Election Thoughts from Oregon
I don't know if I've ever been so pleased with the voting of my fellow Oregonians in the 16-ish years I've lived here. They pretty much came through with sanity across the board:
* re-elected Kate Brown, our Democratic, on-the-whole pretty awesome governor.
* voted to keep Oregon a sanctuary state (not to use police to pursue undocumented immigrants who have not otherwise broken law).
* in a rare moment of not being taken in by the word "taxes," rejected the really vicious attempt to require a supermajority for virtually all state revenue measures, which would have pretty much bankrupted the state forever if it had passed.
* voted to raise property taxes to fund affordable housing. Now, I will feel this--a little--as a Portland property owner--my property tax is already over $7000, but that seems a minor complaint next to getting people housing. I'm glad we're seeing movement on this.
* and my fellow Portlanders... you voted for the clean energy tax!!! You voted for it big!!!
Nationally, I'm really pleased and relieved about the House, of course. Bummed about the Senate, but more Republicans will be for re-election and have seats to defend in coming years. On the whole, the good news outweighs the bad, and it feels like a long time since that's been the case.
* re-elected Kate Brown, our Democratic, on-the-whole pretty awesome governor.
* voted to keep Oregon a sanctuary state (not to use police to pursue undocumented immigrants who have not otherwise broken law).
* in a rare moment of not being taken in by the word "taxes," rejected the really vicious attempt to require a supermajority for virtually all state revenue measures, which would have pretty much bankrupted the state forever if it had passed.
* voted to raise property taxes to fund affordable housing. Now, I will feel this--a little--as a Portland property owner--my property tax is already over $7000, but that seems a minor complaint next to getting people housing. I'm glad we're seeing movement on this.
* and my fellow Portlanders... you voted for the clean energy tax!!! You voted for it big!!!
Nationally, I'm really pleased and relieved about the House, of course. Bummed about the Senate, but more Republicans will be for re-election and have seats to defend in coming years. On the whole, the good news outweighs the bad, and it feels like a long time since that's been the case.