oregon’s comeback: a 20 point plan to create private sector jobs and stimulate the economy

8/8/2019 Oregon’s Comeback: A 20 Point Plan to Create Private Sector Jobs and Stimulate the Economy

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Oregon’s Comeback: A Plan to Create Private Sector Jobs and Stimulate the Economy 2

Oregon’s Comeback: A Plan to Create Private Sector Jobs and Stimulate the Economy

OVERVIEW

Oregon is blessed with hard working people who care about their communities, incrediblenatural beauty and abundant natural resources. But for too long, Oregon’s political leadershave made job creation and economic growth an afterthought rather than the central focus of protecting and improving our quality of life. Without jobs, our families are worse off andgovernment lacks the tax revenues to fund schools and other essential government servicesupon which we all rely. This is Oregon’s greatest challenge: saving our quality of life bycreating economic opportunities for all Oregonians.

It’s no secret we’re in tough times. Our unemployment rate remains at 10.6 percent with208,696 Oregonians out of work as of August 2010. 1 That’s a full point higher than the nationalunemployment rate, and the 8 th highest in the nation. Washington State’s unemployment rateis 8.9 percent. Idaho’s is 8.8 percent. 2 From September 2008 to June 2010, Oregon has lost anet 85,425 private sector jobs. 3 As a result, one out of five (20 percent) Oregonians is todayreceiving food stamps. 4 News stories tell the same tale. In mid-June, The Oregonian reportedthat “Oregon's economy is stuck in neutral, with employment and unemployment both stalledand no big industry poised to give the state a shove.” 5 In August, the Portland BusinessJournal reported that a mid-year review of trends shows that Oregon has the “11th weakesteconomy in the country.” 6

But our current economic problems didn’t begin two years ago. Previous governors andlegislatures planted the seeds of our current economic troubles by spending too much andfailing to modernize and reform government when they had the chance. Worst of all, privatesector job creation was taken for-granted. Indeed, Oregon’s unemployment rate went abovethe national average in May of 1996 and it’s been stuck there ever since – fourteen straightyears. 7

Recently, the passage of the Ballot Measures 66 and 67 tax increases have made mattersworse. Economic development officers, mayors, legislators and governors from other stateshave begun recruiting Oregon businesses to come to their states and Oregon business ownerstalk of leaving the state. Regardless of whether businesses are actually leaving the state or whether entrepreneurs are taking fewer risks in Oregon, it’s clear that our economicdevelopment reputation is tarnished and that too many job creators have lost confidence inOregon as a place to invest and grow.

In the aftermath of the ballot measures, even the campaign’s chief spokesman conceded that

1 Labor Force Data, Qualityinfo.org; Oregon Employment Situation: August 2010, September 14, 20102 http://www.qualityinfo.org/olmisj/uranker 3 Oregon Employment Department, Qualityinfo.org database4 “More Oregonians than ever are receiving food stamps,” The Oregonian , May 15, 20105 “Oregon unemployment stuck in neutral, report suggests,” The Oregonian , June 15, 20106 “Oregon economy ranks near the bottom,” Portland Business Journal , July 30, 20107 Bureau of Labor Statistics – Oregon vs. U.S. unemployment rates 1996-2010




the outcome “soured some investors on Oregon” and made some businesses feel that theywere no longer valued, especially considering the permanent nature of the tax increases. Hissolution? He suggested a capital gains tax break. 8 Sadly, this frustration with policy-makersand a lack of confidence in Oregon as a place to maintain and build a business is a messageChris Dudley has heard again and again across Oregon.

The financial impact of years of failed economic policies is dramatic. Oregon’s per capitawealth has fallen to 91 percent of the U.S. average. Washington State’s, by contrast, stands at106 percent of the U.S. average. This decline results in fewer tax revenues for schools andgovernment services. For example, if Oregon had kept pace economically with WashingtonState from 1996 to 2008, Oregonians would have $25.1 billion more in total wealth today. 9 If Oregon’s per capita incomes had kept pace with the United States during 1996-2008, in 2007alone, state and local governments would have had an additional $1.5 billion in revenue. 10 Inshort, a 16-year failure to promote a vibrant private sector economy has cost too manyOregonians their jobs, eroded our tax base and damaged our quality of life.

