Strictly Independent

[Oregon Citizen @oregoncitizen_]

The State Of Oregon Employment Department posts on Blue sky but no where else... kinda weird

[Taren Feist @tarenfeist]

🚨 OREGONIANS, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SALEM.

This is a LONG article, but it’s one worth reading. I’m going to break down some of the biggest takeaways because I think Oregonians need to understand what’s happening within our state government and what could be coming in the 2027 legislative session.

First, there’s a significant shift happening within Oregon’s Democratic Party. The far-left progressive wing is gaining influence, and organizations like the Working Families Party are playing a major role.

Progressive Democrats roughly DOUBLED their numbers in the Legislature following last week’s election.

The Working Families Party, a left-wing political organization that has also supported New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, backed 31 Democrats who won legislative seats in Oregon. The party also supported candidates who defeated more moderate incumbents.

Oregon Rep. Mark Gamba specifically pointed to Mamdani’s leadership as an example of what progressives should be doing in Oregon, saying: “I’d look at the style of leadership (New York City Mayor Zohran) Mamdani has demonstrated: You can do very progressive things and get them done and get them done now.”

Gamba also made it clear that this growing progressive bloc intends to exercise its legislative power, saying: “We have enough members now we can pretty much stop any legislation that they’d want to put down.”

Think about what that means… We’re watching a growing faction within the Democratic Party openly challenge its more moderate members and push for a much more aggressive legislative agenda. They may not have the votes to pass everything independently, but they believe they have enough leverage to influence what moves forward.

SO WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY PROPOSING?

A NEW WEALTH TAX: A proposed tax targeting Oregonians with a net worth of $30 million or more. The revenue would help fund universal preschool and government-funded healthcare programs.

HIGHER TAXES ON DATA CENTERS: Eliminating certain property tax exemptions that reportedly saved technology companies more than $450 million this year.

CHANGES TO PROPERTY TAX PROTECTIONS: Progressives are discussing potential changes to Measures 5 and 50, the voter-approved measures that limit property taxation in Oregon. Depending on how those laws are changed, homeowners, landlords, and businesses could face higher property taxes.

CHANGES TO YOUR KICKER REFUND: Rep. Gamba wants to revisit proposals to redirect some of Oregon’s surplus tax revenue to public schools rather than returning the full amount to taxpayers.

SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE: Gov. Kotek’s Universal Health Plan Governance Board is expected to release recommendations by December 1 on transitioning Oregon toward a single-payer healthcare system. How such a system would be funded remains a major question.

STATEWIDE UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL: Kotek has committed to expanding universal preschool statewide, another major government program requiring funding.

The article also discusses a proposal from Sen. Mark Meek to increase Oregon’s estate tax exemption from $1 million to as much as $2.5 million. Unlike the other revenue proposals, this would provide tax relief for some Oregon families.

The questions Oregonians should be asking are simple: How much will these programs cost? Who will ultimately pay for them? What happens to Oregon’s economy if taxes continue to increase? And what protections will remain for homeowners, businesses, and taxpayers?

https://t.co/5NedcUtdPu

https://t.co/5NedcUtdPu

[Gays Against Groomers @againstgrmrs]

We went from “girls can play with trucks too” to “if a girl plays with trucks, cut her breasts off” at an alarming rate.

And they call that “progressive” 🤡

Save the tomboys.

[Rep. Dwayne Yunker HD3 @RepYunker]

Kotek's "federal SNAP cuts" cries are ridiculous. The truth-Kotek wants waste, which means less $ available for those who truly need assistance. Per USDA, Oregon ranks 48th for SNAP pymt accuracy with a 14%+ error rate. Over 98% of errors in Oregon are overpays. Read the report ->
https://t.co/w862G9mZ7Y

[PDX Real @PDXReal1]

PERS, Oregon’s public employee retirement program, is bankrupting the state, and it is a significant economic driver behind planned layoffs and school closures at Portland Public Schools.

PERS is now underfunded by $24 billion. PPS is facing a $65 million budget deficit, and over 60% ($40 million) of that shortfall is due its own PERS obligations.

Now, due to the budget deficit, PPS officials want to tap into yet another slush fund, the Oregon Education Stability Fund, for $500 million to fund their PERS program.

PPS officials say if the state and its taxpayers can’t cover the $65 million deficit, they will have to layoff 450 full time employees and shut down 14 schools in the district.

Using one-time reserves to cover ongoing pension obligations is a temporary fix, not a long-term solution. It’s simply kicking the can down the road for a worse problem in the future.

As PPS enrollment has declined by 25% in recent years, Oregon’s public schools are confronting the possibility of fewer teachers, fewer staff members, and fewer schools, while an increasing share of education dollars is consumed by retirement obligations, rather than its schools and students.

At some point, Oregon must confront the long-term cost of its public employee retirement system rather than repeatedly shifting money around from various slush funds to cover its pension bill, at an increasing cost to both students and taxpayers.

[Andy Ngo @MrAndyNgo]

An Oregon illegal migrant typical of the ones upheld by Democrats as a "model immigrant" has been federally charged for allegedly using his business to launder more than $34m to terror drug cartels in Mexico and Honduras. https://t.co/3huIlu8GHQ

[Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh]

🚨 WOW! Gavin Newsom's "wine empire" just got exposed for being BUILT on ILLEGAL MIGRANT LABOR

Democrats never changed.

Prosecute this NOW.

Go after the companies and employers who do this nationwide!

"The governor sells his wine for up to $7,000 a bottle, and it's made him rich. But we've uncovered a secret. The vineyard operation is run on illegal labor in violation of federal law."

"...most of the laborers on Newsom's vineyard were illegal aliens." 🤯

He also says Renteria exploits the workers, and that Renteria's company has been fined by regulators for labor and safety violations

So the governor who fought Trump's deportations at every turn may have been profiting off the very people he was shielding!

