Oregon Dems Now Own the CRC Boondoggle

Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland was the only Senate Dem to stand with the public.

Photo by Tim King Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, OR) - Senators Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro and Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield carried the water for the 1% in the Oregon senate today as its members came within three votes short of rejecting the boondoggle. The 18-11 result was much closer than Tina Kotek D-Portland was able to coerce in the House.

But the $450M to waste on the unneeded bridge was approved despite its “hope and pray” reliance on money to pay for the rest of the $3-4B cost could put Oregon taxpayers on the hook for shortfalls and overruns.

Responsibility for this bad legislation is squarely on Oregon Dems. More specifically, their Governor from Nike and Pat McCaig who is his chief flack for the project but is paid by its leading contractor, David Evans and Associates, and legislative leaders like Kotek and Beyer,were the politically powerful group who pushed it through.

Their paymasters in businesses that stand to profit and unions desperate for jobs for their members applauded.

Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) warned opponents among the public (whose opposition contrasted with their representatives’ support) to hush.

Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland was the only Senate Dem to stand with the public (Alan Bates D-Ashland didn’t vote).

The other 10 opponents were all Repubs from outside Portland. Jackie deserves some props at Sen.JackieDingfelder@state.or.us

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Portland Tribune photo by L.E. Baskow

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Michael Munk tries to glean important but overlooked items from the world media on the issues of the day and posts them on an irregular schedule. Although items can overlap, he also maintains separate lists for activists in Portland, Oregon and the Northwest, and special lists for: Labor, Latin America, Israel, Torture Taxis, Korea, and the Czech Republic.

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