Oregon's unemployment rate 12.4% depending on how you look at it.

The Register Guard --

Oregon's unemployment rate for May made it to the highest level since 1976 according to the Oregon employment Department on Monday, which places it in range to challenge Michigan's standing as #1.

However, if marginally attached workers were included, Oregon's rate would be 14.2% according to the state employment estimates.
State economic forecasters expect continued job losses through the first quarter of next year.

it looks like we've lost the ball could've the jobs were going to lose." Said Art Ayre, a state labor economist

We need more money!
Raise more taxes!
We need more money!
Raise more taxes!

Damn the jobs and unemployed, full speed ahead!

meanwhile back in Salem...

State legislator #1: Our state is in a severe budget crisis, what are we going to do?
I have got [pet] projects that I want funded, however, my constituents are constantly bugging about less exciting stuff like jobs, police protection and road repair, etc..

State legislator #2: We'll just find more creative ways to raise taxes and fees.

State legislator #1: How? Businesses are leaving the state and unemployment is at an all-time high.

State legislator #2: Nah! Don't believe everything that you read in the papers. I know those peasants, er,I mean citizens out there are just holding money back from us. After all, were still not the worst state in the nation, Michigan still holds that title.

State legislator #1: My god you're right! There still may be money out their to solve our budget woes. However, where would it come from? Who would it come from? We've tax about everything else except for air.

State legislator #2: There you're wrong! Haven't you heard the current trend is "Green"? Jump on the bandwagon man, Everything has a carbon footprint, so we tax the carbon footprint.

State legislator #3: In that case, it is a good thing that the "carbon tax" does not apply to us. There is enough carbon generated in these meetings alone to fully fund the state!

"Our children still have nightmares, and they internalize our fear and the uncertainty the future holds."

The Oregonian --

The scene: June 12, 2007, federal regions raid the Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., a food processing plant and rounded up 167 illegal workers. Some of the workers were jailed of the federal Northwest detention center in Tacoma while others have been deported or voluntarily left the United States. However, left behind, or about 20 remaining women some with children.

While allowed to live in the community, the women cannot work. They are also not allowed to leave the country until their case is resolved. One of the women who worked at Fresh Del Monte for three years has a court date of March 2010.

"We have been denied the right to work and support our families," said Elsa Martinez Torres, who was also arrested and released in the raid and awaits a deportation hearing.

While waiting for their court date, Federal agents pay the women a surprise visit at least once a month, in addition, the women are required to present themselves to the authorities twice a month and only allowed to leave their houses during certain daylight hours.

"Somebody knocks on my door and I get scared," said Martinez, 50. "This fear is going to stay with me, I can't forget."

Abdias Cortez, 42, who has been living in the United States illegally for 20 years, claims that her three US-born children are having a hard time accepting the fact that the mother might be deported.

"My children can't concentrate on their studies, they keep asking what's going to happen, whether we will have to separate," Cortez said.

One positive impact of the raid, is that it brought the immigration crisis to light, and show the inhumane side of the immigration system according to Portland immigration lawyer,Siovhan Sheridan-Ayala.

"The raids have been an erroneous answer to solving the immigration problem," Sosa said. "They only separate families and damage the future of citizen children who will have to live in a country not their own, said Pedro Sosa, regional organizer with the American Friends Service Committee and the group's facilitator."

"don't do the crime if you can't do the time" -- Beretta

Personally, I think these people should be charged with child abuse for the conditions that they place their child into by crossing into a foreign country illegally.

Just like any other criminal, they fully were aware of the consequences of being caught.

The only difference between this type of crime and any other, is that it is a crime of immigration. And just like any other type of law, if you break it, you must be willing to pay the consequences.

the unfortunate part of it all, it is the children who really have to suffer for the mistakes of their parents.

For those that think open borders are a good idea....

BBC News--

"The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global flu pandemic after holding an emergency meeting.It means the swine flu virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.

WHO chief Dr Margaret Chan said the move did not mean the virus was causing more severe illness or more deaths.

The swine flu (H1N1) virus first emerged in Mexico in April and has since spread to 74 countries.

Official reports say there have been nearly 30,000 cases globally and 141 deaths, with figures rising daily."

and don't call it the swine flu, the PC folks might get offended.

"I implore you... the state will go into chaos [like it's not already] without these bills."

The Oregonian --

Plans to raise Oregon's corporations and upper income earners taxes came to a screeching halt when Senate Democrat Mark Hass, D- Beaverton, would not give the 18th vote that was needed for three-fifths majority for the bill to pass.

"It's hard to separate what's real from the melodrama," said a disappointed Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, after the vote. "What's real is, we have 17 votes and we need 18."

Hass's "no" vote sank the proposed package of tax and fee increases for corporations, to include the companion measure that would raise income taxes on people that make more than $125,000 or households of over $250,000.

