Oregon voters overwhelmingly pass health care taxes

[Fogdog]

Backstory

With Republican Congress's defunding the Affordable Heatlh Care Act, millions of Oregonians who depended on subsidies were at risk of losing health care coverage. Oregon legislature enacted a tax on health care providers and insurers to fill the gap. Republicans in Oregon cried foul because -- I don' know why, taxes I guess. They couldn't kill the bill but managed to put the bill before the people in a special election.

Oregonians did the right thing. 60% approval. Love this state.


Oregon's Medicaid program survived intact Tuesday, after voters approved hundreds of millions of dollars in health care taxes in a special election.

Measure 101, which led 61 percent to 39 percent with returns partially tallied, was the only issue on the ballot. It will raise $210 million to $320 million in taxes on Oregon's largest hospitals and many health insurance policies by 2019.

Voters' wide approval of the tax deal was a victory for Democrats, who put the deal together and brokered enough votes in the Legislature to pass it, and for the health care industry, which bankrolled the "yes" campaign and will benefit from the resulting $1 billion-plus that will be spent on Oregonians' health care.

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/01/oregon_voters_overwhelmingly_p.html

The tide has turned, folks. 2018 will be bittersweet for Republicans. They will be in control of government and powerless at the same time.

 

[Sir Napsalot]

I''ve lived in all the western states (except Utah) and Oregon is the best by far

but we're under attack here- I got robocalls in opposition to 101 that used the term "sales tax" 5 times in the first 20 seconds

Idiots will key in on that shit

 

[frizfrazjaz]

I''ve lived in all the western states (except Utah) and Oregon is the best by far

but we're under attack here- I got robocalls in opposition to 101 that used the term "sales tax" 5 times in the first 20 seconds

Idiots will key in on that shit

Seems to be a pay now or pay later type gig. Does it not raise the tax on insured hospital visits?

 

[frizfrazjaz]

I am glad they did it now, rather than later though.

 

[Fogdog]

Seems to be a pay now or pay later type gig. Does it not raise the tax on insured hospital visits?

not really

The affordable care act kept costs down more than enough to pay for the 1.5% tax placed upon insurance providers and the 0.7% tax place upon care providers.

Providing preventive care to low income families saves money that would go into emergency room visits after the problem becomes critical.

There is no easy way out so long as this society mandates that people be treated in emergency rooms when they become ill. That mandate was driving hospital costs up and they were being passed on to the insured. Which is why the ACA was effective at keeping costs down and saving everybody money.

 

[dabby duck]

Lol....then why are uber progressive companies such as google, apple facebook and amazon using Republican greg waldens district as a welfare shelter eh? Facebook has a power subsidy in prineville alone that equals 8000 households...
That same walden whos second largest donor comcast, had the governor do this http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2015/01/as_comcast_critics_pounce_kate.html.

Real progressive. Oh lets not forgetWyden and blumenauer helping the logging companies in a huge way by not pushing logging roads onto 303d water quality list, thats the Clean water act bitchass, how come you NEVER mention this??? That was an envinmental fucking, only republicans do that, right? And wyden also supports trumps 25% tariff on imported canadian wood, why, because Oregon is a welfare logging state...and you would choke to admit it....

 

[dabby duck]

http://www.wweek.com/news/2018/01/24/state-policies-could-pit-salmon-against-clean-air/


Oops. Whats another 300 million wasted, i mean err overlooked.....why isnt that a big issue?

 

[Fogdog]

Lol....then why are uber progressive companies such as google, apple facebook and amazon using Republican greg waldens district as a welfare shelter eh? Facebook has a power subsidy in prineville alone that equals 8000 households...
That same walden whos second largest donor comcast, had the governor do this http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2015/01/as_comcast_critics_pounce_kate.html.

Real progressive. Oh lets not forgetWyden and blumenauer helping the logging companies in a huge way by not pushing logging roads onto 303d water quality list, thats the Clean water act bitchass, how come you NEVER mention this??? That was an envinmental fucking, only republicans do that, right? And wyden also supports trumps 25% tariff on imported canadian wood, why, because Oregon is a welfare logging state...and you would choke to admit it....

Yeah, I guess that Oregon can just wallow in the past like Mississippi does.

