Update December 14: Today the U.S. Senate passed this bill by 86-13.  The Democrats voted in favor of it by 42-7.  Thanks, Democrats, for wasting money on military adventurism.

169 Democrats (out of 222) just voted with Republicans to increase military spending to $768 billion per year. That’s more than Trump’s last defense budget. Last year, Trump crowed about his massive $738 billion for the U.S. military. Now, Democrats want $768 billion for the military.

More tha 3/4 of the Democrats in the U.S. House voted with Republicans to throw billions more at defense contractors, weapons, and war. The Democratic establishment has learned nothing from decades of trillion dollar wars and disinvestment in housing, education, and the social safety net.

The Senate is expected to rubber stamp this bill and send it to the White House for signature.

Forbes Magazine reported in August 2020:

It took five decades, but the Democratic Party has finally changed its stance on nuclear energy. In its recently released party platform, the Democrats say they favor a “technology-neutral” approach that includes “all zero-carbon technologies, including hydroelectric power, geothermal, existing and advanced nuclear, and carbon capture and storage.”

That statement marks the first time since 1972 that the Democratic Party has said anything positive in its platform about nuclear energy.

Here is a video from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez saying that the Green New Deal includes nuclear plants.

Note that endorsing "advanced nuclear" means supporting a new generation of nuclear power plants, in addition to those already operating (which are not "advanced").  The Democratic Party 2020 Platform also forwards the myth of using "advanced nuclear that eliminates waste associated with conventional nuclear technology."  There is no such thing in reality.  If there were, it would exist somewhere in the world.

Scientific American of August 29, 2020, reported:  "The Democrats’ 2020 platform doesn’t include a goal of eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, even though the 2016 version did."

If you like nuclear power (and its wastes and catastrophic accidents) and government subsidization of dirty fossil fuels, the the Democratic Party is for you.

The Oregon Progressive Party will conduct its final nominating convention for the 2020 election on Monday, August 24, 7:00 pm via Zoom.  If problems, call 503-502-8973 or 202-465-2764.

The Oregonian reported earlier this year that Oregon legislators get more campaign money from tobacco companies than candidates in all but 3 other states. And it pays off.

The Democrats, who control both houses of the Oregon Legislature, just backed off a widely supported increase in the state tobacco tax. Oregon's tobacco taxes are lower than in 36 other states and US territories. Oregon's $1.33 per pack pales in comparison to Washington ($3.03 per pack) or California ($2.87 per pack). And Oregon has no taxes on vaping products.

Instead of adopting the proposed $2 per pack increase, the Oregon Legislature is adopting no increase at all. Instead, it might refer to voters a proposed tobacco tax increase. The last time that happened (in 2007) the tobacco companies spent $12 million and defeated the measure. So the Democrats are punting to a procedure that is very likely to result in no tobacco tax increase.

Thanks, Democrats, for disregarding the public health catastrophe caused by tobacco.

Ref: Newberg paper mill and use of eminent domain

The Oregon Progressive Party calls for use of the State’s eminent domain power to return the WestRock Newberg newsprint mill to operating for the benefit of the people of Oregon and the environment. Now that China is refusing to accept waste paper from the United States, we need to process our paper waste into pulp and paper products. The Newberg mill can do that.

A recent Op-ed in The Portland Tribune stated that Oregon’s congressional delegation and Governor Kate Brown should apply pressure to WestRock Co., current owner of the Newberg paper mill, to ensure that it returns the mill to production of paper goods. The question is not one of whether the mill’s production can find a market; it appears that there is international demand with interest expressed by companies in China and India.

In order to ensure the well-being of the former workers, the Newberg economy and the environment (Oregon is in need of a facility to recycle its waste paper, which China now refuses to accept), the State of Oregon should immediately investigate the use of the ultimate weapon – the use of the State’s eminent domain power - to acquire the property and reopen the mill immediately. While a trial would be required to establish the property’s value, we have a good estimate of the property’s value. WestRock Co. had already agreed to sell the property for $8.4 million, in this case on condition that the mill equipment be destroyed.

If the State of Oregon used its power of eminent domain, the mill equipment would not be destroyed.

A public purpose is needed for the State of use this power, but that purpose is easily established – job creation (or retention) and environmental protection by allowing Oregon’s waste paper recycling program to continue.

The Oregon Progressive Party opposes the special tax break proposed by Governor Kate Brown. She called a special session of the Oregon Legislature just to enact this tax break, which means that sole proprietors will pay a lower income tax rate than their workers. How is this consistent with the alleged principles of the Democratic Party?

The gun measure (Initiative Petition 43) is already dead, thanks to the Democrats in the Oregon Legislature.

The Attorney General has until May 23 to issue a "certified ballot title." Any commenter then has until June 7 to file a ballot title challenge in the Oregon Supreme Court. Supporters and others (including the Attorney General) then have until June 18 to file responses. The challenger(s) then have until June 25 to file reply memos. The Court then takes the matter under advisement and has been taking an average of 2 months to decide such cases. The deadline for submitting signatures is July 6. You do the math.

Also, if the Court finds that the certified ballot title needs to be changed at all, the matter returns to the Attorney General for another week to make the change, and then there is another week for any party to challenge the modified title and then unlimited time for the Court to rule. The Court can then find fault with the modified title and send it back to the Attorney General for more cycles of revision and challenge.

Secretary Of State Dennis Richardson has tried to adopt rules allowing petitioners to gather signatures on sheets that print the full "certified ballot title," while the Oregon Supreme Court review is underway. But Democrats in the Oregon Legislature blocked that in the February 2018 session. So the gun measure is already dead.

There is an article at http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/capital-bureau/20180517/ballot-initiativ..., which implies that IP 43 is still alive. It is dead, thanks to the Democrats in the Oregon Legislature, as are IP 40 for net neutrality and IP 44 to require firearms to be locked while stored.

The deadline for Members of OPP to suggest nominees was March 14, 2018. The nominees suggested by Members were Chris Henry and Marc Koller. They have both said they are willing to serve.

The State Council believes that both of them would be valuable additions:

• Chris has been the OPP's leading vote-getter in Oregon elections every 2 years since 2014 (and 2nd leading vote-getter in 2012). His vote totals have been legally necessary to maintaining our status as an official Oregon minor party.  Chris is an active union member and long-haul truck driver.
   
• Marc Koller has been running for U.S. Representative in Oregon's 3rd Congressional District (mostly the east side of Portland an Multnomah County, plus some of the west side and some of Clackamas and Hood River counties). He is a long-experienced business executive, union member, and educator at several universities and other schools.

The State Council is amenable to having both of them serve on the State Council. That would require amending the Bylaws to increase the number of persons on the Council from 5 to 6. The State Council can amend the Bylaws by majority vote.

The voting of OPP members on the State Council candidates, Chris Henry and Marc Koller, will take place at the OPP Monthly meeting on April 16 (7:00 pm) at the usual meeting place (411 S.W. 2nd Avenue, 2nd Floor, in Portland). The meeting will also be available by conference call at (712) 775-7031, code 209-508-222#.

If you have questions, please send them to statecouncil@progparty.org.