, which is a superior ride compared to light rail. Spending $3 billion to add rail will be a waste of money. The legislature should cut light rail from the project while it still can.

In 2021, Sherwood School District opened the largest high school in Oregon. At 350,000 square feet, Sherwood High accommodates 2,000 students. The 73-acre campus includes a 600-seat performing arts center, a football stadium complex, and seven multipurpose sports fields. The total cost was $186 million, paid for by Sherwood taxpayers. The Beaverton School District is currently rebuilding Beaverton High School with a capacity of 1,500 students, at a cost of $253 million. The Portland School District is preparing to rebuild Jefferson, Ida B. Wells, and Cleveland high schools at an average cost of $362 million dollars per school. Each of the three schools will have a capacity of 1,700 students, though Jefferson enrollment is only 459. The School Board is planning to ask for the money in a May, 2025 bond measure. The details are still under discussion, but the bond must be referred to the ballot by February 28. Since the new Portland schools will be the most expensive schools ever built in state history, voters should be asking: What do the school boards of Sherwood and Beaverton know that the Portland Board doesn't?  If PPS Board members can't answer that question, they shouldn't refer the measure to voters.

The Board of Portland Public Schools has been working to craft a district-wide policy regarding cell phone use at school. During the Policy Committee's December 2 meeting, board members discussed a draft policy that would require personal electronic devices to be “off and away” during the school day, including lunchtime and in hallways, “so that the device cannot disrupt students or the learning environment.” During Monday's discussion, board members said many educators support clear and enforceable restrictions on cell phone use. They cited learning disruptions, technology addiction, and students cutting classes to be on their phones. School staff who testified in support of a phone-free school day described their experiences with class interruptions and behavior-related safety problems. Board member Patte Sullivan said, “Of all the emails I've received [from teachers], nothing…has said we don't want restrictions. They really want restrictions. They want to teach.” Sometimes freedom requires saying “no” to one thing to say “yes” to something that's more important. Unrestricted use of electronic devices at school has degraded the academic environment and students' social experiences. Setting limits on technology use will help give students the freedom to focus on what's more valuable and important. Creating distance between students and screens would put the focus back on learning, which is what school is all about.

In mid-November, the Portland City Council approved a 1.3-mile extension of the Portland Streetcar in Northwest Portland to service anticipated housing development near the Montgomery Park building. Council members assumed that the streetcar is a critical mobility option for Portland residents, but the facts suggest otherwise. According to TriMet, monthly ridership in 2024 has been 39% lower than ridership during 2018, despite a rise in population during that period. The Streetcar is simply irrelevant to most residents. It's a low-speed, low-capacity, high-cost method of travel that doesn't go many places. Even for those who love trains, the Streetcar is not practical for most trips. Historically, Streetcar construction has been paid for by various sources including property owners, parking revenues, and grants. Federal money is always the linchpin. Portland expects to submit a large grant request to the federal government no later than June of next year; but with the election of Donald Trump, those subsidies might not be available.

The Portland Tribune recently reported that Oregon elementary students' academic proficiency remains “significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.” It also noted that while every state “experienced a decrease in average assessment scores,” “compared to every other state, Oregon was third last for improvement in reading test scores….” All children deserve effective educational options that will help them succeed in school. Here are three ways state leaders can help K-12 students get their education back on track when Oregon's 2025 Legislative Session begins in January: Raise the cap on virtual charter school enrollment so successful charter schools can serve more students. School districts may prevent students from enrolling in virtual charter schools if three percent of the district's students are already enrolled in a virtual charter school sponsored by another district. Expand public school transfer policies so students can attend different public schools with open seats. This would create incentives for district schools to respond to students' needs and reward those that achieve better outcomes. Enact an Education Savings Account (ESA) program so students choosing to opt in can use their state-level, per-pupil education funds where they learn best. 17 states currently have ESA programs. To really improve education outcomes in Oregon, we need to make it possible for families to enroll their children in the schools that best meet their academic needs and goals.