Hass said he wants the tax increases to be temporary, which is what a plan promoted by the Oregon Business Association calls for. He likened the tax increase to a homeowner getting flashlights and blankets from a neighbor during a storm, then not giving them back when the storm passes. "Sorry, but that's not the Oregon way," Hass said.

These senators immediately voted to table the bill, which means that the bill could be brought back to the Senate floor for another vote.

"I'm prepared to cut the living daylights out of budgets if that's what you want," said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene. Walker chairs the subcommittee that writes budgets for natural resource programs.

Ryan Deckert, executive director of the Oregon Business Association, commented that an easy way out for lawmakers is to accept a slightly smaller corporate tax increase and make it temporary. However, not everyone on the Democratic floor feels as optimistic.

"I implore you," Sen. Alan Bates, D-Ashland repeated three times, looking directly at his longtime colleague. "The state will go into chaos without these bills."

Governor Ted tax-and-gouge-me is also hoping that the Senate will reconsider as well as groups advocating for higher spending on schools and other state programs.

We're talking thousands of teacher layoffs statewide" if the Legislature is forced to cut the amount of money the taxes would have raised, said Otto Schell, legislative director for the statewide Parent Teachers Association. "It will be a meat-axe to the K-12 budget."

isn't it interesting on how they start to panic when THEIR source of revenue is threatened.

They are going to have to make some serious decisions on eliminating some unnecessary programs and spending just like the rest of us have.

Perhaps, they will start to get the message that the money tree is starting to get a little bare.

Senate Bill 391 -- if you don't already own an alligator, the Oregon House says it will be illegal

The Oregonian --

In addition alligators, the Oregon House which is always good for a good laugh, passed on Wednesday Senate Bill 391 which would make owning crocodiles, lions and tigers including monkeys [House and Senate excluded] as a pet will become illegal.

The bill passed 43-15 and is waiting Senate approval of an amendment before heading to the governor's desk.

however,If you're ready own a crocodile, alligator, lion, tiger or monkey, you can relax because the bill will only prevent you from getting new ones.

er, never mind!

Credit card delinquencies rise in order to cover daily living expenses

Portland Business Journal--

Trans Union, a credit reporting agency which creates quarterly reports from 27 million anonymous individual credit files, reported that in the first quarter bank card delinquencies which are defined as the ratio of borrowers who fall 90 days or more behind on their credit card payments increased by 11%.

“As the recession entered its sixth quarter, we saw continued increases in average bank card balances, as consumers struggled to meet repayment obligations in a job market that continues to deteriorate,” said Ezra Becker, director of consulting and strategy in TransUnion’s financial services group. “This increase could be an indication that tax refund checks, typically used to pay down balances during the first quarter in years past, are now being used to cover daily living expenses. ”

if you work for an employer and that employer announces that it needs to cut back on expenses to survive, do you as the employee of the company either (a) helped the company in cutting expenses and streamlining or (b) ignore the situation and continue on as business as usual.

In my opinion, I feel that most people would select option (a).

The reasoning is simple, if the business survives, you as the employee still has a job.

Now, let's apply that to the state of Oregon. We the people [ominous words they seem to have forgotten] are the employers, and the state is the employees. The employers have been trying to tell the employees that they are financially in trouble. The employees, selfishly balk at the employer's financial situation, and continue to act on issues which as a result raises the operating cost of the employer.

The battle pursues between the employer and the employee to the point that employer goes out of business and the employee loses their job.

The above report is a confirmation of what the employers [the citizens] have been trying to tell the employees [state and local government] for a long time now. Business is bad, cash flow is slow, and were fighting for survival. Quit making the cost of doing business more expensive.

we need a toll bridge because the public does not have the sense about the gap in funding

THE OREGONIAN --
a $4.1 billion plan to replace the Interstate 5 bridge between Portland and Vancouver, known as the Columbia River Crossing project is launching a campaign to hear residents concerned about tolls which are needed to pay for a least one third of the project cost.
however, the public doesn't understand the effect of declining transportation funding.

"They [The public]don't have a sense of what the gap in funding would be," said Steve Stuart, a Clark County commissioner.

in addition to the Interstate 5 bridge, the council is also looking for public input for adding tolls to interstate 205, the Glen L. Jackson Bridge.

The council also voted unanimously to limit the scope of the planning the two structures across the river instead of the current plan for three. They would include, one for northbound cars, one for southbound cars, one for light rail with bicycles and pedestrians. It

hey here's a thought...
1 -- why don't we fix the roads and bridges that we have now before building a new one.

2 -- and while were at it, let's stop trying to make things more expensive for us in this recession, such as toll bridges.

Of course, according to Steve Stuart, a Clark County Commissioner, were actually too stupid to understand about funding gaps.

well Mr.Stuart, I think we the public understand funding gaps all too well... and I think most of us also understand priorities... which, in my opinion, is one of the reasons why we currently have a recession is because triggered by the high cost of fuel caused a landslide of events after people could no longer afford to buy a nonessential items in order to live within their budget. I emphasize the word budget.

or roughly translated, personal budget "funding gap."