If Oregonians earned like Washingtonians

Additional amount of income that would accrue to Oregon (in billions)

8 Steve Novick, “Reaching Out to Investors (Really) In the Wake of Measure 66,” BlueOregon.com , March 8, 2010 9 Breaking Out of a Circle of Scarcity: Oregon Business Plans’ Challenges for the 2010s and Beyond,ECONorthwest for the Oregon Business Council, Spring 2010, slide 2510 Breaking Out of a Circle of Scarcity: Oregon Business Plans’ Challenges for the 2010s and Beyond,ECONorthwest for the Oregon Business Council, Spring 2010, slide 47

$17.2

$4.5

$3.4

$25.1

…at Washington's earnings rate

…at Washington's investment returns rate

…at Washington's employment rate

Total additional income

$0 $5 $10 $15 $20 $25 $30




JOHN KITZHABER: A LEGACY OF FAILED LEADERSHIP

John Kitzhaber was Governor for eight of the past sixteen years. Twenty-five years ago, JohnKitzhaber became President of the Oregon Senate – one of the top policy-making positions instate government. There are few elected officials who have impacted Oregon’s political andfinancial landscape for as many years. If John Kitzhaber wants to take credit for his successesas Governor, he must also accept responsibility for his failures. Simply stated, we are living inthe future John Kitzhaber created. In 1998, Kitzhaber told The Oregonian , “If I had the power,I’d turn off the spigot and keep Oregon as it is today,” 11 revealing an aloof attitude towardprivate sector job growth and adequately preparing Oregon for its economic future.

Despite inheriting an economy that “grabbed the spotlight for its growth in per-capita personalincome in 1995 as its high-tech boom made it the only state in the region to exceed thenational average,” 12 just sixteen months into office as governor, Oregon’s unemployment ratewent above the national average where it’s remained stuck the past fourteen years. Under Kitzhaber, unemployment rose and state spending went up 57 percent, but personal incomeswent down compared to the rest of the country. In 1996, Oregon’s per capita income stood at

97 percent of the U.S. average, by the end of his term it had fallen to 94 percent of the U.S.average. Today it is 91 percent of the U.S average.

11 The Oregonian , April 7, 199812 “Oregon’s per-capita income shows rise, Washington’s gain trails national average,” The Seattle Times ,September, 1996

The Kitzhaber Years




After eight years as Governor, The Oregonian said it best:

“Kitzhaber seldom brought the same sharp focus, passion and energy tohigher education, the economy or transportation that he applied to healthcare, natural resources and children.” 13

When it came to tackling major economic issues, Kitzhaber consistently came up short,demonstrating a fundamental inability to create bipartisan solutions to pressing issues:

• He promised tax reform and gave up: “Kitzhaber said early on that he would push for reforming the state’s tax system in order to create more stable funding for public services. The electorate and Legislature weren’t especially receptive to the concept. But one measure of gubernatorial leadership is the ability to create big ideas, push themand persuade people to support them. In this key area, Kitzhaber didn’t do that.” 14

• He promised land use reform and failed: Despite a decade or more of cries tomodernize Oregon’s land use system, Kitzhaber failed to address the issue resulting inthree statewide ballot measures 15 in the last decade that have left the system neither better off nor ready to adequately promote and manage future growth.

And when it comes to promoting private sector job creation, Kitzhaber’s actions as Governor speak louder than his words:

• In 2001, as a recession was overtaking the state, Kitzhaber vetoed a cut of Oregon’scapital gains rate from 9 percent to 4 percent. The measure was approved withbipartisan support because the legislature recognized its potential to spur investmentand create jobs when it was needed most. 16

•

In 1999, he vetoed a training wage for employees under 18-years for their first 45 daysof employment 17 that would have created an incentive for employers to hire youngworkers looking for both experience and income.