On November 21, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission is scheduled to adopt a carbon rationing scheme known as the Climate Protection Program. The regulation will set a statewide cap on the emissions of human-caused carbon dioxide, and then steadily reduce the cap over time. By 2040, most fossil fuels will be outlawed. The effects of this cap will be swift and painful. Based on experience in Washington and California, the DEQ regulation will increase the cost of gasoline sold in Oregon by at least 25 cents/gallon, and possibly as much as 45 cents. None of this will benefit drivers, and it won't even benefit the environment. Carbon rationing will force fuel suppliers to rely on corn-based ethanol and other agricultural commodities, which will vastly increase the amount of land, water and fertilizer needed to produce automotive fuel. The Climate Protection Program was ordered by former Gov. Kate Brown, who is no longer in office. But elected officials who ARE in office should note that the number one message from voters in the recent election was that they can't afford the rising cost of consumer goods. If state legislative leaders are smart, they will tell DEQ to drop the carbon tax. Elections matter, even in Oregon.

Is more money the answer to Oregon's abysmal K-12 academic rankings?  The Heritage Foundation annually releases an Education Freedom Report Card, which ranks states according to school choice, academic transparency, regulatory freedom, and education spending. The report assesses what each state does well, identifies where it can improve, and suggests how local leaders can better address education issues.  Oregon ranks at or near the bottom of all states in each category, including 51st overall and 35th in return on investment for education spending. Oregon students' National Association of Education Progress (NAEP) scores rank 42nd in the country, even though Oregon spends above average per pupil annually (the 21st-most at $17,374 per student). Oregon also has a high ratio of non-teaching to teaching staff: There is one non-teacher for every two teachers in Oregon public schools.  In early October, the Portland Tribune reported that Oregon elementary students' academic proficiency remains “significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels, with only 31% of all Oregon students testing at proficiency in math, 43% in English and 29% in science.” The Tribune noted that while every state “experienced a decrease in average assessment scores…between spring 2019 and 2022,” “compared to every other state, Oregon was third last for improvement in reading test scores….” All children deserve effective educational options that meet their learning and developmental needs. Spending more money—in the same district schools that haven't helped students succeed for decades—isn't the answer. To show we're serious about improving education outcomes, Oregon should reinstate graduation requirements, provide school choice including open enrollment across public school districts, and minimize time and expenditures focused on non-academic services and initiatives.

Thirty years ago, an iconic goal of liberal activists was to offer a free breakfast for all public school students, regardless of family income. In response, Congress authorized a three-year pilot program to test the effects of universal free meals for students. In 2004 the USDA Economic Research Service published the results of what it called the “definitive data on the impact of universal-free breakfast participation.” The study compared gains in standardized test scores for reading and math for universal-free breakfast participants and nonparticipants, and found “no significant differences.”  Nonetheless, today more than 90% of Oregon public schools provide both a free breakfast and a free lunch to all students. Activists hope to make it 100% of students in 2025. If they succeed, it's unlikely that they will stop there. The next demand will be universal free dinners as well. It doesn't matter that subsidized meals are unnecessary for most families, or that state intervention undermines the role of parents. From the standpoint of advocates, the primary goal is to make as many services as possible free to students, whether it's food, computers, or birth control. Parents aren't considered to be important. In fact, they are treated as a nuisance in such matters as school discipline or gender pronouns. Parents who care about their children should continue to feed them breakfast at home, and pack them a lunch. “Free” is not always a good price when it comes to developing moral character in children.

On October 14, Google announced that it will finance the construction of seven small nuclear reactors in the U.S. built by energy start-up Kairos Power. The agreement will provide 500 megawatts of clean, reliable electricity to feed Google's growing need for data centers. This follows on the September 20th announcement by Microsoft and Constellation Energy that the Unit 1 nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island Generating Station will be re-started and Microsoft will buy all the output.  These kinds of energy solutions are not allowed in Oregon because nuclear power has been banned for over 40 years. Coal and natural gas were also banned in 2021, so we have a planned shortage of electricity. It's likely that we will face rolling blackouts on cold winter nights or hot summer days in the very near future. When state legislators re-convene in February, expanding options for generating electricity should be at the top of the policy agenda. We cannot run a modern electricity grid on randomly-failing wind farms.

