Growing our Economy & Creating More Jobs

Oregonians are struggling during this economic recession and Salem has failed to address our state’s chronic unemployment.  Marvin supports providing incentives to companies that create jobs, revamping our tax structure to include a flat income tax and supports measures to reduce bureaucracy.

 

Quality Schools & Successful Students

All Oregon kids deserve a bright future.  Marvin wants to empower parents to be able to choose the best education for their children.  Marvin will maximize funding in the classroom while giving educators the resources they need to help our kids learn.

 

Public Safety

Drug and alcohol addiction is one of Oregon’s single most challenging expenses.  Marvin believes we can cut this rising cost by insisting on addiction treatment and total abstinence from substance abuse as a condition of parole or probation.

 

Make Government Transparent

Taxpayers need easy-to-access, accurate information about how much money they are paying in taxes and fees and how that money is being spent.  Marvin will support measures to make government in Oregon more transparent.

 

Reducing Congestion & Building More Roads

 Marvin believes more of our transportation dollars should be spent beginning the expansion of light rail in the I-5 corridor.  Marvin sits in the same traffic as you do and is resolute to change the priorities in Salem.

 

Keep Oregon Beautiful

All Oregonians deserve clean air and water.  Marvin is committed to cleaning up the Willamette River and believes by utilizing our high desert sun Oregon can become a leader in renewable energy and lower our energy costs.

 

PERS

The PERS obligation must be paid. We made a deal with our employees and we must honor it. The estimate is 40% of the General Fund budget. We cannot raise taxes, again. Taxes for Oregon’s economy are like a drug to an addict – they will only increase the need for more. We must find ways to pay this obligation within the current budget. Examine every agency and every function of state government and cut what we must; Do it now or do it later, when it’s more difficult, it must be done.

This upcoming PERS crisis is an opportunity for us to get our finances in order:

1st: The commitments made to the PERS participants must be paid; it is a deal we made and we honor our deals.

2nd: It is estimated at 40% of the General Fund Budget. Paying this obligation will force us to do some long overdue evaluating of programs that are expensive and not working – changes we must make.

3rd: We do it within the income we have now.