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September 14, 2006

Ron Saxton Better Have an Ace Up His Sleeve

Oregon Democratic Governor Kulongoski has called Republican challenger Ron Saxton's bluff, asking him to reveal what "efficiencies" he would find in the state budget that could possibly offset the losses in funding that would result from the new programs and tax cuts Saxton is promising voters.

Looking back to the only time Saxton has served in elected office, his single term as a member of the Portland School Board, Kulongoski's campaign manager, Jim Ross, pointed out that sometimes reality creeps into the budget process. One would think after Saxon's experience in Portland, having to ask the City of Portland for a bailout because the District could not balance its budget, he would have learned that lesson.

Ross noted that the Portland schools received millions from the City of Portland before and during Saxton's tenure. When the district could not meet its budget, even with these additional funds, Ron Saxton had to go back and get $3 million more. "Portland schools needed that money," said Ross, "and it's good that the city came through for them. But Saxton has been saying that he can cut taxes and add new programs just by finding efficiencies. The record shows that he couldn't find those magical efficiencies when he was in charge of the Portland School Board. He had to take bailout after bailout from the city just to keep the school doors open."

Rather than taking that reality to heart, however, Saxton has decided to continue kissing the right-wing fringe's behinds by endorsing $1.3 billion in tax cuts, including Bill Sizemore's Measure 41, and claiming he will "happily" implement Howard Rich's Measure 48 (at least, that's what he said last I heard – he may have changed his mind again), which threatens to chop an additional $2.2 to $2.7 billion out of the next budget. This on top of new spending proposals:

• Expanding state police patrols

• Full enrollment for Head Start and a higher teacher pay

• Giving alternative energy tax credits

• Increasing the subsidy for employers who provide health care

• A major investment in higher education and vocational training

This is not a commentary on his proposals. It is a commentary on his consistent tendency to try to have it both ways. He supports TABOR, he doesn't support TABOR. He wants to cut taxes, he wants to increase spending. He wants to return the kicker, he won't raise taxes, he wants to keep the kicker for a rainy day fund, but that's not a tax increase, but whenever a tax cut is eliminated it's a tax increase. Every time I turn around the man is being wishy-washy again. That's what happens when you try to please everyone instead of telling it like it is. As Ross rightly points out, "Ron Saxton will say anything to get elected." I think we've had enough of politicians like that.

Posted by Becky at September 14, 2006 02:41 PM