Cascade Policy Institute

The 2000 Oregon Better Government Competition
Entry Deadline is June 30th

The 1996 Oregon
Better Government Competition
Winning Proposals

Cascade Policy Institute organized the 1994, 1996 and 1998 Oregon Better Government Competitions. All three solicited state and local government ideas. The 2000 Competition focuses on information age solutions.

Executive Summaries of the winning ideas in Acrobat pdf format
The Oregonian editorial endorsement
Oct. 22nd Awards Luncheon invitation
Finalists Media Release

Land Use Reform. Ann Brentmar (Jacksonville) writes about revising statutes regulating farm land use to permit on-site processing of farm products. The proposed improvements would financially benefit local rural economies and the state's agricultural economy by increasing crop value through processing; aid in the preservation of farmland; and broaden the Agro-Tourism project being developed by various state agencies.

Financing Schools Without Taxation. John Charles (Sandy) proposes a gradual transfer of education responsibilities to the private sector. Low income residents' needs would be satisfied by the creation of a trust fund, which would be financed by the sale of the $1.1 billion portfolio of lands held by the State Land Board. According to the author the Land Board is constitutionally mandated to manage said lands for the benefit of education.

Barriers to Employment Among Welfare Recipients. James G. Fong (Medford) leads a systematic review of the most frequent and critical barriers to employment among the welfare caseload of Adult & Family Services, District 8, in the ongoing effort to help move more welfare recipients to independence.

Personal Economic Security Accounts. David B. Foster (Salem) seeks the opportunity for any Oregon resident to establish a Personal Economic Security Account, similar to an individual retirement account, thus allowing the state to eventually phase out social service programs for able-bodied citizens.

Privatize the Oregon DMV. Patrick A. Hazel (Roseburg) explores transferring the functions of vehicle registration and the licensing of vehicle operators from the Department of Motor Vehicles to private insurance companies and other organizations.

Taxi Deregulation. John E. Kramer and William H. Mellor (Institute for Justice, Washington, DC) report on government regulations that hinder competition in the Portland taxicab industry.

Means-tested Vouchers for Medicaid Recipients; MSAs. Jim Seagraves (Oregon City) and Patti Milne (Woodburn) develop a proposal for improving Oregon's Medicaid program for individuals with incomes below 150 percent of the poverty level. This would be achieved through progressive, means-tested vouchers, more choice and medical savings accounts.

Fieldtrip Program for Low Income Youth. Janet Norwood (Brookings) develops a paper based upon "Kidzart", a private program she founded, geared toward low income children (ages 3-18). Its goal was to encourage the self-discovery of personal interests and ambitions, and foster inspiration for achievement through visits to businesses, service organizations, and field trips.

Regulatory Barriers to Home-based Businesses. Michael F. Sheehan (Scappoose) identifies governmental barriers hindering the development of home-based enterprises. The author maintains that removing these barriers would help reduce traffic congestion, expand care for the elderly and disabled, and increase volunteer and charitable activities.

Home Care for Elderly Medicaid Recipients. Jerry Spegman (Portland) advocates a federal Medicaid waiver to broaden the category of potential caregivers/beneficiaries who can care for the elderly, in their homes, thereby helping the elderly to delay or avert expensive nursing home placements. Currently a narrowly drawn provision of Medicaid law encourages adult children to care for their aging parents in the parents' home by allowing the parents to transfer ownership of homes to their children/caregivers. Spegman advocates the law be expanded to include non-family members.