War with Russia?

Seymour Hersh on the "horrific" Harris Foreign Policy

THE HOLES IN HARRIS'S DEBATE VICTORY by Seymour Hersh
September 11, 2024

The vice president remains committed to Biden's failing foreign policy

Read on Substack

Harris proved she could handle America’s most demanding job, in terms of domestic policy. She deftly separated herself from President Joe Biden, who is now a figure of yesterday. Trump repeatedly invoked Biden’s name to the point where Harris testily told him: “I am not Joe Biden.” She later reminded Trump that he was not “running against Joe Biden.” 

There was one vital area that scared the hell out of me: foreign policy. Harris did not deviate from Biden’s horrific and dangerous foreign policy in two areas: his continuing personal and military support for the ongoing Israeli terror in Gaza and his administration’s continuing support in dollars and war goods for Ukraine and its delusional president, Volodymyr Zelensky. There is no brief here for Putin, who chose to be provoked by West’s expansion of NATO to the east, despite American promises made more than three decades ago not to do so, and inflammatory language by Biden’s foreign policy aides, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Biden had one moment of lucidity in his disastrous debate with Trump in June when he spoke of Putin. “The fact is that Putin is a war criminal,” he said. “He’s killed thousands and thousands of people. And he has made one thing clear: he wants to re-establish what was part of the Soviet Empire. . . . He wants all of Ukraine. . . . Do you think he will stop when he—if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland? What do you think of Belarus? What do you think happens to those NATO countries?”

Last night there were strong echoes of Biden’s dark view of Russian intent. “Because of our strong support,” Harris said, referring to the many billions the US has supplied in aid and arms, “Ukraine stands as an independent and free county. If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now . . . with his eyes on the rest of Europe.” There is little doubt that Harris believes what she said, but politics are always present. “And why don’t you,” she asked Trump, “tell the eight hundred thousand Polish Americans right here in Pennsylvania how quickly you would give up for the sake of favor and what you think is a friendship with what is known to be a dictator who would eat you for lunch?”

It was a good line, seemingly practiced and delivered with firmness. Harris badly needs those votes. But Trump’s response made clear that there are much bigger issues at stake. Putin has, Trump said, “got a thing that other people don’t have. He’s got nuclear weapons. Nobody ever thinks about that.” 

What was not mentioned last night were the many times early on that the Biden administration did all it could to undercut negotiations with diplomats from Russia that might have led to a ceasefire shortly after the war began. In a recent interview, Victoria Nuland, a hardline anti-Russia hawk who served for years as undersecretary of state for political affairs in the Biden administration acknowledged that she and others in the administration viewed the Russian demands of Ukraine as too onerous. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, was seeking to limit the size of the Ukrainian army and its weaponry, Nuland said, and the White House objected, as Nuland made clear, to the military reductions in Ukraine insisted upon by Putin. 

One American official, who has firsthand information on the state of the war today, dismissed the ultimate significance of the much ballyhooed Ukrainian penetration into Kursk—caustically depicting it as the distance between downtown Washington DC and the Maryland suburb of Gaithersburg: twenty-two miles. It was the first military penetration into Russia since World War II, when the Germany Army, in what became one of the largest battles in the history of warfare, lost a crucial tank confrontation. Russian troops are now in the process of reclaiming the settlement and villages seized this summer by Ukraine.

The current Ukraine war has severely diminished both sides. There is recent American intelligence depicting the extent of disarray and low morale along the more than 600-mile Russian front inside eastern and southern Ukraine. The Russian infantry soldiers in foxholes along the front are getting by on what was known in US Marine Corps military prisons as “piss and punk”: bread and rainwater. Russia’s special forces—the Spetsnaz—are said to be, as the official told me, “squared away.” Despite their low morale, the Russian frontline forces have continued to advance against a Ukrainian army that is poorly equipped and equally demoralized. 

The official added that the crucial question, seemingly little understood in the White House, is whether the Russian Army inside Ukraine now is “the spearhead of a modern military force with the power, machinery, and morale capable of sweeping through Ukraine and then on to Poland anytime in the near future? The answer is no. And more importantly, the Russians know it. They remain an army, however and can continue to achieve some limited success and suffer some limited setbacks.

