Our Town wants to expand our readers’ familiarity with the views of candidates on the November ballot for District 18 representative in the state legislature. In this edition we publish the response to the first of three questions. Responses are in the candidates’ own words.
The first question asked was:
What investments should be made or actions taken during the next legislative session to have a positive impact on the Oregon economy? What are you prepared to do to move those investments or actions forward?
First priority will be to freeze the budget and cut the cost of state government – immediately. This is essential to avoid a deepening economic recession.
Inflation is killing consumers. Prices on basics – gas, food, and electricity – are the highest in decades. So the real value of our paychecks is dropping fast. Home values are down and debt is up. Straight talk and tough action is needed to avoid another recession.
Step one: Freeze the $48 billion state budget. Next the governor should appoint a bi-partisan panel with the goal of cutting the budget (10 percent minimum). This should be the first order of government business. Where do the cuts begin? Last session, for example, I voted no to $270 million for light rail in Portland and $7 million for a garage in Hillsboro.
Let me ask you this. Should government funding move forward like an unstoppable steamroller while average consumers – who pay for government – go deeper in debt? What is most important, special interests in Salem or the economic survival of individual families? Public safety and seniors aside, the state budget is filled with items costing you millions of dollars we simply cannot afford. The legislature must do what thousands of families are doing right now – cut budgets, face reality, and set the stage for a brighter future.
My second priority is to continue as the lead advocate for a new technological breakthrough, with strong bipartisan support, called Hydrogen Hubs. Hydrogen Hubs generate renewable energy with no pollution. They will cut household energy bills and strengthen the power grid. They will also create a safe hydrogen-dense fuel providing a natural fertilizer for regional agriculture – lowering food prices.
Oregon can be a leader in hydrogen development using our lower cost, off-peak electricity from dams and wind turbines. The Hubs use this low-cost power to split water into hydrogen and oxygen and temporarily store the hydrogen in an energy-dense, safe liquid known as “green” ammonia.
Ammonia fertilizes farms worldwide but Hydrogen Hubs create green low cost, “organic” ammonia fuel from Oregon’s natural power sources (wind and water.) It’ll reduce a farmer’s costs, lower food prices and provide a natural fertilizer throughout our district.
Hubs also use green ammonia as fuel to generate power during peak usage when power prices are very high. This staves off investment in more coal and nuclear plants. By “shaving” energy peaks with nonpolluting energy, we’ll save millions in transmission lines to bring distant polluting energy to power our homes. Hydrogen Hubs can bring thousands of jobs to Oregon and create a world-class industry here.
As your state legislator, real budget cuts and energy strategies will be my two highest priorities in the coming year.
