According to a Chicago Sun-Times article, the Massachusetts legislature is considering a new bill that would add short and fat people to discrimination statutes. 

All people should be treated with respect as human beings.  But, speaking as a member of one of these classes, come on!  If this type of legislation keeps up, companies will have to hire new employees by picking a name out of a hat - if they learn too much and then don’t hire someone, they’ll probably be sued.

If you’re like me, you probably received a ballot over the weekend.  Charter changes, school board members, water districts and more are all up for a vote on May 15^th. 

Here are some resources, endorsements, and information on the issues to help get your research started. 
 
Willamette Week School Board, Charter Change endorsements
 
Portland City Club Charter Reform Recommendations
 
The Oregonian’s School Board Endorsements
 
The Oregonian on Measure 26-92
 
Amanda Fritz on Charter Change
 
Multnomah County Voter’s Pamphlet
 
Washington County Voter’s Pamphlet
 
Clackamas County Voter’s Pamphlet
 
Have you found other helpful links?  Send ‘em on over.

I know there are more important bills out there. But this one has me at a loss. Apparently, we have to pass laws so that state agencies will talk to one another. HB 2689 requires the Dept. of Transportation and the Parks and Recreation Dept. to include the Travel Information Council when they plan to close or relocate rest areas.

The TIC is the self-supporting state agency that “links Oregon motorists with businesses.” They put up those “Food/Lodging Next Exit” signs, staff the state’s welcome centers and facilitate advertising at rest areas.

Because they take care of the advertising at rest areas, doesn’t it make sense that they be at the table to discuss closing or relocating rest areas? Shouldn’t they be the first to know? There must have been communication problems, or the TIC wouldn’t have requested the bill. I hope it passes. But, why on earth do we need this bill to make sure that state agencies check in with one another?

House Republicans today released a Jan. 23 Moore Information poll showing a strong majority of Oregonians remain strongly opposed to raising taxes. The poll was released as the Oregon Legislature considers tax increases, mostly on small businesses.

In the statewide survey of 500 Oregonians, 68 percent of respondents said they believed “state government has the money it needs, it just needs to spend it more wisely,” while only 28 percent believed state government “needs to raise taxes to fund additional programs.”

“The Moore poll should send a strong message to those at the Capitol who think it’s OK to raise taxes and spend money at unsustainable levels,” said House Republican Leader Wayne Scott (R-Canby). “Oregonians are not convinced that state government is spending its money wisely, and pursuing tax increases will not restore the Legislature’s credibility. Oregonians will remember those who stood their ground for responsible government, and those who supported tax increases out of political expediency.”

Too bad 68% of the legislature doesn’t seem opposed to new taxes this year.

In his latest newsletter, Senator Doug Whitsett (R-Klamath Falls), a retired veterinarian, includes an interesting commentary on a looming conflict between the state and scientific freedom.
 
Here’s what he has to say:
 
“An issue that seems at first glance to be rather insignificant may actually carry tremendous implications for a free society.  That issue is freedom of speech and the continuation of separation between the state and scientific freedom.
 
Oregon State University has a climate laboratory which has been in existence for many years. This laboratory comprises a non-partisan group of very well educated earth and meteorological scientists who are, and have historically been instrumental in predicting the climate trends of the state.  George Taylor is the meteorologist who is in charge of the laboratory.  He has been known for many years as the state’s chief climatologist.  He has earned the position through his and the laboratory’s accurate work prognosticating winter snow pack, precipitation trends and overall climatology from year to year.

 
Oregon’s governor and his policy advisors now seek to strip George Taylor of his unofficial title of state climatologist and bestow the title on someone else because Mr. Taylor dares engage in valid scientific debate regarding global warming.  We as a society and government are starting to slide down a slippery slope when we invalidate the work and personages of legitimate scientists and quell scientific debate in favor of “political” agendas.  Under the guise of political correctness and advancement of his political legacy, the governor and his advisors appear willing to go to any lengths to ensure that Oregonians are not presented with the two sides of the anthropogenic causation of global warming debate.
 
Throughout history, science, religion and the state have often times been at odds with each other.  During the Middle Ages, the Inquisition in Europe often had scientists being burned at the state – or otherwise condemned to death – as heretics for suggesting that the earth was round that the earth revolved around the sun, and many other facts that are now commonly accepted.  We are seeing an age of “dis-enlightenment” if you will, where governments are castigating scientists who don’t believe in their agendas and Oregon is at the leading edge of this movement.
 
There are many well educated scientists who do not believe that global warming is caused by humans, if it exists at all over the long term.  Through censorship and intimidation, our governor appears to be attempting to regulate our scientists to expose only those notions that support his agenda.  The debate rages on and scientists on both sides of the issue should be allowed to represent their work and opinions and continue to be held in high esteem for their work.  Science does not have a preset, preconceived agenda; its outcome is not a political “goal” to be attained; and the individuals who work in the field of science should not be politically manipulated, threatened or subjugated by politicians.”
 
Wow.  Discuss.