Click the play button to hear the audio commentary
It seems as if every time you turn on the news, you hear politicians talking about raising taxes on the wealthy. The Oregon legislature already raised taxes on higher-income earners, and the Obama administration wants to do the same. Despite this, both the Obama administration and the Oregon legislature have proposed subsidies for certain higher-income earners. This is being done through tax credits for hybrid electric cars. . . . Read more!
Summary: Created nearly ten years ago, the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department’s “Vertical Housing Program” was designed to encourage mixed-use commercial/residential developments. But despite massive public subsidies invested in these projects, the program is not able to attract businesses to its retail spaces. . . . Read more!
The federal government’s ‘Cash for clunkers’ program aims to boost cars sales and cut fuel use by letting car shoppers trade-in their older, gas guzzling vehicles for a rebate from $3,500 to $4,500 toward the purchase of a newer, more fuel-efficient vehicle. Cascade President John Charles points out why the program won’t work as intended, and how it will create a shortage of used cars, thus driving up their prices and making it even more difficult for low-income people to purchase affordable transportation.
Click the play button to hear the audio Quick Point.
Most gradeschool children are enjoying their summer off, but some young Oregonians already have September on their minds. You see, they are on the waiting list of the Children’s Scholarship Fund-Portland and eagerly hope to attend the school of their choice next fall. . . . Read more!
John A. Charles, Jr. will be intereviewed by KATU News (Channel 2)
on the federal “Cash for Clunkers” proposal on
July 20 at 11 pm, and
July 21 at 6 am.
Set your recorder or TiVo; you won’t want to miss it!
Summary: With huge subsidies coming from the federal and state governments to prop up inefficient forms of energy production, scientists and entrepreneurs are less likely to produce new, more efficient energy forms. In addition, the massive influx of regulations supported by environmentalists inhibits new energy forms from competing in the market. These factors prevent new sources of energy from coming onto the grid and cost taxpayers millions of dollars in increased energy costs. . . . Read more!
Watch this great KATU-TV exposé of TriMet’s “most generous in the country” benefits package. Featuring Cascade’s President John Charles’ analysis of the agency’s out-of-control spending and Common Sense for Oregon’s Golden Fleece Award for wasting taxpayers’ money.