Too often, rather than forge bipartisan compromises to advance job-creating policies,Kitzhaber simply withdrew from the debate. In the 2010 primary election, a comment from aleading Democrat underscored the problem:

"I feel strongly that John's had his chance. It's time now for new leadership," Sen. Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland). 18

13 “In promise kept, a legacy,” The Oregonian , December 29, 200214 “Kitzhaber’s mixed legacy,” The Oregonian , January 15, 200315 Ballot Measure 7 (2000), Ballot Measure 37 (2004), Ballot Measure 49 (2007)16 SB 67 (2001 Session), vetoed August 17, 200117 HB 2793 (1999 Session), vetoed September 3, 199918 “It’s middle of the road or bust for Kitzhaber,” The Oregonian , April 10, 2010




Even the former Governor acknowledges his shortcomings:

“I guess what I should have done differently is to be more visible from thebully pulpit on a statewide basis I say I should have done that, but I’mnot sure I could have done that because that’s just not the piece of clothI’m cut from.” 19

Despite his failed record, John Kitzhaber now says he’s focused on creating jobs. But, duringthe last recession he said:

“There’s not a lot the state can do. We are part of a national recession,and it’s very difficult for the State of Oregon to have an impact on thenation.” 20

19 “John Kitzhaber: an uncertain legacy,” Register Guard , January 1, 200320 “Oregon seeks economic jump-start,” The Oregonian , October 17, 2001




CHRIS DUDLEY: READY TO LEAD OREGON’S COMEBACK

Chris Dudley believes Oregon needs a new direction and he’s ready to lead our comeback. Heunderstands that without significant changes in state economic policies and government,Oregon’s quality of life is at risk. Our current economic problems began under John Kitzhaber,but they are neither insurmountable nor is the state ungovernable if we have the courage toimplement new ideas and leadership.

To lead Oregon’s Comeback, as Governor, Chris Dudley will:

1. Restore Confidence, Capital and Competitiveness2. Prepare Oregon for its Economic Future3. Ensure Oregon is Open for Business

Restore Confidence, Capital and Competitiveness: To save our quality of life, Oregon mustcombine its natural assets with an attractive business climate that fosters job creation andeconomic growth. To make Oregon more attractive to business owners, entrepreneurs,workers and investors, Chris Dudley will reform the tax code to restore economic confidence,capital formation and competitiveness in our state. In addition, he will re-focus state policies tosupport sustainable natural resource industries across Oregon and take full advantage of our Pacific Rim export economy. Chris Dudley knows how to compete, and as Governor, he willmake sure Oregon effectively competes with other states for jobs, workers and investment.

Prepare Oregon for its Economic Future: A global economy demands a globally competitiveeducation system – from kindergarten through college. Chris Dudley understands thatOregon’s economic future depends on preparing the next generation for college, work and theworld. As Governor, he will ensure Oregon has the quality K-12 schools essential for a positivebusiness climate and will transform our higher education system to ensure that our collegesand universities are the job and idea factories of tomorrow. He wants our higher educationsystem to be able to attract and keep the best and brightest students from Oregon and aroundthe world. Chris Dudley believes our local schools, colleges and universities should not onlyseek to create great citizens but also be a source of future innovation and economic growth.

Ensure Oregon is Open for Business: Chris Dudley will restore entrepreneur, business-owner, investor, and worker confidence in Oregon as a place to build a business with a longoverdue commitment to jobs-focused governing. As Governor, Chris will ensure that everyaspect of state policy-making, rule-making and government management is focused ondeclaring Oregon open for business. Chris Dudley will refresh state government with peoplewho share his jobs-focused philosophy and will sell Oregon to the nation and the world as aplace where existing business can grow and new businesses can thrive.




Restore Economic Confidence, Capital and Competitiveness

Job Creating Tax Relief

Chris Dudley understands that in today’s economy, states compete for businesses, employersand workers. He also believes that Oregon has fallen behind in our efforts to encourageexisting businesses to grow here and new businesses and entrepreneurs to come here. Someof Oregon’s current economic problems are the result of the national recession. But others arethe result of decades of indifference by Oregon’s elected officials toward policies thatencourage private sector job growth. More recently, new taxes on individuals and businesseshave created investor uncertainty, reduced business owner confidence and have further tarnished Oregon’s reputation as a place to do business. To restore confidence and makeOregon more competitive, Chris Dudley will propose a package of tax relief designed to restoreOregon’s competitiveness and help boost private sector job growth.