The Heritage Foundation annually releases an Education Freedom Report Card, which analyzes and ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia according to factors related to school choice, academic transparency, regulatory freedom, and education spending. The report seeks to assess what each state does well, identify where it can improve, and help policymakers achieve real reforms. This year, Florida and Arizona again take first and second place. Both states have long been pioneers in broadly expanding students' educational opportunities. Louisiana, West Virginia, and Wyoming made notable improvements, due to new Education Savings Account laws. Unfortunately, Oregon still ranks at or near the bottom in all categories: 51st overall, 47th in education choice, 35th in return on investment, and 31st in academic transparency. Oregon is also 50th in “teacher freedom.” The report explains: “Zero percent of teachers are alternatively certified, largely required to go through university-based colleges of education in order to enter the K-12 classroom. The Beaver State does not have full reciprocity of teacher licensure with other states.” Oregon could improve its education freedom ranking by enacting an Education Savings Account program, making it easier for charter schools to open and operate, expanding families' choices among traditional public schools, and reforming licensure so more good teachers can teach in Oregon. These goals should be at the top of Oregon policymakers' education reform agendas.

This week the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is holding its final public hearing on a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90% from fossil fuels used in Oregon. Since there is a rough proportionality between fossil fuel combustion and CO2 emissions, that means the DEQ rule is a mandate to reduce the actual use of carbon-based fuels by 90%. This would essentially shut down the Oregon economy.  DEQ's program goes by the Orwellian name of “Climate Protection Program,” but it will have no effects on global climate. Any carbon dioxide reductions occurring in Oregon will be immediately offset by growing emissions elsewhere, which will be true for decades. The primary result of DEQ's rationing scheme will be rising energy prices, and the rapid exodus of people and businesses to other states. DEQ's Climate Protection Program was ordered by former Gov. Kate Brown after she failed to get the program enacted by the state Legislature. It should be repealed by legislators as soon as they convene again in February.

Environmental advocates who demand that we buy certain products rarely seem concerned about cost. But earlier this week, New York Times reporter Christopher Flavelle wrote about his experience last July replacing his home air conditioner with a heat pump. As a “climate” reporter, he felt obligated to buy the heat pump based on claims that it would have fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a traditional air conditioner. But when it came time to make the purchase, he experienced sticker shock. He ultimately bought a heat pump for $14,540, less $2,400 in subsidies, making it slightly more expensive than an air conditioner. He was assured that the unit would pay for itself, but he didn't find that very satisfying. He wrote: Until now, encouraging people to pay more upfront, on the promise of saving later, made sense to me, at least in a country that relies heavily on personal decisions to fight climate change. But when you're the one paying, it feels like a lot to ask. Maybe the most valuable thing I got…was some humility. The world would be a better place if climate reporters, government regulators, and elected officials all learned the same lesson.

The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) was opened in 1990 with the backing of Metro, the Portland regional government. It was opened to create more economic growth opportunities in Portland. In 2003 the convention center was underperforming, and Metro made the decision to upgrade. This renovation came with the promise of generating surplus revenue. Unfortunately, the site continued to underperform, leading Metro to invest in the construction of an on-site hotel that would be owned and managed by Hyatt but subsidized by public funding. Metro would provide $60 million of the $74 million in public funding through revenue bonds.  Metro justified this by stating it would push convention related spending in Portland to over a billion dollars annually. This decision was strongly opposed by both residents and private hotel operators in Portland. As of 2023, the site was only providing $330 million in convention related spending. Metro is now considering renovating the Portland Expo Center into a sport venue.  Projections for the upgraded Expo show positive cashflow. However, large publicly financed projects have failed to meet financial forecasts. When Metro officials meet in December to discuss the Expo Center project, they should consider the past before committing to public funding.

