Former Portland Trailblazer Chris Dudley is running for Oregon governor, as a Republican. Having voted in only seven of the last thirteen elections, Dudley's new interest in government is, well, new. And like most new Republican wannabe politicians, his first issues statement is, well, not new. It is, in fact, Republican boilerplate.
The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes:
"We have no choice but to make cuts going forward," said Dudley, noting that the state faces a shortfall of some $2.5 billion in the next budget. "We are going to have rein in spending."
In an interview, Dudley declined to name any cuts in major services provided by the state, saying only "we're going to have to look at the amount of employees we have and the amount of compensation we're paying."
Budget cuts. Unspecified budget cuts. Fewer state employees, and less pay for those that remain. Government is bad and must be cut. And what of those that depend on government?
Of course, Republicans have a long record proving that those who don't believe in government do a lousy job of governing. Particularly celebrity Republicans.
Dudley said he thinks the state could reduce income taxes for capital gains without causing big budget losses because it could encourage more investment in the state.
And with those budget cuts, how about a nice round of tax cuts. Capital gains taxes. Which tend to apply to people with capital to gain. In other words, tax cuts for the wealthy. How very Republican. And we all know how well the Friedman/Reagan/Bush model works.
Dudley said he also wanted to look at reducing Oregon's personal income tax rates -- among the highest in the country -- but he said that was something to look at more seriously "down the road."
Oregon has such a high income tax rate because we have no sales tax. Which is part of the beauty of Oregon. Income taxes are progressive. The wealthier pay a higher percentage. Sales taxes are regressive. They disproportionally impact those with less money. Does there seem to be a theme, here? As in Dudley favors the rich over the less wealthy? Does Dudley sound like a typical Republican?
Dudley also championed other traditional Republican themes by saying he wants to increase the timber cut in the state forests and revamp the state's land-use controls to give more flexibility to rural areas and to ensure there is room for business expansion.
In other words, more clearcutting of old growth forests, and less constraints on the ways people can destroy the land for profit. Give the man credit. His lack of interest in politics was genuine. He doesn't care to use government to help people or the state, he only wants to use it to help people in his own financial demographic. A perfect new Republican.
Chris Dudley. Republican. Good for the wealthy. Bad for the less wealthy. Good for rapacious industries. Bad for the environment. Sounds like a candidate the Republican base can get behind.