As President John F. Kennedy said, “Tax reduction thus sets off a process

that can bring gains for everyone, gains won by marshaling resources that would otherwise stand idle—workers without jobs and farm and factory capacity without markets. Yet many taxpayers seemed prepared to deny the nation the fruits of tax reduction because they question the financial soundness of reducing taxes when the federal budget is already in deficit.Let me make clear why, in today’s economy, fiscal prudence and responsibility call for tax reduction even if it temporarily enlarged thefederal deficit—why reducing taxes is the best way open to us to increaserevenues.” 21

To become more competitive, Oregon must:

1. Reduce Capital Gains Taxes by 73 Percent – With Oregon businesses facing thehighest capital gains taxes in the nation, Chris Dudley will propose jump starting our economy by reducing Oregon’s capital gains rate from 11 percent to 3 percent (a 73percent reduction) for two years and then resetting the rate to 5 percent in the yearsthereafter. This change will enable Oregon to have a competitive rate with neighboringstates, making it more attractive to existing and new businesses.

2. Promote Local Job Recruitment – Chris Dudley wants to give cities and counties anincentive to recruit new businesses to Oregon by providing them half the additional stateincome tax revenues generated from the employees and businesses they recruit.

Currently, Oregon’s recruitment strategy is based on property tax abatements under thestate’s Strategic Investment Program. Forfeiting property tax revenues can act as adisincentive to local governments that depend on them to fund vital services. Theremittance would be for the duration of the property tax abatement.

21 President John F. Kennedy, Economic Report of the President, January 1963




3. Align State and Federal Taxes – The 2009 Legislature rushed to disconnect Oregonfrom the federal tax code and denied Oregon businesses the tax relief contained in the2009 Federal Stimulus Package, including proven strategies such as accelerateddepreciation to stimulate the economy and create jobs. This move complicated taxcompliance and exposed small businesses to increased errors and liabilities in their taxfilings requiring Oregon businesses to keep “two sets of books” for federal and statetaxes. A rolling reconnect to the federal code will provide certainty for Oregon’s smallbusiness, simplify tax filings with the state and the IRS, and lower accounting costs.Oregon should only disconnect from the federal code if doing so will give the state acompetitive advantage and create jobs.

4. End Double Taxation – Chris Dudley will end the double taxation on agricultural co-opsand other Oregon businesses. Currently, many Oregon businesses, such as agriculturalco-ops, are taxed two times: once on the co-op before revenue is shared with membersand again when members receive their share of earnings. Chris Dudley believes doubletaxation is wrong and will end it.

5. Create Tax Relief for Emerging Businesses – Chris Dudley will allow qualifying smalland emerging businesses the option to defer the majority of their income or excise taxesfor two years, then pay back the deferred tax with interest, over a four year period.While small businesses are struggling to find adequate working capital throughtraditional bank financing, this will provide a way for businesses to help make ends meetduring difficult times.

6. Implement the “Oregon Works” Initiative – Chris Dudley believes the stategovernment should be providing a hand-up rather than a handout. To accomplish this,he will propose two new tax credits for small and emerging businesses that will phaseout when Oregon’s unemployment rate dips below the national unemployment rate for two months:

Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit – Chris will propose a tax credit to employers whoadd workers who are currently on public assistance. The cost of the credits willbe offset by reduced public assistance expenditures.

Back-to-Work Tax Credit – Chris Dudley will propose a one-time tax credit tosmall, emerging businesses that add workers who are currently receivingunemployment benefits.

Promote Sustainable Natural Resource Industries

Chris Dudley will re-focus state policies to support, not stand in the way of, sustainable naturalresource industries in agriculture and ranching, timber and forest products, fishing and seafoodand will be a champion for federal policies that properly balance jobs and conservation. Toaccomplish this, Oregon must:

7. Listen to Resource Communities – Chris Dudley will select a natural resources policyadvisor, agency directors, natural resources agency staff and citizen appointees whounderstand Oregon's natural resource industries and who will balance the need for jobs




and conservation. As Governor, he will work with resource-based communities topromote and advance Oregon’s natural resource products around the world.

