Cascade Policy Institute

Since her first day in office, Gov. Kotek has appointed Blue Ribbon Panels on housing, transportation, literacy, racial justice, homelessness, drug overdose, and prosperity. The formula for prosperity has been known since Adam Smith in 1776: limited government, property rights, low taxes, free trade. Oregon doesn't need another task force.

75 school choice programs across 34 states. 1.5 million children benefiting. Texas alone had 274,000 applicants for 90,000 spots. Oregon families are still waiting.

Texas launched the largest school choice program in U.S. history. Since February 2026, more than 274,000 students applied for 90,000 available spots. The demand is real. The results are real. Oregon families deserve the same opportunity to choose what works for their kids.

Since taking office, Gov. Kotek has launched task forces on housing, transportation, prosperity, literacy, homelessness, and more. Oregon needs action — not more committees.

Metro's policies are designed to make driving difficult. For most Portland-area families, driving isn't a choice — it's how they work, earn, and run a household.

For 35 years, Metro attempted to reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled within the Portland area. Performance measures show their 30-year goals were never met — so they extended the goal to 45 years. Same strategy, longer timeframe.

Since the early 1990s, Metro has attempted to reduce car-use around the Portland region. Performance measures show their 30-year goals were never met. So... they extended the timeline to 45 years. Now, they're advancing major, new transit projects on the same hopeful metrics.

New from Cascade: Metro passed a new Transportation Demand Management Strategy and advanced major transit projects — but John Charles is asking a simple question: where's the evidence any of this works? After 35 years of missed targets, Oregon deserves better than aspirational planning. Read the full article: bit.ly/4fcpK9C

@Giant_Herbs Good question.

@CascadePolicy About how many Oregonians actually feel represented by their politicians.

Oregon's tax system has been a topic of debate for years. 💬 We want to hear from you: What’s your take on Oregon’s tax policies? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s have a meaningful conversation.

@Giant_Herbs Agreed.

@CascadePolicy Tacks, was loved for its small business community & entrepreneurship. People liked that there were limited big box stores, & lots of quirky businesses to browse & hang out in. Our leadership has lost track of that vision. & in losing track of that, Oregon has suffered.

"Driving is not a luxury." For most Portland-area families, a car is essential to employment and running a household. Metro's answer is to make driving difficult — despite 35 years of evidence proving these strategies don't change behavior.

For 35 years, Cascade has stood for one simple but powerful idea: people thrive when they are free to choose. From education to transportation to economic freedom and local governance, we research, publish, and speak out on the issues shaping Oregon’s future with one goal in mind: A society where human potential is not limited by unnecessary barriers.

One legitimate concern in any tax and spending debate is whether government programs are helping people become more independent and upwardly mobile, or whether they unintentionally create long term dependency and discourage work, savings, marriage, or advancement. A healthy safety net should help people get back on their feet, not trap them in systems where earning more income can actually leave them worse off financially. That is a policy discussion worth having honestly, regardless of party politics.

We need to quit allowing government to use our tax dollars to enslave people via welfare programs (EBT, sec 8, welfare, childcare etc.) Each of these programs insure a majority of those using them vote D. The recipients of this money are warned that if they don't vote for the Dem they will lose their benefits. This has to be addressed.

Oregon already has one of the more heavily progressive tax structures in the country, with high income taxes concentrated on higher earners and significant business tax burdens layered throughout the system. The real question is whether continually raising taxes on investment, employers, and high earners is actually producing better outcomes for the broader public. Many Oregonians would argue it is not. At some point, policymakers have to confront a harder reality: you cannot build a durable economy by making the state steadily less competitive for the people and businesses generating jobs, investment, and tax revenue in the first place.

@CascadePolicy We need to avoid regressive taxes that disproportionately impact poorer Oregonians and instead tax businesses, estates, and wealthy Oregonians that are not contributing to the benefit of rural and frontier Oregonians, while also adequate funding to population centers.

That is one reason so many people distrust “temporary” fees and narrowly branded taxes. Once they are embedded into utility bills or automatic collection systems, they rarely go away and most taxpayers stop even noticing them. The concern is not just the dollar amount. It is the incentive structure. When government can create small permanent revenue streams with little visibility or accountability, there is less pressure to prioritize spending or prove results. If a program truly has strong public support, leaders should be willing to defend it transparently, justify the cost openly, and let voters evaluate it honestly instead of burying it inside monthly bills.

@CascadePolicy Embedding a fee forever in the water bill -- how will the citizens ever get out from under it? It becomes invisible. Or look at the Portland "Arts" Tax, another ad-hoc forever tax that has little financial transparency. If people want the arts, they should pay for it privately

If government is taking money from the public, taxpayers should not need a law degree to figure out what it’s called, where it goes, who controls it, and whether it actually solved anything. Too often “fees,” surcharges, assessments, and temporary levies become a way to avoid accountability while quietly growing the cost of government. Transparency should not be optional when it comes to taxpayer money.

@CascadePolicy Any and every tax should be called a tax, and not a fee, and it should be put to the voters. And there should be accountability and full transparency where the money goes, and when, and why. This should be public data and easy to find. Should be built into every tax proposal

A lot of people are looking for exactly this kind of reset: simpler taxes, fewer penalties on work and investment, and a government that focuses more on growth than redistribution. Predictable tax policy, reasonable regulation, and lower barriers to business formation do more to help working families long term than constantly expanding programs funded by higher taxes. Oregon already has the natural beauty, resources, and quality of life people want. The question is whether state policy helps families and employers build here or slowly pushes them elsewhere.

@CascadePolicy Move to a flat rate of 5%, match Federal AGI and deductions, get rid of death tax, make benefits harder to get for able bodied adults, deregulate. The state is naturally a great place to raise kids. Let’s make it easier on businesses and families.

That’s part of the frustration many rural Oregonians have carried for years. Oregon sits on enormous natural resources, yet policymakers often treat productive industries like a problem instead of an economic strength. Meanwhile taxpayers are told there is never enough money for roads, wildfire management, public safety, or basic infrastructure. Oregonians are paying more while watching the state underuse the very industries that once helped fund schools, counties, and local communities.

@CascadePolicy Over Taxed! Our money is wasted, and the state continues to taxes Oregonians more and more…. 🤬 While not utilizing the resources (Timber) we have as a state!

Exactly. Politicians talk like businesses and investment are trapped here with no other options. They are not. Capital moves. Employers move. Talent moves. And once they leave, the jobs, payroll, local spending, and tax revenue leave with them. You cannot build a strong economy by treating productive businesses like an ATM and then acting shocked when the tax base starts packing boxes for Idaho, Texas, or Arizona.

@CascadePolicy Biggest issue is that those setting the policies need to understand that business revenue and the tax it generates isn’t captive. Progressive tax policies that “tax the rich” and tax businesses at an excessive rate only cause a flight in the tax base. It’s a race to the bottom.

That’s what frustrates people most. Oregonians are paying premium prices for discount government. Higher taxes. Higher fees. Higher utility bills. Higher housing costs. Meanwhile roads crumble, basic maintenance gets deferred, public disorder grows, and taxpayers are told the solution is always another tax increase. At some point people start asking a fair question: where exactly is all the money going?

@CascadePolicy We the people are over taxed, while the city rots. Roads don't get fixed, bridges in need of repairs, city clean up needed desperately, and many of us can't afford half of what we need, the rent, and pge bills are too high, and many can't afford health insurance.