Organizations working together to stop the Republican state senators’ obstructionism are planning rallies in three parts of Oregon, including in Senate District 16. This is our senate district, represented by our senator, Suzanne Weber, a Republican from Tillamook.
These 13 senators are blocking policies they don’t like by walking off the job and preventing the legislature from functioning. By this action, they are subverting democracy and betraying their oath of office. Our policies and budgets can’t pass until all the lawmakers who are skipping work show up!
What do you think about Senator Weber's actions? INCO urges you to contact her ASAP. State Senator Suzanne Weber Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716 District Phone: 503-300-4493 Email: Sen.SuzanneWeber@oregonlegislature.gov
EMBRACING COMMON NEEDS
"At the same time the right wing seems to be losing its humanity millions on our side are digging deeper into theirs, embracing common needs, leveraging love, growing community. It’s deeply heartening." -- Jessica Craven; Chop Wood, Carry Water, May 19, 2023
"Millions of Americans have risen to help redeem democracy and restore the rule of law. That is hard work. But it is the shared work of millions. Bless you for all you do! But recognize that it is not all on your shoulders. We are here for one another in times of victory, defeat, sorrow, and joy." -- Robert Hubbell, Today's Edition, May 20, 2023
STATE BUDGET INVESTS IN OREGON
• $9.9 billion, K-12 education
$3.9 billion, other school-related costs
$10.7 billion, human services (includes the Oregon State Hospital, behavioral health and raises for home health care workers)
$3 billion, public safety (includes corrections, state police, district attorney's offices, child support, and the Oregon Military Department)
These are the largest items in Oregon's budget. Find out more in State Rep. David Gomberg's weekly newsletter. He represents House District 10, which is Tillamook County and points south and east. This issue also describes the impact of the walkout by Oregon's Republican Senators. Read more and sign up for his weekly newsletter here.
HAPPENINGS
Thursday, June 8 - INCO Community Meeting, via Zoom. Social time at 6 pm; meeting is 6:30-7:30 pm. All INCO members are invited to attend. We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month. Link to join Zoom meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87835618044 Meeting ID: 878 3561 8044 One tap mobile +12532050468,,87835618044# US +12532158782,,87835618044# US (Tacoma)
INSIGHTS
“The rule of law is precisely as robust as our willingness to fight for it. And to fight for it is not quite the same thing as to ask, ‘Isn’t there a law?’” -- Dahlia Lithwick, Slate
Indivisible defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com. Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter May 22, 2023
INCO joins thousands of Oregonians outraged that Republican legislators refuse to do their jobs. Here is INCO'S letter to the editor to regional newspapers and to our state senator, Suzanne Weber. We urge you to write her, to sen.suzanneweber@oregonlegislature.gov - - - - - - - - - -
Most of us want our elected leaders to work together for the common good. We were excited to see that our state legislators were addressing pressing issues facing Oregonians and real solutions seemed likely.
So, how devastating that all this came to a screeching halt because Republican legislators walked out, breaking their oath of office. Even though 94% of the bills seeing action this session have bipartisan support, these important bills are frozen. These bills deal with healthcare, constitutional rights, broadband funding, domestic terrorism, wildfire risk reduction, workforce education, and more.
We are discouraged that our state senator, Suzanne Weber, chose to walk out of the legislature with her GOP colleagues rather than stay and do the people’s business – work they are paid to do by the taxpayers. These walkouts are performative childish tantrums designed to undermine the democratic process.
Oregonians deserve better and voted last year to limit these obstructive walkouts. That ballot initiative, Measure 113, passed with the support of a majority in every state senate district. How appalling that the Republican legislators show such contempt for their constituents.
We hope that by the time this letter is printed, the Republicans are back at work and committed to fulfilling their duties.
If you haven't received your ballot or Voters' Pamphlet or need to replace your ballot, contact Clatsop County Elections ASAP, at 503-325-8605, or go to the office at 820 Exchange, Suite 200, Astoria. Ballots are due or must be postmarked by May 16.
Your vote can make the difference. Several recent elections in Clatsop County were won - or lost - by only a handful of votes.
BE A VOTER!
INCO is not affiliated with any political party. Because INCO shares many values with Clatsop County Democrats, we think you might want to see their endorsements for the May 16 election.
THERE'S MORE TO WIN
"The future is bigger than our imaginations. It’s unimaginable, and then it comes anyway. To meet it we need to keep going, to walk past what we can imagine. We need to be unstoppable. And here’s what it takes: you don’t stop walking to congratulate yourself; you don’t stop walking to wallow in despair; you don’t stop because your own life got too comfortable or too rough; you don’t stop because you won; you don’t stop because you lost. There’s more to win, more to lose, others who need you.