8. Better Utilize State Forest Lands – Oregon’s six large state forests are anunderutilized asset that should be a greater source of jobs for Oregonians and revenuesfor state schools. For example, more active management of just the 93,000-acre ElliotState Forest could create between 165 and 195 jobs and would generate additionalrevenue for the state’s Common School Fund. 22 Chris Dudley will balance the desire for conservation and recreation on state lands with the need and demand for forestproducts from state lands – products that create jobs and revenue for the CommonSchool Fund. Taxes on timber harvests are a major source of revenue for Oregon publicschools.

9. Water for our Future – Oregon is facing critical water levels across the state (not just inthe Klamath and Umatilla basins) and has never had a strategic vision for water management. Chris Dudley will work to remove unnecessary barriers and allocatefunding to water projects that focus on conservation, reuse and storage. Investments inthese projects will assist struggling communities, enhance environmental stewardship,provide needed resources to grow our agricultural sector, and create jobs.

10. Support Oregon State University (OSU) Statewide Services – Chris Dudleyunderstands the unique relationship between OSU and our natural resource sector.OSU's statewide public services (extension service, experiment stations and forestresearch lab) embody the intersection of commerce, natural resource management andresearch. Chris Dudley will work to prioritize and restore funding in order to provideeconomic development opportunities for our natural resource employers.

11. Promote the Use of Forest Biomass – Chris Dudley believes that environmentallyresponsible stewardship of state forests and job creation are not mutually exclusive.Chris will promote the expansion of biomass cogeneration to achieve both of thesegoals. These projects provide economic stability for businesses and communities; holdbroad community support; provide for forest health; and reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, all while meeting the test of employing science-basedmanagement.

Prepare Oregon for its Economic Future

Strengthen K-12 and Higher Education

A global economy demands a globally competitive education system – from pre-kindergartenthrough college. Chris Dudley understands that Oregon’s economic future depends onpreparing the next generation for college, work and the world. Unfortunately, while good workis going on in classrooms across Oregon, the general state of education in Oregon, from pre-kindergarten through 12, has fallen behind. Nothing demonstrates this failure of leadership andprogress more than Oregon’s humiliating retreat and defeat in the Obama Administration’s

22 2009-2011 Backgrounder – Elliot State Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Department of State Lands




“Race to the Top” reform initiative. Oregon’s plans and strategies are fragmented anddisconnected. In seeking needed reforms, we’ve allowed dysfunction among adults to deprivechildren and students. The result is that Oregon has no comprehensive approach to ensuringthat every child leaves the public school system ready for college, work and the world. Whilethe graduation rate for all students in Oregon is 84 percent, for Hispanic students it stands at70.5 percent and for African-American students, the rate is 68.5 percent. 23

As Governor, Chris Dudley will make education reform a top priority, challenging the statusquo and demanding that education policy and quality be put ahead of education politics. Toachieve reform, Chris Dudley will shake-up the administration of schools, put an emphasis onteacher quality and preparedness and shine a light on programs and policies that are workingin local communities to better educate our kids.

To accomplish this, Oregon must:

12. Prepare Every Child for College, Work and the World – Chris Dudley has released acomprehensive education reform plan available at www.chrisdudley.com . The focus of the plan can be summarized with the following words: accountability, performance,professionalism, choice and an end to business as usual.

