Reminder: The Oregon House Democrats blog has now moved.

Just a friendly reminder that the Oregon House Democrats blog has moved here. Be sure to update your RSS readers.

April 17, 2007
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The Oregon House Dems blog has now moved.

The Oregon House Democrats blog has moved here. Stay tuned for updated content!

Be sure to update your RSS readers.

April 3, 2007
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CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED BUILD THE NEW OREGON HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY!

The Oregon House Democrats welcome ten new members to the caucus bringing our total to 31 seats!

* Jean Cowan, House District 10
* Nancy Nathanson, House District 13
* Chris Edwards, House District 14
* Sara Gelser, House District 16
* Brian Clem, House District 21
* Tobias Read, House District 27
* David Edwards, House District 30
* Suzanne Bonamici, House District 34
* Tina Kotek, House District 44
* Ben Cannon, House District 46

November 8, 2006
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The Choice is Clear on the Central Coast - Jean Cowan will Stand up for Working Families.

Jean Cowan's latest campaign ad makes the choice in House District 10 clear. Jean Cowan will protect jobs and fight for working people. Alan Brown will continue to vote the George Bush party line and protect the big corporations who fund his campaign.

You can help a true independent leader by volunteering or contributing to Jean Cowan's campaign today.

November 2, 2006
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David Edwards is Third Democratic House Candidate to Advertise on Christian Radio.

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Today, David Edwards became the third House Democratic candidate to advertise on Christian radio. Both Rob Brading and Charles Lee launched Christian radio advertising campaigns last week. These Democrats stand on their faith in their campaigns for the Oregon House.

Listen to David Edwards new radio ad: Download david_edwards_radio.mp3

"For me faith has always been synonymous with good works. I was taught that the Christian values of compassion, charity and honesty are a way of serving God through serving others. Serving our community is the cornerstone of my campaign. I will do more then speak out for these values, I will advance them."

-David Edwards, Candidate for House District 30

Get involved with David Edwards' campaign today. We need principled leaders like David in Salem.

October 28, 2006
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Rob Brading asks East County Voters to Decide Who Will be on Their Side.

The choice is East County is as clear as day. In his new campaign ad, Rob Brading asks voters to decide who will be on their side.

October 26, 2006
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Debi Farr Flip Flops, Misleads Voters on a Woman's Right to Choose.

Debi Farr continues to tell voters she's a moderate despite voting the conservative Republican party line 99% of the time in 2005.

Twice in one week Debi Farr has made public statements that contradict her record on a woman's right to choose. While Debi Farr's voting record, endorsers and answers to a voter guide show that she is strictly anti-abortion - even in cases of rape and incest and risks to the woman's health- she continues to claim on the campaign trail that she is a moderate or even pro-choice. In fact, last week she made a statement regarding her support for emergency contraception that was simply false.

"It appears Debi Farr was against abortion in cases of rape and incest before she was for it," said Jon Isaacs, Executive Director of Future PAC, the campaign committee for the Oregon House Democrats. "Two years ago, when she faced a weaker opponent, she said she was against legalized abortion. Now that she faces a tough race, she supports a woman's right to choose."

"Voters are tired of politicians like Debi Farr who say one thing and then turn around and do another or who change their positions just to score political points," said Isaacs.

Debi Farr emerged from the 2005 session with a negative rating (-) from NARAL, the Oregon group that rates legislators’ records on protecting a woman's right to choose.

"The main issue here is Debi Farr's honesty when it comes to an important issue like abortion and women's health care," said Isaacs, "On issue after issue, Debi Farr campaigns like a moderate or even a Democrat, but turns around and votes like a conservative Republican. In 2005, Debi Farr had one of the most partisan voting records, voting the Republican Party line 99% of the time."

Debi Farr v. Debi Farr: Farr's record opposing a woman's right to choose in all cases.

Debi Farr's Campaign Statement regarding her position on emergency contraception on October 19, 2006 at the Active Bethel Citizens Candidates Forum:

"Well, um, that was an interesting letter to the editor because I didn’t sit on that committee. So I didn’t have a vote. So I didn’t have a vote on that committee, and that bill didn’t ever come to the House floor for a vote."

Debi Farr's record: During the 2005 session, Debi Farr voted with all 32 other Republicans against withdrawing SB 849 from committee on the House floor. SB 849 would have required pharmacies to make emergency contraceptives available over the counter.

Debi Farr's Campaign Statement regarding her position on abortion in cases of rape, incest or risk to the woman's life on October 23, 2006 on a recorded message left with voters:

"Patent lies should never be part of the political process. Hi, this is Debi Farr and my opponent has engaged in the worst type of campaigning. He and his supporters have stated that I would never support the woman's right to choose. Let me be perfectly clear; in cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother, I will always support the woman's right to choose. Period. This is Debi Farr and I am asking for your support."

Debi Farr's Record: Debi Farr has been given a full endorsement by Oregon's most prominent anti-choice organization, Oregon Right to Life, which wants to ban abortion even in cases of rape and incest. On the Oregon Family Council’s 2004 questionnaire, Debi Farr's position on abortion is clearly stated in unequivocal terms: Pro-Life Opposed to Legalized Abortion.

Take a look for yourself. Download the 2004 Oregon Family Council Voter Guide: Download oregon_family_council_primary_election_tuesday_may_18_2004.htm


October 24, 2006
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House Republicans Bankrolled by Radical School Voucher Advocates

Question: Why is a political committee set-up to push a radical initiative bankrolling House Republican candidates?

Answer: To bring the radical proposal of school vouchers to Oregon.

