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Another idea to improve the economy, and one that no one has raised, is to figure out a way to help people who were hurt by the economy in the last 2 years to the extent that they had to declare bankruptcy, or had a loan foreclosed on, or maybe were even just late or unable to pay some bills. I had all of these happen to me because when the construction industry tanked in 2007-2008, my work load dramatically reduced. Now I cannot get a $5,000 loan for a car worth $6,800, low Blue Book. It doesn't matter that my credit score was in the mid to high 700s for years. I also can't get a line of credit, a business bank card, or even a personal visa. If I can't buy anything, a cheap car, etc., or build my business, how can I contribute to improving the economy? I would like to see the new Governor focus on a way that the state could help people like me.

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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It's easy to attack BETC but it actually does influence developers to build more energy efficient buildings. I am not clear on all of what happened with respect to the mis-spending of BETC money but I do not think it should be eliminated, just better managed. Also, Dr. Kitzhaber's idea of creating jobs by focusing on energy conservation in schools is a little specious as this is already being done by the Oregon Department of Energy fairly. However, Chris Dudley's response to cut the capital gains tax is even more specious. If either of them want to save the citizens of Oregon some real money they should take a real close look at the Energy Trust of Oregon, a top heavy, truly beaureaucratic organization that is supposedly the "watch dog" of the Oregon utility rate payer's money that is spent on energy conservation. There are approximately 200 employees at the ETO, none of whom do any actualy work other than manage another layer of people, over 300 at PECI, their Program Management Contractor for their Business Program alone, who then distribute the money to the people who do the work. How is this better than letting the utilities run the programs, as they used to do quite well?

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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