However, our state and local governments have not learned to live within their budget and therefore are in a financial crisis and are trying to force their employers [that would be us the general public] into giving up more money for their budget woes.

That is no different than an employee telling your boss, "I'm not making my bills this month, I need more money and I demand a raise." In real life, the employer would just say, "I'm not responsible for your budget problems." And walk away laughing.

So yes Mr.Stuart, the public is not as stupid as you think, were just dealing with our own issues, and adding a new bike path is not one of them.

And finally, don't criticize someone else unless you can lead by example.

Actor David Carradine Dead at 72

Fox News--

David Carradine was found hanging Thursday in a Bangkok hotel room, where the actor was staying while shooting a movie called "Stretch". The body was discovered by a maid at 10am Thursday morning.

Chuck Binder, Carradine's manager, said that the cause of death is "under investigation".

David Carradine is survived by his wife Annie Bierman and three children.

Oregon's "per mile" GPS mileage tax Why it is a bad idea

Robin's commentary --

source =Oregon Department of Transportation

on the surface, the idea seems relatively simple and sound.
under the current system, commonly known as the "the pay as you go system" meaning that you paid the fuel taxes at the time that you add fuel to your vehicle BEFORE you use the roadways.

Oregon claims that the disadvantage of this system, is that it does not keep up with the actual costs for maintenance of the current roadways, and declining revenues as vehicles get better gas mileage and are turning to alternative means of transportation.

Oregon's solution to the problem, is to attach a GPS system to your vehicle in order to charge you a VARIABLE RATE PER MILE, which is payable at the pump AFTER you have used the fuel, instead of before like the current system.

in the study, they claim that there is no lack of privacy for the use of the system. However, I disagree.

The concept requires no transmission of vehicle travel locations, either in “real time” or of travel history. Accordingly, no travel location points are stored within the vehicle or transmitted elsewhere. Thus, there can be no “tracking” of vehicle movements.

the key word here is "within the vehicle", conversely...

in order to allow auditing of transactions and consumer challenge of assessments, ODOT would acquire certain data at the time of fueling. ODOT would obtain the vehicle information, the total miles driven in each zone since the last fueling and the amount of fuel purchased and where the fuel was purchased.

and of course, that would be linked at a central database. No tracking whatsoever.. Yeah right.
my theory is that although they may not track "vehicle" information per se, each device will have an identification number, which of course can be related back to the vehicle's owner, and therefore just like using a debit card, information can be collected.

there is also something that's known as "congestion pricing" also referred to as peak period pricing.

This can be accomplished either through an independent electronic system using roadside readers, or as a rate adjustment to an electronically-collected mileage fee, or a combination, for time-of-day travel in specific geographic areas where congestion prevails.

roughly translated, going to work at 8 a.m. will cost more than going to work at 5 a.m.

and of course, given this tool, will the public also lose the ability to determine or have a say in the amount that'll be charged in each zone?

Consider this scenario.

Since the GPS system will have the ability to charge depending on which ZONE you just happened to be driving through, what is to determine whether or not on a particular day, time, or event of a price increase? Even temporary?

Let's say for example that the Rose Parade is happening today, which also would mean that the roads would be congested and therefore congestion pricing could kick in, with the reasoning that it costs more for police traffic control, wear on the road ways, etc. (and while were at it, let's not exclude taxing on shoes because of the extra wear and tear it causes on the sidewalks)

I could go on and on...
I invite you to read the full report for more information.

the above illustrations courtesy of ODOT

"Right pocket, Left pocket, it's all the same pair of pants... or is it?

Robin's Commentary--

I found a couple of headlines that I wanted to share about Oregon's budget problems...

Press Release, May 18,2009 from the Oregon Legislative Assembly:

Ways and Means Co-Chairs Release Plan to Bridge $4.2 Billion Budget Gap
"The budget includes $2 billion in cuts from the essential budget level. The co-chairs budget also utilizes federal stimulus dollars ($399 million from the state stabilization fund and $542 dedicated to Medicaid), state reserve funds ($361), and $800 million in new revenue to close the state’s $4.2 billion budget hole."

Then there is this press release from the Oregon House Republicans May 26, 2009:

STATE AGENCIES HAVE $4.9 BILLION IN ENDING FUND BALANCES;REPUBLICANS SAY IT’S TIME TO GET BACK TO BASICS
"State agencies have $4.9 billion in combined ending fund balances, according to the 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report released by the Governor’s Office. The state claims that of this amount, 71.5 percent of the money is available for spending at the state’s discretion. "

Okay, if I got this right, on one side their saying that there is a deficit of $4.2 billion and on the other side they're saying that there is a surplus of $4.9 billion "available for spending at the states discretion".

Okay I may not be an economist, but...