“Do the Ukrainians have sufficient manpower and sustainability to rout the Russian Army? Obviously not. That means stalemate and slow but sure mutual destruction will continue until the West, led by the US, forces the belligerents to negotiate.”

Meanwhile, the official added, Zelensky’s “idea of escalating the war by widening the target base inside Russia will only increase the bloodshed and destruction on both sides without changing the balance.”

The Guardian reported this week that Blinken, who just visited Zelensky in Kyiv along with David  Lammy, the British foreign secretary, was preparing to recommend that the Biden administration lift the current restriction barring Ukraine from using long-range American missiles against military targets deep inside Russia. The Guardian quoted Lammy as saying that a recent dispatch of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia was a “significant and dangerous escalation” and had changed strategic thinking in London and Washington. (It was not clear how a shipment of missiles from Iran to Russia was an escalation since Russia has had a potent long-range nuclear arsenal for many decades.)

Harris was supportive of Israel during the debate when asked about the Biden administration’s policy in the current war in Gaza that was triggered by the horrific Hamas attack on October 7, in which 1,200 Israelis were murdered and 251—both Israelis, many of them members of the Israel Defense Forces and foreign nationals—were taken hostage. “I said then, I say now, that Israel has a right to defend itself. . . . And how it does so matters. Because it is also true far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. Children. Mothers.” The war must end immediately, she added, “and the way it will end is we need a ceasefire deal and we need the hostages out. And so we will continue to work around the clock on that. . . . We also must chart a course for a two-state solution. And in that solution, there must be security for the Israeli people and Israel and in equal measure for the Palestinians.” Speaking sternly, she affirmed that she always would be there for Israel—and in equal measure for the Palestinians—and that she would always give “Israel the ability to defend itself,” as Biden has done, from Iran “and its proxies.” There must be a two-state solution, she said, as if it were possible now, so “we can rebuild Gaza, where the Palestinians have security, self-determination, and the dignity they so rightly deserve.”

Her sentiments were little more than political doubletalk aimed at the young American critics of the administration’s support for Israel’s constant air and ground attacks in Gaza, who may choose again not to vote in the presidential election, as many did in the earlier primaries. There was no mention of the rabid right-wingers who, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their thrall, have shown no intention to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas under any circumstances, and have rearmed the Israeli settlers in the West Bank. They are clearly intent on turning Gaza and the West Bank, at the least, with Israeli military support, under permanent Israeli control. The possibility of a viable two-state solution is fading day by day.

If elected, Harris will have to deal realistically with Israel and its enemies, especially Iran and Syria, and find a way to give the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank the hope, dignity, and security they “rightly deserve,” as she said. All of that must begin with a lot more straight talk about where Israel is today and where it is headed under Netanyahu’s leadership. 

So she gets an A+ from me for her brilliant chumming of an unprepared Donald Trump—has age caught up with him?—and a F for playing politics and refusing to deal with the reality of America’s most pressing foreign policy issues.

New War Budget - larger than the last - again

*Action in Congress for a new bigger military/war budget*

Congress yesterday enacted the war budget authorization bill (HR8070) for fy2025 
*The total authorized is $895.3 billion*.

That was an increase from last year’s authorization of $883.70 billion of $11.6 billion, in just one year.

The vote was 217 yes vs 199 no. All OR Democrats voted NO, including Andrea Salinas who last year voted in favor of the authorization with the OR Republicans. On this vote, both OR Republicans voted in favor. If you are in Washington state, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez ( R ) voted Yes. She is the US Representative for southern WA, including Vancouver. 

While votes on these authorization bills are usually overwhelmingly in favor, the Republicans added many poison-pill amendments which the Democrats could not accept. Therefore, many Democrats voted No as a result, not necessarily because they opposed the military war budget. 

 More details on the votes themselves are available here: H.R. 8070:Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National DefenseAuthorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 -- GovTrack.us This bill will now go the Senate. Likely the Senate will not approve this and will instead enact their own version. In order for a bill to be enacted, both chambers must enact the exact same language. If the Senate passes a different version, the House and Senate will form a Joint Committee to come up with a bill with the exact same language and then both chambers will vote again on this new agreed upon bill. 