"You don’t stop walking because there is no way forward. Of course there is no way. You walk the path into being, you make the way, and if you do it well, others can follow the route. You look backward to grasp the long history you’re moving forward from, the paths others have made, the road you came in on. You look forward to possibility. That’s what we mean by hope, and you look past it into the impossible and that doesn’t stop you either. But mostly you just walk, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot. That’s what makes you unstoppable." -- Rebecca Solnit, "What Comes After Hope," 2013
HAPPENINGS
Thursday, June 8 - INCO Community Meeting, via Zoom. Social time at 6 pm; meeting is 6:30-7:30 pm. All INCO members are invited to attend. We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month. Link to join Zoom meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87835618044 Meeting ID: 878 3561 8044 One tap mobile +12532050468,,87835618044# US +12532158782,,87835618044# US (Tacoma)
INSIGHTS
"There is no empathy without curiosity, no respect without knowledge, no other way to learn what Jews first taught the world: love your neighbor." -- Dara Horn, The Atlantic, May 2023
Indivisible defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com. Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter May 15, 2023
INCO COMMUNITY MEETING guns • forests • schools • taxes and the kicker • our legislators news from around the county • the May 16 special districts election what's on your mind? Thursday, May 11, via Zoom Social time at 6 pm; meeting is 6:30-7:30 pm We'd love to see you! Link to join Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87835618044
BALLOTS DUE OR POSTMARKED BY MAY 16
If you haven't received your ballot or Voters' Pamphlet or need to replace your ballot, contact Clatsop County Elections ASAP, at 503-325-8605, or go to the office at 820 Exchange, Suite 200, Astoria. Ballots are due or must be postmarked by May 16.
Your vote can make the difference. Several recent elections in Clatsop County were won - or lost - by only a handful of votes.
BE A VOTER!
INCO is not affiliated with any political party. Because INCO shares many values with Clatsop County Democrats, we think you might want to see their endorsements for the May 16 election.
REPAIR OREGON'S NEWS DESERTS
An informed populace is essential to sustain and defend democracy. Many places in Oregon have no local newspapers, so residents don't learn about city council and school board meetings, arrests and court cases, and other essential news. Even worse, bad actors often move in with lies and propaganda when there is a news vacuum.
Saturday'sAstorian editorialmakes a strong case for supporting Oregon journalism with House Bill 2605, especially in places without local newspapers. You can sign on in support here.
SPEAK UP FOR FORESTS AND THE HCP
The Wild Salmon Center encourages Clatsop County residents who support a strong Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to be represented at the Board of Forestry meeting on Wednesday, June 7 in Sisters. Timber Unity is expected to be there in full force to oppose the HCP. The HCP promises balanced forest management through a federally approved 70 year commitment. Clatsop County's two state legislators oppose the HCP.
Email Wild Salmon Center's North Coast HCP Coordinator Nancy Cook at nacook2022@gmail.comto RSVP for LIVE or virtual testimony, receive direct Action Alerts, or request transportation in the van from the north coast provided by Wild Salmon Center.
• Visit COIN's Legislation 2023 web page for updates on bills COIN has endorsed or opposed, or bills we are still watching. Legislators won't know what you want unless you tell them. Please take a moment to comment on at least one of the bills on COIN's Legislation web page.
GUIDE FOR GOOD LEADERSHIP
Elected leaders and most everyone else can benefit from this wisdomfrom the Colorado Municipal League. Thanks to Diane for this article.
SUPREME COURT ETHICS REFORM
In the May 2nd Senate Judiciary Committee hearing,Senator Sheldon Whitehousedemanded that the Supreme Court behave ethically and transparently. He's written extensively about SCOTUS and is angry that SCOTUS is ignoring public outrage about the violations of ethics and laws by at least 3 current justices. Here's a video of his testimonyat the hearing. Definitely worth watching!
"Fighting MAGA takes many forms. This was good as it gets today. We all should show our appreciation for the Senator’s courageous leadership. The Republican corruption of the judiciary over the past generation of American politics remains one of the greatest challenges our democracy faces today." -- Simon Rosenberg, May 2, 2023
“THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS"
"... thoughts and prayers are not enough. In fact, it is a contradiction to say that you are thinking and praying and then do nothing. It is to make a mockery of prayer. It is to trivalize faith. We pray not only with our lips, we pray with our legs. We pray by taking action.” -- Senator Raphael Warnock, May 2, 2023
SIGN UP FOR THE ROP CAUCUS Oregon's Rural Organizing Project Meets May 20
Thursday, May 11 - INCO Community Meeting, via Zoom. Social time at 6 pm; meeting is 6:30-7:30 pm. All INCO members are invited to attend. We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month. Link to join Zoom meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87835618044 Meeting ID: 878 3561 8044 One tap mobile +12532050468,,87835618044# US +12532158782,,87835618044# US (Tacoma)
INSIGHTS
"Defeatism about the past is a grievous error; defeatism about the future is a crime." --Philip Noel-Baker, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Indivisible defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com. Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter May 8, 2023