The Oregon Legislature has mandated that large utilities deliver 100% emissions-free electricity by 2040. Since coal and natural gas account for more than 45% of Oregon's electricity generation, replacing those fuels with emission-free alternatives will be difficult. Moreover, the closer Oregon gets to 100% reduction, the more expensive it will get. This challenge stems from the fact that the two preferred power sources – industrial-scale wind and solar – are weather dependent. This will require over-building, plus batteries and back-up power supplies. Estimates suggest that achieving the final 1% of decarbonization in the Northwest may require expenditure of between $100 billion and $170 billion. As Oregon adds more wind and solar facilities, the effect of decreasing marginal returns becomes stronger. Each additional unit of reduction produces progressively smaller environmental benefits relative to cost. In simpler terms, it costs more to receive less. If we ever hit 99% reduction, the cost of the final 1% will escalate dramatically, offering minimal benefit at a towering expense. Given the lack of a cost-effective solution and the uncertainty of its necessity, the commitment to achieving 100% reduction is questionable. Fully eliminating emissions may not justify the steep payment. Instead of blindly pursuing decarbonization polices, Oregon should promote an adaptable, feasible approach to electricity generation before committing to a costly 100% reduction path for carbon dioxide emissions.

The modernization of Benson Polytechnic High School is nearing completion. Originally budgeted for $202 million in 2016 and funded by a voter-approved bond in 2017, the scope of the project was subsequently expanded along with the cost. The revised budget, partially paid for through another bond in 2020, was $410 million. Part of the problem is that the school is oversized. Benson enrollment last year was 823, but the new school was designed for 1,700. Enrollment has decreased by almost 50% over the past 30 years, and there is little chance that it will grow significantly. Many of the classrooms will simply be mothballed. The next school up for modernization is Jefferson High School, and the Board plans to make the same mistake. The target enrollment is 1,700, but there were only 481 students in May. The construction budget has grown from $311 million in 2020 to $491 in 2024. Since the District doesn't have the money, the Board plans to ask for an additional $125 million in May of 2025, as part of a much larger bond request of $2.9 billion. School board members are required to manage public funds as a “prudent person” would, but overbuilding schools by 100% or more is the opposite of prudent behavior.

Cities in Oregon are required to have Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs). However, those boundaries are not supposed to be permanent limits to urban expansion. UGBs are required to include enough land to allow for adequate housing over a 20-year period. The Portland regional government, known as Metro, is in the process of analyzing the need for expansion of the Portland UGB. In a draft report released in July, Metro proposes to maintain such a tight land supply that single family homes would only account for 23% of all new housing. The rest of the units would be apartments or other forms of high-density living. Surveys show that 80% of the population aspires to live in homes, and 53% already do in the Portland region. Therefore, it's shocking that Metro is planning to take away the option of home ownership for 77% of future buyers. Metro is seeking public input on its draft growth plan, and testimony will be accepted until August 22. Citizens who desire to live in single family homes should demand that Metro approve an expansion of the growth boundary sufficient to accommodate both homes and apartments in future development.

Oregon politicians banned the use of coal for electricity generation by 2030 and natural gas by 2040, pushing utilities to rely more on wind and solar energy. These sources often produce less than 10% of Oregon's electricity needs, forcing utilities to engage in a costly overbuild of wind and solar infrastructure. Given that weather is unpredictable, how much overbuilding will be required to meet demand is unknown. The grid must always balance supply and demand, and dispatchable energy must quickly adjust. Currently, energy storage at grid scale lasts only four hours before depleting, while wind and solar can be dormant for days. The premise that wind and solar energy could be reliable sources of electricity is fundamentally flawed. When these electricity sources produce more than needed, electricity is curtailed as excess electricity is cut off from the grid and wasted. As we overbuild wind and solar to meet increasing demand, the cost of curtailed electricity grows. By the year 2040, over 80% of wind electricity may be curtailed during high production months. This will add to the cost of electricity.