Now is great time to call or otherwise contact your US Senator, urging that they vote No on the NDAA bill when it comes for a vote. Contact info is available here: U.S. Senate: Senators

Once both chambers have approved the same language, the bill will go to the President for his signature. After the authorization bill has been approved the second major step begins: The appropriation stage, in which the House and Senate Appropriation sub-committees consider the Authorization and decide if all that was in the Authorization bill will have money appropriated., or if some amount are not enough. This is another stage in which people can have influence by suggesting cuts to the budget

Marc Koller endorsed for Portland City Council by Dr. Cornel West; Donate to Marc's campaign

Marc Koller, a member of the OR Progressive Party state council, has been nominated by the Party to run for the Portland City Council. Now, the Party's Presidential candidate, Cornel West, has endorsed him for the District 2 (North Portland) position. Marc will be running as a Clean Elections candidate - i.e., with limits on his ability to rise unlimited private campaign contributions (Yeah!) in exchange for receiving public funds. Originally the public match was to be 9 to 1 but the City has cut that match back due to the high number of candidates running and not having budgeted enough funds. But Marc is a strong supporter of getting big special interest money out of the political system, and will continue to pursue public funding.

But before he can acquire those public funds, he needs to qualify.

And that is where you come in.

Please donate a small contribution to his campaign Please go to his website (https://www.marckoller4portland.com/ >) and make a small donation of between $5 and $250 dollars. The first $20 dollars will be matched from the Clean Elections funds.
He needs a total of 250 unique individuals to contribute.
You could be one!

$886 B for war approved for 2024 budget

$886Billion for war in 2024

Both the US House and US Senate have adopted the new budget for the agents of war in America for 2024 – that budget is $886 Billions, while the proposed Biden expenditures for supplying Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with another $105 billion os ssto;; be debated in Congress.

Also, in Congress waiting for action is another $25 billion for special requests from the military services.

That is over $1 Trillion dollars. The bill (HR2670, S2226) for the $889 has already been signed by Pres. Biden. The $889 amount is an increase of 3% over last years budget ($28 billion).

The vote in Congress was 220Y/208N with more Democrats voting in favor than Republicans (163 D; 147 R). Only 45 D voted N). All Oregon Democrats voted No except for Rep. Salinas who voted Yes with the Oregon Republicans. See https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/h72 for details. The vote in the Senate was 87 Y to 13 N. Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley both voted NO. Only three states had both their senators voting NO, MA, OR and VT. See https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/s343 for details.

Portland Anti-War/Pro-peace sign holding - change in schedule

We will gather every Saturdayto hold signs at the

east end of the Burnside Bridge starting at 3PM, ending 4:30 PM. Hope to see you all there,

We gather at the south east corner of that intersection in front of the auto dealership.

Note that change in time. We have been starting at 4, ending at 5:30. But with the ending of daylight saving time, those times will have us there in the dark, at least in part. So moving forward, we will move the begin time to 3 PM.

Hope you can join us. I will bring signs so no need to make your own.

Another Sign holding opportunity. Add this to your schedule. Several people have said they can hold these same signs on the fourth Thursday each month at 82nd and SE Division, meeting at the corner by Portland Community College. Time will be 3 - 4:30 PM. Again I will bring our signs so you don't need to do that. David Delk, OPP State Council

Democratic Party of Oregon Platform Supports Putting Nuclear Power Plants in Oregon

The near-final draft of the 2023-24 Platform of the Democratic Party of Oregon includes this  demand upon the government and taxpayers of Oregon:

Fund research into nuclear energy for deployment here in Oregon to reduce our reliance on hydro power which hampers our natural waterways and further reduce our carbon footprint.

Oregon voters in 1980 passed a statewide ballot measure to ban the siting of nuclear power plants in Oregon, until and unless there is a long-term solution for disposal of their radioactive wastes.  No solution exists.  So why should taxpayers fund research on something that is banned (and in any event is unreliable and absurdly expensive)?  The chart below is from the International Renewable Energy Agency of the United Nations and from the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations:

The Democratic Party of Oregon, intoxicated by the infusion of $500,000 of stolen FTX money, is toeing the corporate line.

