Archive for the 'Governor' Category
Senator Atkinson: Can you hear me now?
State Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Grants Pass) had this to say in the Senate Republican’s weekly Capitol Update.
Like the goofy Verizon spokesman in horn rimmed glasses, Oregon voters are tired of asking Salem “Can you hear me now?” It doesn’t take much to look back over the last few decades and see how Salem has ignored the clear voice of voters again and again.
For example, Oregonians have without exception turned down tax increase after tax increase, yet Salem continues to send them proposals for more spending at taxpayer expense. Voters ask themselves, “Can they hear us now?” When Oregonians put the personal kicker in to the state constitution, Salem thought they knew better and temporarily suspended it. Oregonians said “Can you hear us now?”
With Measure 37, 61% of Oregonians spoke with a united voice to declare that our land use system was broken. They clearly took a stand for the rights of property owners.
Since then, people have invested their last pennies to navigate paperwork and prepare their property for construction, yet the governor has turned a deaf ear on Oregon and wants to suspend their clearly stated will, and the dreams of property owners across the state. He stands in his office, shaking his finger at voters, telling them he knows best and we need to have a “time out” in the corner.
The governor complains about costs, about the logistics of implementation, or conjectures about the “intended will of the voters.” But those sound more like excuses then they do reasons. Voters have been clear about what they want; it is up to Salem to make sure it happens. The governor doesn’t have the luxury of second guessing what it was the voters meant. It is pretty clear. The time has come to end the dysfunction in land use planning. Oregonians are entitled to their property rights, and the rest of the state will reap the rewards of economic growth. Voters couldn’t have been clearer on the matter.
Governor, can you hear them now?
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