In 2007, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2620. The law mandates any major infrastructure project over $5 million, or any renovation which exceeds 50% of the current building's value, to devote 1.5% of its entire budget to “Green Energy Technology” (GET). Since 2014, more than 50 of these statewide projects have been for schools, where solar panels are overwhelmingly the GET of choice. Reports submitted to the Oregon Department of Energy show that two-thirds of school projects are outfitted with solar panels that will not break even on their investment for the next 50 years. The industry-accepted break-even limit is 25 years, assuming they last that long before requiring replacement. A project cannot be excused from the 1.5% rule simply because the GET is not cost-effective. School districts that expressed concerns over this, including McMinnville and LaGrande, were allowed to defer costly GET installations to future construction projects. However, that postpones the expenditure. The Board of Portland Public Schools plans to spend more than $22 million on solar arrays at rebuilds of Cleveland, Jefferson, and Ida B. Wells high schools; and none of them will pay for themselves. If taxpayers knew about these investments, it's unlikely they would approve. The Oregon Legislature should either repeal the 1.5% GET mandate or allow project sponsors the freedom to opt-out if projects are too expensive.

When an Electric Vehicle is marketed as “zero-emission,” consumers expect their car does not cause pollution, right? Well, in the case of zero-emission vehicles, the phrase only refers to “tailpipe exhaust emissions of certain pollutants or greenhouse gases,” according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Many miss this fine print and buy EVs, believing they are helping the environment.  In reality, while removing the element of exhaust, EVs emit 20-26% more tire dust annually than gas cars due to their added battery weight.  That battery is lithium ion, which is both volatile and susceptible to catching fire. These fires emit toxic gas and burn so hot that they are difficult and dangerous to extinguish.  Building the components of an EV requires 84% more minerals than a gas car. This adds significantly to the outsourced emissions via mining. One such lithium mining operation in Chile used 65% of the region's water, leaving the inhabitants to find other water sources while causing contamination that killed animals and ruined farmland.  Consumers should be aware EVs are not “zero-emission” and do cause significant harm to the environment. I fear consumers are being misled by this term, so environmental regulators should stop requiring manufacturers to market EVs as “zero-emission” vehicles. 

The Portland Expo Center has been serving our region through trade shows and local events for nearly 60 years. However, the facility has been under-maintained, and in 2019 upgrades to the Oregon Convention Center made the Expo Center obsolete. The Expo Center is operated by Metro, which is looking for alternative uses for that site. In June, a public meeting was held to unveil Metro's latest vision, which is a recreational sports center featuring basketball and volleyball courts, ice skating rinks, and turf fields. However, sports facilities are expensive both to build and operate. Metro's forecast for the Expo Center rebuild is expected to cost $225-450 million in taxpayer dollars. Metro claims that no further subsidies would be necessary because the facility would be self-sustaining. However, similar facilities around the country are currently losing half a million to two million dollars annually. Metro will hold another public meeting on the project in December. At that time the agency should consider additional options. One could be to sell the property. Another could be to convert it to a homeless shelter, with spaces set aside for people living in vehicles. Other venues operated by Metro, including the Convention Center and the Portland Zoo, have never been self-sustaining. Voters should be skeptical of claims that a new sports complex will pay for itself.

Children are unique, with different talents, interests, and learning styles. A school that works well for one child doesn't necessarily meet the needs of another. What if all students could attend schools that helped them learn best? Empowering parents to choose the best educational environments for their children is called school choice. School choice programs allow education funding to follow students to the schools or learning services that their families choose. It puts parents “in the driver's seat” of their children's education, helping families customize education to meet their children's specific needs and circumstances. Thirty-three states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are expanding students' academic opportunities through 75 different educational choice programs. According to EdChoice (a nonprofit that promotes educational choice), more than 22 million students now can participate in a private school choice program—about 40% of all students nationwide. Different school environments help children learn in the ways that are most beneficial for them. Oregon can increase options for students by lifting the enrollment cap on charter schools, expanding public school district transfer options, and “letting the money follow the child” through an Education Savings Account program. Oregon students would be served well by letting their families choose the schools and resources that best promote their academic success.