New Anti-War/Pro-peace group hits streets of Portland

This new group of anti-war/pro-peace signholders, organized by David Delk, Chair of the OR Progressive Party, will gather for the first time on Satuday, Sept 2. Please join us.

Our new group of anti-war/pro-peace sign holders will have our first gathering on Saturday, Sept. 2 starting at 4:30 PM and ending at 6 PM.

We gather at the east end of the Burnside Bridge by the car dealership. I will bring signs.

Dawn will bring a Veterans for Peace flag to draw attention.

We are good to start now. Hope you all can make it.

Transportation and parking: Parking is always tight in that area but there should be street parking available on a Saturday evening.

If you want to take public transit, these buses pass that corner on Burnside, The #12 (Sandy), #19 (Glisan) and #20 (Burnside). And then on Grand Ave and Martin Luther King Blvd, the #6 (Martin Luther King). And then the last option is the B Loop of the Portland Street Car as well as the A loop of the Portland Street Car which is very close. So lots of options coming via Tri-met.

Governor Kotek Vetoes Bill to Study Creation of State Bank

 Governor Kotek Vetoes Bill to Study Creation of State Bank

Wall Street and Other Financiers are Big Donors to the Democratic Governors' Association, which gave $4.9 million to Kotek's 2022 campaign



Oregon Needs Campaign Finance Reform

August 7, 2023

Governor Tina Kotek on August 4 vetoed a bill passed by the Oregon Legislature (HB 2763) to set up a task force to study the creation of an Oregon state bank. Such a bank, like the Bank of North Dakota that has been operating since 1919, could save Oregon taxpayers billions of dollars in unnecessary fees to Wall Street vulture capitalists and save Oregon businesses and students additional billions of dollars in the form of lower interest rates.

First, the State of Oregon has over $134 billion of investment funds but has placed much of it with world-wide vulture capitalists, corporate raiders, leveraged buyout artists, and hedge funds. These Wall Street operators charge Oregon huge fees (not fully disclosed), likely over $1 billion per year. They invest almost 100% of the money in enterprises outside of Oregon.

That includes $223 million in “an Israeli company whose smartphone spyware has been used against dissidents, human rights defenders and journalists by repressive regimes” and “two prison companies that run immigrant detention facilities.” -- Associated Press (November 19, 2019) 

Second, both the State of Oregon and its counties, cities, and districts also pay huge fees to Wall Street firms in order to float bonds to pay for public works. The typical fee on $100 million of bonds is $3 - 5 million. Local governments in Oregon typically issue over $3 billion in bonds. That’s at least $150 million in fees to Wall Street every year, not to mention the higher interest rates that Oregon government have to pay on their bonds, compared with the rates charged by the Bank of North Dakota.

So Oregon taxpayers pay Wall Street to "manage" our money and then pay Wall Street again to borrow money that we had in the first place.

We can cut out the middle men. Oregon should use its investment funds for public works (transportation, bridges, water systems), housing, and small business opportunities in Oregon. Oregon local governments should borrow funds from the State of Oregon and avoid the huge cost of floating bonds on Wall Street. See www.orpublicbank.org.

It is not surprising that Governor Kotek would veto even a study of a state bank. Such a study would show the huge benefits a State Bank could bring to Oregon taxpayers and businesses--and students (the Bank of North Dakota makes low-interest student loans). The Kotek campaign in 2022 received $4.9 million from the Democratic Governors' Association, a nonprofit corporation that avoids full disclosure of its donors. "We know, however, that its biggest donors include many Wall Street financiers--who most certainly do not want to lose the billions of dollars they are charging Oregon taxpayers for using their own money," said David Delk, chair of the Oregon Progressive Party.

The State of Oregon could provide low-interest loans through local credit unions and community banks for renovation and weatherization of existing homes. It could provide start-up loans for Oregon's small businesses, instead of funding Wall Street sharks and spyware makers.

Small businesses are the organs of Oregon's economy, and community banks and credit unions are its lifeblood. A State Bank of Oregon could provide capital at lower cost, enabling them to lower the interest on loans, to increase lending capacity, and to help entrepreneurs and farmers access the funds they need to grow our economy.