Oregon is proud of its wood products industry. Timber and logging built Oregon in the first half of the 20th century. Unsustainable logging practices created a boom and now bust cycle. Same with mining. Some communities are struggling and will probably never recover now that the big trees are gone. It's created a terrible cycle of poverty in those communities. The people in those communities are struggling and their representatives are doing what they are supposed to do, even though I might disagree with them. We do have tension between environment protection and resource extraction. The trend is towards protection and it's a real battle. Still, the people in the areas who traditionally depended on jobs in timber and mining have the right to have their issues recognized and be heard. We fight in the courts and in the legislature. Most of the time the progressive side wins. Not always.

That's not the end of the story like it is in conservative states that don't invest in the real wealth of a state -- people and infrastructure. An example is the success of measure 101 to pick up the tab that DC Republicans welshed on.

Oregon is in between two world class tech development communities in CA and WA. Converting some of its economy from resource extraction to tech is a strategy that is paying off. Those data centers you refer to are a godsend to the rural districts and Oregon quite wisely, has invested in growing that industry through tax and other subsidies. Quite a few of the recipients of subsidized health care also live in those districts. Walden has been good and bad for the people in his district. He's been a real champion of developing tech centers yet he is one of the reasons Oregon had to step up to subsidize health care for the many elderly and disabled people living in his districts.

In the Willamette Valley, tech industry is growing. The quality of life here is very good. From Portland to Eugene, the valley is chock full of progressive liberals so I recommend you stay away and stick with raising hogs while living in poverty.

 

[Fogdog]

http://www.wweek.com/news/2018/01/24/state-policies-could-pit-salmon-against-clean-air/


Oops. Whats another 300 million wasted, i mean err overlooked.....why isnt that a big issue?

You think the people of Oregon don't think this is a big issue?

Kate Brown is absolutely right about protecting an endangered species. As that article lays out, those dams are going to have to go. We are investing in wind, solar and ocean wave power tech but it's not ready to compensate for hydro power and so a short term bump in fossil fuel might be necessary. Compared to permanent loss of native salmon runs? Have some perspective, once the salmon are gone, they are gone forever. We can work our way through the problems of delivering sustainable electrical power but we can't replace our native fish stocks once they are gone.

 

[UncleBuck]

Lol....then why are uber progressive companies such as google, apple facebook and amazon using Republican greg waldens district as a welfare shelter eh? Facebook has a power subsidy in prineville alone that equals 8000 households...
That same walden whos second largest donor comcast, had the governor do this http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2015/01/as_comcast_critics_pounce_kate.html.

Real progressive. Oh lets not forgetWyden and blumenauer helping the logging companies in a huge way by not pushing logging roads onto 303d water quality list, thats the Clean water act bitchass, how come you NEVER mention this??? That was an envinmental fucking, only republicans do that, right? And wyden also supports trumps 25% tariff on imported canadian wood, why, because Oregon is a welfare logging state...and you would choke to admit it....

"god do i hate democrats for going along with trump 5% of the time, but i love 100% of what trump does"

 

[dabby duck]

You think the people of Oregon don't think this is a big issue?

Kate Brown is absolutely right about protecting an endangered species. As that article lays out, those dams are going to have to go. We are investing in wind, solar and ocean wave power tech but it's not ready to compensate for hydro power and so a short term bump in fossil fuel might be necessary. Compared to permanent loss of native salmon runs? Have some perspective, once the salmon are gone, they are gone forever. We can work our way through the problems of delivering sustainable electrical power but we can't replace our native fish stocks once they are gone.

40% of the hydro power from Bonneville, the Dalles, John Day and Mcnary is sent right down the Pacific Intertie right to los angeles, not a convincing argument for using short term fossil fuel increases, not even close. I am aware of the salmon problem, as I have performed salmonid spawn counts in headwater streams, try another strawman. Short of dam removal, we are fucked with all the combined parties....slackwater lakes have ringed the columbia since the 30s...then we begin intriduction....

 

[Fogdog]

40% of the hydro power from Bonneville, the Dalles, John Day and Mcnary is sent right down the Pacific Intertie right to los angeles, not a convincing argument for using short term fossil fuel increases, not even close. I am aware of the salmon problem, as I have performed salmonid spawn counts in headwater streams, try another strawman. Short of dam removal, we are fucked with all the combined parties....slackwater lakes have ringed the columbia since the 30s...then we begin intriduction....