Worries about the Cascadia Subduction Zone have persisted for the last 50 years. Oregon school districts have considered the possibility of a major earthquake as they build and renovate existing structures. In line with this approach, the Portland Public School district has embarked on a decades-long modernization project, most recently the proposed $491 million modernization of Jefferson High School. The extensive renovation plans raise concerns about the necessity and benefits of the large-scale project, especially given the uncertainty of a potential Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Oregon code requires schools to meet seismic Category III standards, prioritizing life safety. The district has chosen to construct the new Jefferson to Category IV standards. This level, typically reserved for emergency facilities, adds an extra $5.00 per square foot to building cost. Jefferson isn't the only school with an excessive budget. Cleveland and Ida B. Wells high schools have surpassed $400 million in the last month. In contrast, the ongoing Bend Senior High rebuild has a budget of $187 million and is compliant with the required seismic code. While safety is important, overbuilding schools to an unnecessary standard is a misallocation of resources. School districts should focus on meeting the required safety codes while directing additional funds towards enhancing students' learning and development. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

On May 30, Louisiana's legislature passed SB 313, establishing the LA GATOR Scholarship Program. The nation's eighth universal Education Savings Account program will be phased in beginning in 2025, with priority given to low-income students, current LA Scholarship Program students, and students enrolled in public schools. Twelve states now have laws that will offer educational choice to all, or nearly all, K-12 students who choose to participate in these programs. There are many approaches by which states can empower more students to find the right fit for them to achieve their personal best. Oregon can increase educational opportunities for students here by lifting the enrollment cap on charter schools, expanding public school district transfer options, and “letting the money follow the child” to the schools of their choice through an ESA program. Different school environments help children learn in the ways that are most beneficial for them. State education policies should value all options that empower students to achieve academic proficiency. Oregon students would be served well by increasing the opportunities available to meet their learning needs, goals, and personal circumstances. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

For the past 40 years, the scientific community has been aware that a major earthquake caused by the Cascadia subduction zone could strike the Pacific Northwest. Enter Multnomah County's $895 million “Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge,” set to open in 2031. County Commissioners decided that replacing the current bridge is necessary to safeguard Portland's lifeline routes. But how necessary or helpful will a new bridge really be? Even though the new bridge will be the same width as the old bridge, pedestrian and bus lanes will be widened in exchange for one fewer Eastbound car lane. City planners think this will discourage car ridership, and therefore auto emissions. Plans assume that peak-hour bike traffic will increase by more than 450% and that a third of car drivers will become bicyclists. These expectations are unrealistic. There were other less expensive options besides building a new Burnside Bridge. For example, Tilikum Crossing might be used under emergency circumstances because it is wide, seismically resilient, and could be cleared quickly for cars. Ultimately, the rationale for the new Burnside Bridge is the assumption that it would withstand a major earthquake in the near future. In reality, there is no way to know when the next earthquake will occur, how strong it would be, or how many of Portland's bridges would remain functioning. The Burnside Bridge plan seems more like a coercive tactic to reduce automobile travel by constraining road capacity on a major Portland bridge. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

Electric Vehicles are bad business. To boost sales in a market lacking a competitive edge, the government has stepped in with subsidies, tax breaks, and rebates as well as a mandate requiring 35% of all new sales be zero-emission vehicles. The government is replacing competitive prices and market performance with an ideology.  In an attempt to maintain sales and meet the mandate, Ford has been price slashing causing them to lose $1.32B on their EV business just in the first quarter of 2024. Ford lost $65,272 per EV sold, the cost equivalent of a Mercedes Benz E-class sedan.  Losing billions year over year has caused EV shareholders and investors to bolt. EV charging companies ChargePoint Holdings, Blink Charging, and EVgo had share price drops in December 2023 of 74%, 67%, and 21% respectively. To assuage shareholders, GM's Mary Barra explained their profits were coming from the sale of gas vehicles, undermining the purpose of the mandate and proving EVs not to be a profitable business.  The American people cannot be forced to switch to EVs, and automakers should not be punished for something outside of their control. The government is fighting a losing economic battle with a doomed product.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

This month, Missouri increased educational opportunity for families by expanding its Education Savings Account program. SB 727 widens eligibility for Missouri's ESA program to include more students, increases teachers' salaries, and makes it easier to open charter schools. Different school environments help students learn in the ways that are most beneficial for them. Approximately 20 million American children are eligible to participate in a school choice program that includes private options. Millions more attend charter schools or benefit from other kinds of public school choice. Oregon should join the “school choice states” and give parents the power to choose the best options for their children. Education Freedom for Oregon, a school choice advocacy group, is making that its goal through two separate school choice ballot initiatives. If enough voter signatures are received before June 30, Oregonians would be able to vote on those measures this year. State education policies should value all options that empower students to achieve academic proficiency and reach their personal best. Oregon students would be served well by increasing opportunities to meet their learning needs, goals, and personal circumstances. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