This veto illustrates the need for campaign contribution limits in Oregon. Oregon politicians receive campaign contributions literally in the millions of dollars. The contributors know what they are buying. Wall Street financiers and hedge fund operators are buying the ability to take literally billions of dollars from Oregon taxpayers for their services that are unnecessary. They charge us taxpayers to invest State money (in businesses almost entirely outside Oregon) and then charge us again to borrow back the money (issue bonds).

To get involved in campaign finance reform in Oregon, visit honest-elections.com.

Wall Street's most rewarding investment is its investment in politicians. 

OPP supported bill (HB2762)for State Bank study commission to be vetoed by Governor Kotek

The Oregon Public Banking Alliance's supported bill (SB2763) in the Oregon legislature passed with bi-partisan majority votes in both the OR House and OR Senate. Yet Gov. Kotek has indicated that she will veto the measure.

Oregon Progressive Party legal advisor, Dan Meek, submitted this letter to the Governor.

___________________________________________

The State of Oregon has over $115 billion of investment funds, much placed with those bankers and operators. They charge Oregon huge fees (not disclosed), likely over $1 billion annually, and invest almost 100% in businesses outside of Oregon.

That includes $223 million in “an Israeli company whose smartphone spyware has been used against dissidents, human rights defenders and journalists by repressive regimes” and “two prison companies that run immigrant detention facilities.” -- Associated Press (November 19, 2019)

Oregon and its counties, cities, and districts also pay to Wall Street huge fees of about 5% of the $3 billion in public works bonds floated annually.

So Wall Street gets paid to take our money and then gets paid again to loan it back to us.

Eject the middle men: create a STATE BANK OF OREGON to avoid fees and use our investment funds for Oregon-based public works, housing, small business opportunities. Local governments should borrow needed funds from our State Bank at much lower interest rates. See http://www.orpublicbank.org.

I learned that you are considering vetoing HB 2763, which would at least start the ball rolling with a study.
___________________________________________

Senate Approves $886 billion war budget for FY2024

WAR BUDGET VOTE is bi-partisan again. On July 26, 2023, the Senate in a 86-11 vote (with three Senators not voting) approved the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Bill (S2226).

Once again Oregon's two Senators voted NO.

Others voting no included both Senators from MA (Sen. Markley and Warren) and VT (Sen. Sanders and Welch). In the past Oregon has been the only or one of two states where both Senators voted No. Oregon has frequently been joined by MA).

Once again the No votes were strongly out numbered by the Yes votes. The 11 No votes were 6 Democrats, 4 Republicans and 1 Independent (Bernie Sanders). The Yes votes were almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. See the Vote record: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00212.htm?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#state

Sen Sanders amendment to cut the budget by 10% was defeated by 88 No to 11 Yes. Amoung the Yes votes to cutting the budget were OR Senators Merkley and Wyden, VT Senators Sanders and MA Senators Warren and Markey. See the vote record https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00203.htm?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#position

Neither Sen Merkley nor Sen Wyden issued a press release explaining their vote.

Sen Sanders/Rep. Scott introduce $17 minimum wage bill into Congress

Sen. Sanders and Rep. Bobby Scott introduced a bill into Congress Tuesday to increase the federal min wage to $17/hour from its present $7.25/hour. It has been $7.25/hour since 2008. This increase would happen over the coarse of 5 years. In addition to the increase in min wage, the subminimum wage will be eliminated for teens, the disabled, and tipped workers. And future min wage increases will be tied to the annual increase in the median worker wage. No longer will Congress need to agree to increase the min wage. 28 million workers will see increases in their wages, about $3100 annually. 14 million of those workers benefits will be people of color.

The bill name is Raise the Wage Act of 2023; it was cosponsored by 146 members of Congress and 29 Senators. We don't know yet who those co-sponsors are. Nor do we know the bill number.

More details of the bill are available in this Common Dreams article: https://www.commondreams.org/news/17-minimum-wage

Read the text of the bill here: https://democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/imo/media/doc/raise_the_wage_act_bill_text.pdf

Read the Economic Policy Institute's analysis of the bill here: https://www.epi.org/publication/rtwa-2023-impact-fact-sheet/

But is $17/hour enough?