The dams have to go. They are a blight on the environment. Native salmon stocks are threatened and the dams are one of the largest factors. I'll trade a temporary uptick in fossil fuel generation for the health of our river system including recovery or native fish species. Your weird focus on where the power goes is irrelevant.

 

[dabby duck]

Yeah, I guess that Oregon can just wallow in the past like Mississippi does.

please elaborate this makes no sense, is it some kind of racial jest?

Oregon is proud of its wood products industry. Timber and logging built Oregon in the first half of the 20th century. Unsustainable logging practices created a boom and now bust cycle. Same with mining. Some communities are struggling and will probably never recover now that the big trees are gone. It's created a terrible cycle of poverty in those communities. The people in those communities are struggling and their representatives are doing what they are supposed to do, even though I might disagree with them. We do have tension between environment protection and resource extraction. The trend is towards protection and it's a real battle. Still, the people in the areas who traditionally depended on jobs in timber and mining have the right to have their issues recognized and be heard. We fight in the courts and in the legislature. Most of the time the progressive side wins. Not always.

You literally sidestepped eveything there, in 2015 wyden was in praise of a 15% sub for canada as part of the tpp, meaning we would pay canada for their timber, which was reversed and currently supported by wyden, explain the flip flop, and in case of an incomplete answer lets bring out a donor list of timber companies when you reply......then explain, how wyden, blumenauer and defazio all backed a non listing of forest roads onto the clean water act, the 303d list, they said that congress made a decision already and they were under no obligatio to petition to change it...you can google and see whar BARK thinks of that decision....
Another sidestep by you in my opinion, since logging peaked in 1979 as an industry and mining well before that, why not explain how every major river in the state has at least one major violation of the 303d standards list, that non listing of logging roads and reversing course and adding those roads, but requiring logging companies to incur huge costs, would be a great course to reverse ware pollution...except it wasnt done and weyerhauser has the trio by the balls....

That's not the end of the story like it is in conservative states that don't invest in the real wealth of a state -- people and infrastructure. An example is the success of measure 101 to pick up the tab that DC Republicans welshed on.

Oregon is in between two world class tech development communities in CA and WA. Converting some of its economy from resource extraction to tech is a strategy that is paying off. Those data centers you refer to are a godsend to the rural districts and Oregon quite wisely, has invested in growing that industry through tax and other subsidies. Quite a few of the recipients of subsidized health care also live in those districts. Walden has been good and bad for the people in his district. He's been a real champion of developing tech centers yet he is one of the reasons Oregon had to step up to subsidize health care for the many elderly and disabled people living in his districts.

In the Willamette Valley, tech industry is growing. The quality of life here is very good. From Portland to Eugene, the valley is chock full of progressive liberals so I recommend you stay away and stick with raising hogs while living in poverty.

Funny because you know that Solyndra went broke and all before paying back its tax break, sanyo after 10 years in salem off hwy 20 closed in 2016. So why not mandate all new construction be 70% paaive retention tk begin with and rely less on an aging grid and would lower repair costs, not add to it....ironically about 10 years ago when they dismantled a huge radar station in christmas valley

But the subsidized health claim i question as simply hearsay, what directly led to that, some real numbers too please not hearsay, because you also side stepped the 300 million that cover oregon lost and how much of your claim is baed on oha/ cover oregon fiasco....

As far as the hog farming, another nice strawman, i am in the trimet area, and have worked for the likes of willamettemriverkeeper
Waterwatch of oregon
Columbia slough watershed council
Deschutes river conservancy

I was also a vet who attended college, who is a 4th gen logger in oregon or was....never raised hogs, dont like to see animals suffer

You have some great opinions but you severely lack in your data

 

[Fogdog]

please elaborate this makes no sense, is it some kind of racial jest?