A committee of the Oregon legislature will soon be traveling around the state taking testimony on how to pay for Oregon's network of highways, bridges and roads. Since 1919, Oregon has relied on gas taxes for road maintenance, but costs are rising faster than tax revenues. One option is to enact mileage-based user fees, also known as tolls. But Gov. Kotek recently shut down ODOT's plan for highway tolling in the Portland area, due to widespread opposition. Tolling would be more palatable for new facilities, but we never build any in Oregon. Elsewhere, things are different. More than 60 express toll roads have been built in the U.S. over the past three decades, and they are highly popular with drivers. Even the remote nation of Madagascar is building a four-lane, 162-mile tollway that will provide convenient travel to and from the nation's capital. This will be the first toll road in Madagascar's history. Oregon drivers are willing to pay for the new roads we need. Just don't ask us to pay twice for the lanes we already have. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

At its May 7th meeting, the Portland Public Schools Board voted to spend nearly $1 billion to build new school buildings and sports facilities for Ida B. Wells and Cleveland High Schools, respectively. One reason the price tag is so high is that the Board has decided to prohibit the use of natural gas within the schools, as part of the District's campaign against fossil fuels. But making the schools all-electric doesn't free the district away from fossil fuels. It simply shifts the gas consumption from the schools to other locations, where PGE will burn gas to generate electricity for those schools. The District's climate policy is purely symbolic. Moreover, the District is planning to have diesel generators on site to provide backup power for outages. Consultants have looked at other fuels, but none provide the attributes needed to instantly provide electricity. When this issue came up several months ago regarding the expensive rebuild of Jefferson High School, Board Member Julie Brim-Edwards asked what the cost of going all-electric would be. No one on the consultant team could answer the question. With three large school projects in the pipeline, the Board should know the cost before construction begins. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

2023 is being called the “Year of Universal Education Choice,” and for good reason. According to the nonprofit organization EdChoice, policymakers in 40 states debated 111 bills to expand education options for K-12 students. Lawmakers in seven states enacted new choice programs, and ten states expanded already-existing ones. As of March 2024, eleven states now have universal or near-universal school choice laws. Approximately 20 million American children are eligible to participate in a private choice program. Oregon parents should be able to choose the best education options for their students, so every child has a chance for an effective and motivating school experience. Education Freedom for Oregon, a school choice advocacy group, is making that its goal through two separate education ballot measures. One would create School Choice Accounts for Oregon families. Parents choosing a School Choice Account could direct a portion of the state funding for their children's education to options that fit their needs, including tuition, homeschool curricula, tutoring, therapy, and more. The second ballot measure would offer statewide public school open enrollment, allowing families to choose any public schools that have available spaces. If enough voter signatures are received before June 30, Oregonians would be able to vote on these measures in 2024. Different educational environments empower students to learn in the ways that are most beneficial for them. Educational choice programs—like those in 33 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—increase students' opportunities, improve outcomes, and help make schools accountable to the parents and students they serve. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

This week the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case Johnson v. City of Grants Pass. The central question is whether local ordinances that prohibit people from camping on public property constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment. Based on prior rulings in the 9th Circuit court of appeals, western states have been limited since 2018 in what they can do to prevent people from using parks, sidewalks and streets as campgrounds. A successful class action lawsuit against the City of Grants Pass on behalf of homeless people resulted in long-term camping in a city park, preventing residents from using the park for recreational purposes. Although some people have criticized Grants Pass for allegedly making it illegal to be homeless, that is not the issue. Cities and counties simply need clear authority to prohibit camping in certain public spaces, while designating other spaces as legal places to sleep for people who lack permanent shelter. Enforcing those rules is not cruel; it's essential to the livability of our communities. The sooner the Supreme Court clarifies this matter, the sooner we can implement real solutions to the problem of public spaces being permanently converted to unsanitary campgrounds. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message