Chris Dudley will see that Oregon’s youngsters arrive in kindergarten ready to learn,with disadvantaged students having access to a preschool or pre-kindergarten program.Our children should leave the third grade proficient in reading, with struggling readershaving access to reading tutors. Parents should have the choice of where they sendtheir children, and state education dollars should follow the child to a school in another district, a charter school, virtual school or alternative learning environment that meetsthe child’s need. He will push for a grading system for schools that is as simple as A-Fand schools that are “full time learning” centers or so-called Community Schools whereeducation continues after school and through the summer (the “third semester”),especially for children of low-income parents who cannot afford the enrichment activitiesother parents can. He’ll push for schools where meaningful professional development,peer-mentoring and teacher collaboration are rewarded. To graduate more studentsready for advanced training and college, Chris Dudley will focus attention on the trueproficiency of students (knowledge and skills) rather than just course credits or passinggrades, allowing students to move at their own pace toward Advanced Placementclasses, dual-credit opportunities and advanced career/technical training with statefunding following the student. He’ll also reconstitute effective drop-out preventionprograms and cost-saving measures to move dollars into our classrooms.

Chris Dudley believes our overall goal should be to end a K-12 system that producestoo many drop-outs – particularly among our disadvantaged students – and “graduates”too many students unprepared for college or the work world. That system is not fair tothe students or to the taxpayers, and it hurts Oregon’s economy. Oregon’s schools needgreater accountability, higher performance standards, increased choice, and new waysto achieve savings in the classroom. Chris Dudley believes a wholesale transformationof our state’s education enterprise is critical to Oregon’s long-term economic health. We

23 Oregon Department of Education Statewide Report Card 2008-09




must ensure that our children arrive in kindergarten ready to learn and leave high schoolready for a professional/technical career or college. We must keep our best andbrightest in Oregon. In all this, we must see that our educational enterprise meets theneeds of Oregon employers for innovative workers, now and into the future.

13. Transform Oregon Higher Education – Chris Dudley believes it’s never been moreimportant for Oregon to have an accessible and high quality system of higher education.Higher education is essential to producing the innovators and leaders of tomorrow andto strengthening Oregon’s climate for job creation and economic growth. Regrettably,Oregon’s current system of higher education is falling behind due to an outdatedgovernance and management model that limits autonomy, accountability andinnovation.

For example, higher education budgets approved by the legislature include more than6,000 categories compared with just a few for K-12 education and community colleges,despite the fact that 14 percent of university funding comes from the state comparedwith 72 percent of K-12 funding and 59 percent of community college funding. 24 Former University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer said, “I am more and more convincedthat our present system has just reached the outer limits of its utility.” The presidents of Oregon State University and Portland State University and the chancellor of theuniversity system have expressed similar sentiments. In addition to political micro-management, the past 20 years have seen steady erosion in state financial support for higher education. Adjusting for inflation, state funding for the university system hasdecreased 16 percent the past 20 years while enrollment has increased 27 percent. And20 years ago, students paid approximately 30 percent of the cost of their education.Now, tuition covers closer to 70 percent. 25

In December 2009, Chris Dudley was the first gubernatorial candidate to publiclyembrace major reforms being advanced by state higher education leaders to reform therelationship between state universities and state government. For too long, Oregon hasincreased its regulation of higher education while decreasing funding – resulting in lessautonomy, accountability and innovation. As Governor, Chris Dudley will championreforms that will allow each institution the opportunity and responsibility to govern itself.In exchange, Dudley will demand a specific commitment to ensuring greater accessibility for Oregon students, improvements in efficiency and management, greater accountability and transparency and a robust commitment to innovation andpartnerships with the private sector to strengthen the state economy.

14. Expand Research and Development (R&D) – Chris will support the extension of Oregon’s research and development tax credit, which is currently set to sunset.Oregon’s credit is modeled on the federal R&D credit. It provides a credit when aqualifying business increases its expenditures over a base year. The credit is not anentitlement for doing the same thing year after year. It is an incentive to increase R&Dexpenditures and make investments in emerging economic opportunities. Without actionnext session, Oregon’s R&D tax credit will be eliminated.

24 “Frohnmayer urges higher ed overhaul,” The Register-Guard , November 19, 200925 “Higher-education leaders want independence for Oregon University System,” The Oregonian , May 31, 2010




To help attract entrepreneurs and venture capital to the state, Chris Dudley will alsourge the Legislature to expand Oregon’s R&D tax credit by making it refundable for small, emerging businesses. Research and development is something Oregon is doingright and must not abandon. In 2007, according to data from the National ScienceFoundation, Oregon business spending on R&D was ranked 9 th nationally. The highwage jobs created by R&D businesses provide an opportunity to grow the foundation for more taxpayers in Oregon.