And he wants them VOTING in elections.

Funny how that works.

If a Republican governor were caught like this, it would become front page news 24/7 ‼️ @christopherrufo

[The Vigilant Fox 🦊 @VigilantFox]

Food stamp advocate SELF-DESTRUCTS as Rep. Brandon Gill presses her on why taxpayers pay for Coca-Cola.

She tries to dodge the question. Then Gill pulls out the receipts, and she sits there in stunned silence.

GILL: “Should SNAP dollars be spent on sodas?”

WITNESS: “I am happy to talk about hunger and nutrition, but not dictate what Americans should or should not eat or may have access to.”

GILL: “I’m asking if tax dollars should be used to pay for sodas.”

“Do they need sugary sodas to survive?”

WITNESS: “Some of them do…”

GILL: “You think they need Coca-Cola to survive?”

“I’m giving you the opportunity to say yes or no.”

WITNESS: “I will not answer for individuals and their… choices.”

GILL: “What does SNAP stand for?”

WITNESS: “It’s a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.”

GILL: “What’s nutritional about Coca-Cola?”

WITNESS: “I am not a nutritionist.”

Then Gill asks who’s paying her, and she freezes like a deer in headlights.

GILL: “Is your organization funded by organizations that make money from food stamps?”

[awkward silence]

GILL: “Do organizations who profit off of food stamps fund your organization or businesses?”

WITNESS: “I mean, in the, in the, I, I can’t comment to that.”

GILL: “Does General Mills fund your organization?”

WITNESS: “I don’t have access to that information.”

GILL: “I do. It’s right here. They do fund your organization. […] Yes, and they’re profiting off of your advocacy. Do you think that that’s a conflict of interest?”

[more silence]

GILL: “I think most people think that’s a conflict of interest. I know you don’t want to answer.”

Always follow the money.

CONTEXT: USDA’s own study found soft drinks were the #1 purchase in SNAP households, beating milk, ground beef, and everything else in the store.

[Strictly Independent @OR_Independent]

@libsoftiktok @CivilRights Don't you know?

It can't be racist unless it favors whites or Christians?

Everything else is just "fairness" 🤡🤦‍♂️

[Strictly Independent @OR_Independent]

Hold on, you just posted that millions of Americans were being attacked by Trump and losing benefits?

Now your saying they ***could*** be asked for more information.

Now that a smarter deception campaign. ***Could*** covers up the fact that this is all fear mongering.

Oregon will send a letter.
Or you can respond online.
People can check a box that says "yes I'm a citizen"
Another box for "yes I definitely have a job"
Or "yes I'm definitely doing something with my life"
Or "no I'm definitely not a scammer just taking advantage of the system because I can"

Likely over 50% of this system is fraud.
Oregon doesn't care.
It's how they buy votes.

[Strictly Independent @OR_Independent]

Careful now Katu....you screwed up.

You said "Americans".

The smart politicians running this deception campaign know to only say "people" so it hides the fact that we are paying be every benefit known to mankind for criminal illegals.

These are not Americans.

The few that will hopefully be removed?
Freeloaders. Scammers. Con artists. Deadbeats.

Will they actually be removed?
Probably not.
At least not in Oregon.
Oregon will only send out a self certification form that lets people check a box and say yes "I'm a citizen, and a hard worker and contributing to society." Another box for "no I'm definitely not a scammer"

[Strictly Independent @OR_Independent]

@KATUNews Seems like an appropriate time to rethink our priorities

[Dan Zaksheske @RealDanZak]

So, let me get this straight. The “No Kings” and “Trump is a threat to democracy” people are trying to overturn a girls’ sports law that was enacted through …

*checks notes*

… the democratic process of voting?

🤔

[Larry Elder @larryelder]

FAKE NEWS ALERT

“That is a gain potentially of nearly 50 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. It would represent one of the largest gains, or, I believe, the largest gain, since basically 1974. That, of course, was the Watergate midterms.”
—Harry Enten, CNN, November 4, 2026

[The Rabbit Hole @TheRabbitHole]

Innocents > Criminals

[Strictly Independent @OR_Independent]

@jimmydean197 True. But why?
Because we are losing jobs to other states.

[Kevin Bass @kevinnbass]

More votes than voters.

Curious.

[Strictly Independent @OR_Independent]

Your big idea is to force every single working American to pay for every other person who sets foot in America.

Because it's now a right to demand other people pay for things you want?

Because government is such an excellent administrator, and caretaker of our tax dollars?

Because other countries healthcare system is superior to ours? They come here from Canada because they are wait-listed for 9 months to get life saving care and death is imminent.

Because you want politicians determining every procedure and priority, rationing care by ..... Political affiliation or any other absurd measures?

What happens when Congress throws a fit and they shutdown the government and hospitals close for 2 months?

Doctors are now government workers?

Terrible idea. Will absolutely ruin healthcare in America.

[Strictly Independent @OR_Independent]

Fraud.

You voted to deny SNAP payments and hold them hostage to demand TRILLIONS for illegals.

You're going nationalize child care? In what world is that a good idea.
Are you going to dictate the curriculum as well? More trans indoctrination and books about orax s#x for preschoolers?

Congress already had a majority. It hasn't been long. Nothing improved. No costs were reduced. All we got were higher taxes and less freedom.
No thanks.

[Strictly Independent @OR_Independent]

You mean you want to be prevent kids and parents from having a fair choice to go to a better school that doesn't indoctrinate them with normalized sex fetishes and false gender suicide cults?

You hate Americans
You hate freedom

Without imported terrorists, illegals, and election fraud you would not be in office.

You don't represent real Oregonians