While there is great reason to welcome this move by Sanders and Scott to increase the federal min. wage to $17/hour over the course of 5 years, we must recognize that $17/hour is not a livable wage. A livable wage that would afford the ability to rent an apartment should be $21 to $24 per hour.

Rebecca Gordon puts some perspective on this question of a livable wage in this article, also from Common Dreams: https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/unaffordable-housing-washington-dc

UPDATE 7/28/23
BILL NUMBERS/LIST OF CO-SPONSORS NOW AVAILABLE

The bill numbers are S2488 in the Senate and HB 4889 in the House.

Here in Oregon Reps. Blumenauer, Bonamici, Hoyle, are all cosponsors. Andrea Salinas is missing and needs to be encouraged to add herself to the list of co-sponsors. Naturally, the two Republicans from Oregon are not co-sponsors, that is Chavez-DeFemer and Bentz. In the US Senate, both Sens. Merklley and Wyden are co-sponsors. Overall there are 150 House members listed with 29 Senators, all Democrats.

Sen Sanders to vote No on new $886 B war budget

Sen Sanders has written an op-ed, published in The Guardian, saying that he will vote against the $889 billion NDAA (war budget) when it comes before the Senate, likely next week.

Op-ed link: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/24/the-pentagon-doesnt-need-886bn-i-oppose-this-bloated-defense-budget

I am going to copy and mail it to our two Senators and my US Representative Earl Blumenauer, asking them to follow Sen. Sanders' lead and vote No also. And I will further ask them to issue press releases following their vote explaining their vote, in favor or opposed.

Find their addresses here: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

House approves $886 billion war budget for FY2024

 The House last night approved the National Defense Authorization Bill (HR2670) to provide funding for the Dept of Defense and other war making agencies of the federal government, including some very right-wing amendments offered by Republicans.   Here is the story:  https://www.commondreams.org/news/four-house-dems-join-gop-to-pass-886-billion-military-bill-packed-with-right-wing-amendments  Amendments from progressive members of Congress were removed from the final bill.

Note that four Democrats voted with the Republicans for the bill, including Marie Gluesenkamp Perez from Wash. state (Vancouver).

Also important is that this bill approved an amount $28 billion larger than last years budget.  And I does not include the amendment which would have moved $100 billion from the budget to domestic needs, like affordable housing, infrastructure repair, water system repairs, funds to reduce student debt and so much more. 

All Oregon Dems voted No; all Oregon Republicans voted Yes. See https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023328   

Now the Senate needs to enact their version, and assuming that it will be different from the House version it will go to a joint committee of the House and Senate for negotiations and working out a final version for both the House and Senate to approve (or not).  This process is on a fast track for completion asap.  

I would recommend calls to our representatives thanking OR Dem for their NO votes  asking that their issue statement explaining why they voted No.  

Find your representative/senator contact info here:  https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member   

Please use the Common Dreams article (link above) for talking points. 

Thanks, 

People over the Pentagon

 

OR People's Rebate - start collecting signatures for our more economically just future in Oregon

Oregon Progressive Party will soon start collecting voter signatures on the OR Peoples' Rebate proposed ballot initiative.  (Oregon Peoples' Rebate)

YOU CAN  help get this qualified for the ballot.  OR Peoples' Rebate is conducting signature gathering training session on Saturday. Please join in and help get this on the Nov 2024 ballot.  

This initiative would make a very small increase in the corporate tax but enough to rebate to every Oregonian $750 each, each year.  $3500 per family of 4 every year.  This could have an economic stimulus of $3 billion each year and raise 26% of those children living in poverty out of poverty.  

TIME TO START HELPING WITH THIS NOW..  SIGN UP FOR A TRAINING SESSION TO LESSON THE DETAILS.  

This initiative would make a very small increase in the corporate tax but enough to rebate to every Oregonian $750 each, each year.  $3500 per family of 4 every year.  This could have an economic stimulus of $3 billion each year and raise 26% of those children living in poverty out of poverty.  

TIME TO START HELPING WITH THIS NOW..  SIGN UP FOR A TRAINING SESSION TO LESSON THE DETAILS.  