Solution: The only way to stop private school vouchers from destroying our public schools is to help the Oregon House Democrats take back the Oregon House. Volunteer for one of our candidates or make a contribution to Future PAC today.

The Details

The so called "First Class Education for Oregon" committee is spending $80,000 on cable advertising for three House Republican candidates including embattled House Speaker Karen Minnis. In addition to the $80,000 on cable advertising, this committee has spent thousands of dollars on direct mail and phone calls on behalf of virtually every targeted House Republican candidate.

This committee's stated purpose is to push initiative petition 131, better known as the so-called "65% solution for schools." However, this committee made no serious effort to put the initiative on the 2006 ballot and has, in fact, already formed a committee for 2008. Which gets us back to the original question - why is an initiative committee bankrolling House Republican candidates?

Fortunately for Oregonians, a leaked memo written by the political consultant for this group, Tim Mooney, exposed their radical agenda. What does this memo tell us about Billy Dalto, Shirley Parsons, Everett Curry, Karen Minnis and the other House Republican candidates being funded by this extreme organization?

Let's find out.

Under the Heading "Political Benefits of 1st Class Education" Mooney outlines the group's real agenda.

Read the memo for yourself here: Download first_class_ed_memo.pdf

- Pitting Teacher and Administrators Against Each Other.
FCE argues that their proposal “pits administrators and teachers at odds with one another with monies flowing from the former to the latter…” Furthermore, it claims that their proposal will “create tremendous tension within the organization.” Finally, it argues that “Every day and every dollar the education establishment uses to defeat this proposal is a day and a dollar they cannot spend on other political activities.”

- Creating a Political Environment Favorable to Private School Vouchers.
FCE outlines, in this, point, their long term goal of creating the right environment for vouchers. The memo states, “While voucher and charter school proposals have great merit, large segments of the voting public—especially suburban, affluent women voters—view these ideas as an abandonment of public education…Once additional fixing and funding of public education can be achieved via the 1st Class Education proposal, targeted segments of voters may be more greatly predisposed to supporting voucher and charter school proposals, as Republicans address the voting public with greater credibility on public education issues.”

- Allows the Use of Unlimited Non-Personal Money For Political Positioning Advantages.
According to Mooney and FCE, the 65 Percent Solution will allow supporters to sidestep campaign finance laws and regulations. They write, “The aforementioned benefits can be achieved with funding in any amount an from any source. In an era of campaign finance limitations on candidates, PACs and parties, galvanizing an electorate via the initiative process is a tremendous opportunity.”

What can we do to stop this?

Now that we know that the real House Republican Agenda is to push private school vouchers under the guise of "putting more money into the classroom" while skirting campaign reporting laws, what does that say about the honesty and integrity of their candidates and members?

The Oregon House Democrats have outlined their plan to bring positive change and bi-partisan cooperation back to the House. If you agree with this positive plan for Oregon's future help us take back the House today.

October 23, 2006
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Rob Brading & Charles Lee Stand on their Faith.

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Democrats Rob Brading and Charles Lee stand on their faith in their tight campaigns for the State House of Representatives.

These Democrats are reaching out to all communities of faith by sharing their personal stories of conviction with new radio ads which launched today!

Stand with them by donating through their websites to keep their messages of faith and progress up on the airwaves. For an ad to run once, it can cost as little as $65 and no more than $88. Just one airing reaches tens of thousands of voters in their districts.

Click on the quotes below to hear the ads. Then click on their contribution links to keep these spots up on the air.

“My father taught me that living by God’s Law makes life easy—all you have to do is tell the Truth and you’ll be fine. But he also taught me that the Truth needs courage and firm convictions to survive.”

-Charles Lee, Democratic Candidate for House District 25

"As a preacher’s son, my family’s faith sustained us. It instructed us, comforted us and ultimately forged a set of values that became the foundation of my life."

-Rob Brading, Democratic Candidate for House District 49

Stand with Rob and Charles as they fight for Oregon’s future. Your help will lead to better schools, quality health care, a growing economy and safer neighborhoods. Please contribute through their websites now to keep their messages up on radio!

Help keep Charles Lee's and Rob Brading's message of faith and hope on the air by contributing to one or both of their campaigns today!


October 18, 2006
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Brading Campaign Seizes the Momentum. New Poll Shows the Race for House District 49 is a Dead Heat!

What a week for the Rob Brading campaign. On Sunday, he received the unequivocal endorsement of the Oregonian. Today, a new poll shows that despite being vastly outspent and falling victim to unrelenting attacks by Minnis, Rob Brading is in a virtual tie with Karen Minnis.

The poll, conducted for Future PAC Oct. 1-5, by Amy Simon of Goodwin Simon Victoria Research, shows that if the election were held today Minnis would receive 45%, Rob Brading 42% with 13% undecided.

Download the memo by clicking here: Download poll_report_or_hd_49_oct.pdf

From Amy Simon's memo:

"The survey results show that Rob Brading continues to be in a virtual tie with Speaker Karen Minnis – trailing by just three points, a difference that is within the margin of error. The results are particularly concerning for Minnis given how much money her campaign and allies have invested in both increasing her support and in attacking Brading. These poll results show that if adequately funded in these final days, Brading could readily unseat Speaker Minnis."

And to top it all off, Rob Brading just launched his second television spot:

Get on the Rob Brading train today before it passes you by! This is one of those rare opportunities where your time and/or financial help can truly make a difference for this State. Rob Brading has taken everything Karen Minnis can throw at him and then some. Yet everyday he goes and fights the good fight

Volunteer or contribute to Rob Brading's campaign today! Or....

Contribute to Future PAC today!

Together we can make a difference for East County and for Oregon.

October 16, 2006
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Previously

Click here to view all earlier posts.