Ensure Oregon is Open for Business

Job-Focused Governing

Over the past 16 years (and recently due to government policies such as Ballot Measures 66and 67) Oregon’s business reputation has been further tarnished and confidence in Oregon asa place to invest has declined. As Governor, Chris Dudley will lead Oregon’s economiccomeback by declaring that Oregon is indeed open for business and will pursue policy andpersonnel changes to demonstrate that state government is eager for both existing and newbusinesses to invest here and grow here.

To accomplish this, Oregon must:

15. Implement Operation “Second Look” – As he detailed in his 26 Point Plan to Control Spending and Reform Government , Chris Dudley will ask his budget manager andagency heads to re-examine all programs and positions added in the 2009 Legislature.Chris Dudley believes that state government should have put its fiscal house in order before building additions. As governor, he will take a second look at these 2009 add-onsand recommend not moving forward on these new enterprises or eliminating older onesto offset the costs.

16. Promote Oregon’s Comeback at Home and Around the World – While Oregon hasmany natural assets and is known for many positive things, a friendly businessenvironment, regrettably, isn’t generally one of them. As Governor, Chris Dudley willcombine his unique professional background with Oregon’s many natural assets topromote Oregon across the nation, and around the world as a desirable investment andtourist destination. Chris Dudley will promote Oregon’s deep water ports as import andexport hubs and include the ports in the development of his trade agenda. Followinglegislative approval of his comeback agenda, Chris Dudley will recruit people fromacross the nation and around the world to visit, invest and stay in Oregon.

17. Require Economic Impact Analysis On Legislation – As Chris Dudley outlined in his26 Point Plan to Control Spending and Reform Government , he will require that all finalbills requiring his signature include an economic impact statement, detailing potentialprivate-sector job impacts and increased compliance costs for business. The LegislativeFiscal Office estimates what bills will cost the state, and the Legislative Revenue Officeestimates what tax changes will mean for state revenues. These estimates provideimportant information to policy makers, but they rarely mention the legislation’s potentialimpact on Oregon’s private sector.




18. Refresh State Government with New People, New Attitudes – As Governor, ChrisDudley will change Oregon’s job creation policies by changing the people who helpshape them. Chris Dudley will breathe new life into state government by hiring andappointing a new generation of people from diverse and balanced backgrounds withoutregard to partisan politics and from every corner of the state. Special attention will begiven to ensuring that women and minorities are represented in a DudleyAdministration. Mostly, Chris Dudley will seek quality people who share a commitmentto restoring private sector job growth as the foundation to saving our quality of life.

19. Build the Columbia River Crossing; End the Gridlock – Chris Dudley believes it’scritical for the regional economy to end the bureaucratic grid-lock that has already costtaxpayers $100 million (and counting) only to discuss a new I-5 Interstate Crossing. AsGovernor, Chris Dudley will support a bi-state authority (appointed by the governors of Oregon and Washington) to oversee the project and its management; removing themany layers of competing governments that have failed to agree on a plan for theproject. The management authority will have a single director and will remain in placefor the life of the project to oversee eventual design, construction and fundingimplementation.

20. Implement a Balanced State Energy Plan – Chris Dudley believes access to reliable,affordable energy is essential to creating a positive environment for job growth. He alsobelieves that innovation in energy production can and should be a source of future jobsand economic growth in our state.

As Governor, Chris Dudley will support an energy policy that balances the need for necessary infrastructure with our existing efficiency and conservation programs. He willmaintain a strong commitment to the development of renewable energy sources suchas wind, wave, solar and geothermal while also supporting an affordable, safe andreliable energy infrastructure necessary during the transition to more supplies of renewable and sustainable sources of energy. He will vigorously defend the region’shydroelectric power system that is an abundant source of reliable, affordable, carbon-free energy. He also supports a collaborative, science-based approach to savingsalmon in the Columbia River.

oregon’s comeback: a 20 point plan to create private sector jobs and stimulate the economy

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