---

David e. Delk | 503.232.5495 | Alliance for Democracy | Oregon Progressive Party |

---

From: Oregon Rebate (2024) <info@oregonrebate.org>

To

Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 06:19:45 PM PDT

Subject: Collecting signatures NOW! 

Oregon Rebate 2024 is collecting signatures! Hello David,  As we announced in our last email, we are now collecting signatures to qualify the Oregon Rebate for the November 2024 election!  The Oregon Rebate starts holding the largest corporations accountable and provides a yearly guaranteed income of about $750 for every Oregonian to help us make ends meet, reduce poverty, and revitalize our local economies. There is no cavalry coming to save us and none of this happens by itself, let's do this! LET'S DO THIS! How you can help make this happen? Learn how to collect signatures and be a circulator! Some things don't have to be complicated: 120,413 valid signatures gets us on the November 2024 ballot.  Join us at an online training: Saturdays, 10:00AM - 12:00PM Many hands make light work. REGISTER FOR A SIGNATURE GATHERING TRAINING https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvc-6qrTwqGNHgtbXMvaVat3h2qv3tX_8m What have we been up to?  CERTIFIED BALLOT TITLE  — Read for yourself the Certified Ballot Title (CBT).It appears on the back of the signature sheets and will appear on the Voters' Pamphlet in November 2024.

Ranked Choice Voting in Oregon 

The Oregon Progressive Party issued this statement today regarding their support for Ranked Choice Voting:  

 "The Oregon Progressive Party supports the use of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in the conduct of all elections – both federal and state, primary and General elections – in Oregon. Ranked Choice Voting is an improvement on the conduct of our elections, eliminating the so-called spoiler effect of our present first-past-the-post elections, RCV allows the voter to choice their favorite candidate without worry that by doing so they can be charged with wasting your vote. RCV encourages more candidates to run for office, especially minority candidates. And RCV is very popular with voters. At the ballot recently, voters in both Multnomah County and the City of Portland joined voters in Benton county in approving the use of RCV. It is time for the approval of ranked choice voting in all elections in Oregon. "  

 

Oregon Progressive Party War and Peace Report Feb. 3, 2021 How many US Military Bases Are There in the World? The Soldiers Project reports that they are "roughly 750 US foreign military bases; they are spread across 80 nations! After the U.S is the UK, but they only have 145 bases. Russia has about 3 dozen bases, and China just five. This implies that the U.S has three times as many bases as all other countries combined." The Report goes on to give an estimate of the number of US troops overseas: 154,000 at minimum but the exact total is a secret. Note that this does not include American military bases nor personnel in the United States itself. New military base on Guam As it that were not enough American bases around the world, The United States opened its first new base in 70 years, a 4000 acre base on the island of Guam. The expectation is that 5000 troops will be stationed here. The base was established in cooperation with Japan in order to remove Marine troops from Okinawa. This new base joins another American base on Guam, the Andersen Air Force Base. And 4 new military bases in the Philippines As if roughly 750 military bases were not enough, now the United States has announced that the US will build at least 4 new bases in the Philippines. After these bases are built, the US will have a total nine bases in the Philippines. US Sec. of Defense said that “The United States and the Philippines are more than just allies, We’re family.” More details from The Hill. Japan to beef up it's military forces to, it says, counter China and North Korea In rejection of its pacifist constitution, written following WWII and giving up Japan's right to wage war and the means to do so, Japanese officials have announced a new 5-year plan to expand its Self-Defense Forces. The 5-year plan calls for a $320 billion plan making Japan the world's third-biggest military spender after the United States and China. Japan will double it'sr military expenditures to about 2% of GDP. The increase in military costs will likely mean increases in tobacco, corporate and disaster-reconstruction income taxes. US Australia invite Japan to join joint military exercises AlJazeera reveals that US and Australian officials concluded talks to increase "rotational presence of air, land and sea forces in Australis amid shared concerns over China." “Today, we agreed to deepen our defense cooperation in several important ways,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a joint news conference with his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, that also included the two nations’ foreign ministers. “Based upon today’s talks, we will increase rotational presence of US forces in Australia. That includes rotations of bomber task forces, fighters and future rotations of US Navy and US Army capabilities,” he said. "The two countries have also agreed to “invite Japan to integrate into our force posture initiatives in Australia”, he said. During the same conference, it was noted that "Washington is planning to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to an air base in the region."