You literally sidestepped eveything there, in 2015 wyden was in praise of a 15% sub for canada as part of the tpp, meaning we would pay canada for their timber, which was reversed and currently supported by wyden, explain the flip flop, and in case of an incomplete answer lets bring out a donor list of timber companies when you reply......then explain, how wyden, blumenauer and defazio all backed a non listing of forest roads onto the clean water act, the 303d list, they said that congress made a decision already and they were under no obligatio to petition to change it...you can google and see whar BARK thinks of that decision....
Another sidestep by you in my opinion, since logging peaked in 1979 as an industry and mining well before that, why not explain how every major river in the state has at least one major violation of the 303d standards list, that non listing of logging roads and reversing course and adding those roads, but requiring logging companies to incur huge costs, would be a great course to reverse ware pollution...except it wasnt done and weyerhauser has the trio by the balls....



Funny because you know that Solyndra went broke and all before paying back its tax break, sanyo after 10 years in salem off hwy 20 closed in 2016. So why not mandate all new construction be 70% paaive retention tk begin with and rely less on an aging grid and would lower repair costs, not add to it....ironically about 10 years ago when they dismantled a huge radar station in christmas valley

But the subsidized health claim i question as simply hearsay, what directly led to that, some real numbers too please not hearsay, because you also side stepped the 300 million that cover oregon lost and how much of your claim is baed on oha/ cover oregon fiasco....

As far as the hog farming, another nice strawman, i am in the trimet area, and have worked for the likes of willamettemriverkeeper
Waterwatch of oregon
Columbia slough watershed council
Deschutes river conservancy

I was also a vet who attended college, who is a 4th gen logger in oregon or was....never raised hogs, dont like to see animals suffer

You have some great opinions but you severely lack in your data

Dude, The alternative is republicans, not the green party, which I do support for local issues.

 

[dabby duck]

"god do i hate democrats for going along with trump 5% of the time, but i love 100% of what trump does"

So i ask why are progressive companies locating in a republican district....you didnt answer that part......partisan hyperbole aside....

I suspect it is because of welfare, i mean subsidies and playing the political blame game. Then if their healthcare is being subsidized why are we subsidizing health benefits for the likes of google amazon apple and facebook, i thought they nearly always payed above a living wage, but maybe the $1000 dollar bonus from tax bill isnt a good look either, but they sure announced it....

 

[dabby duck]

Dude, The alternative is republicans, not the green party, which I do support for local issues.

Fuck Republicans.
Fine sidestep, especially someone who is willing to debate without name calling and knows the situation....

 

[Fogdog]

Fuck Republicans.
Fine sidestep, especially someone who is willing to debate without name calling and knows the situation....

I'm pointing out that Oregon's representatives represent the people of their districts and compared to Republicans they are seeking a balance that requires compromise and trade-off. The trend is in the right direction in Oregon. I'm a progressive, not a radical liberal and am satisfied with progress in the right direction.

Who is side stepping? What viable alternative do you have?

 

[dabby duck]

Another thing about the dams, mostly the mainstem columbia, while listing logging roads as 303d violations of the cleanwater act would have provided coverage for about 5x the physical space....thats why that listing was so critical in 2011!!!!! And we have been fighting ever since and i personally make puke sounds when someone praises our congressional delegation, they basically refuse to do their jobs.....and its critical more than you let on......

 

[dabby duck]

I'm pointing out that Oregon's representatives represent the people of their districts and compared to Republicans they are seeking a balance that requires compromise and trade-off. The trend is in the right direction in Oregon. I'm a progressive, not a radical liberal and am satisfied with progress in the right direction.

Cool

Who is side stepping? What viable alternative do you have?

I offered a couple, but the pollution issue was big along with the complacency on logging roads which ultimately would have a larger effect on salmon runs in addition to a lower dam scheme....i qualify for free health care and wont use it, also wont touch the va, so legalizing all drugs might be for another argument, but that is the core belief....

 

[Fogdog]

Cool


I offered a couple, but the pollution issue was big along with the complacency on logging roads which ultimately would have a larger effect on salmon runs in addition to a lower dam scheme....i qualify for free health care and wont use it, also wont touch the va, so legalizing all drugs might be for another argument, but that is the core belief....

You offer platitudes.

You know that they are just studying the salmon into extinction.

Are you actually claiming that salmon can recover if those logging roads are abandoned? I'd appreciate a citation from other than somebody who believes in woo woo magic instead of medical treatment.