US Senators/Representatives end up voting for the War Budget A couple months ago we run this image in our report. Since then, the Congress did vote overwhelmingly in favor of the largest ever National Defense Authorization Act. Both Sen. Merkley and Wyden voted NO. Representatives Bumenauer and Bonamici also voted voted No on the NDAA. The non-defense portion of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill was an increase of just 5.5% over last year according to a report by the Senate Committee on Appropriations' Sen. Shelby (R- Ala). However, in another vote more recently on the Omnibus Appropriations Act which included funds for all of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), both Senators voted Yes as did Rep. Bumenauer and Bonamci. The Omnibus Appropriations Act totaled $1.7 trillion with more than half being to cover the National Defense Authorization Act. The NDAA was a $76B increase over last year's NDAA, a 10% increase. The Omnibus bill included $47 billion in support of Ukraine war efforts. In a clear indication of American priories, the bill also included just $38 billion for emergency disaster assistance for American hurt by forest fires, flooding and other climate related disasters.

Please call your US Senators and Representative and ask them why they voted for the war budget in the appropriations bill after having voted no in the National Defense Authorizations Act. Find contact info here using your address.

 Congress is set to vote approval on the National Defense Authorization Act (for fiscal year 2023).  This will be a new all time high budget amount in the area of 3.4 billion dollars.  This is money which could be used for real human needs.  Encourage your US Representatives and Senators to Vote NO.  

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, at First Unitarian Church on Wed. Nov 16 7 - 9 PM.

 Join Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, as she talks about her new book, War In Ukraine, Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, at the  First Unitarian Church on Wed. Nov 16 from 7 - 9 PM.  

Nov 2022 OR Progressive Party monthly newsletter

The Oregon Progressive Party November 2022 Newsletter is available now here.

Read about new American war efforts, OR Progressive Party candidates on November 2022 ballot, new efforts to get ballot initiatives to limits big special interest money out of our elections, and more.

Will Democrats Ever Wake Up to the Need for Campaign Finance Reform in Oregon?

 Now that Phil Knight (retired from Nike) has contributed $3.75 million to Betsy Johnson (NAV) and $1 million to Christine Drazen (R), the Democrats appear to be waking up to the need for campaign finance reform in Oregon.  Too late.

The Democrats have been in control of the Oregon Legislature since 2007 (except for the even split in 2011) and have controlled the Governor's Office since 1987.  They have adopted zero limits on campaign contributions and almost entirely meaningless tagline requirements on political advertisements (after repealing Oregon's previous tagline requirements in 2001).

Now the Democrats are being outspent 2-1 in the Governor's race by the opponents.  All rely heavily on gigantic contributions.

Nathalie Paravicini Withdraws as Governor Nominee

She notes new commitment to campaign finance reform by Tina Kotek. Other candidates for Governor lack this commitment.​

​Statement of Nathalie Paravicini

August 30, 2022
​

Oregon's governor's race must have a pro-democracy candidate who prioritizes campaign finance and electoral reform.  Winning an election is not only about getting elected but also about raising alternative solutions and changing the debate. That objective was advanced when Tina Kotek last week made specific public commitments to prioritize campaign finance reform.

Democrats Massively Screw Up Electric Vehicle Tax Credits, Harm the Environment

The Democrat's "Inflation Reduction Act" actually drastically cuts the availability of federal tax credits for electric vehicles (EVs), effectively eliminating them for all new EVs.

There are 72 EV models currently available for purchase in the United States including battery, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles. Seventy percent of those EVs would immediately become ineligible when the bill passes and none would qualify for the full credit when additional sourcing requirements go into effect [2023].  Zero.

The $7,500 credit might exist on paper, but no vehicles will qualify for this purchase incentive over the next few years

John Bozzella, Alliance for Automotive Innovation

What if No EVs Qualify for the EV Tax Credit?

Also see If you want an electric car, buy one this week