Legislative Reforms - Will increase pay of senators and representatives to $80,000 (currently is 35,000), and require them to be in session for 200 business days a year ( currently 95 days on average). This should create a better environment that will allow senators and representatives to fully dedicate themselves to their jobs and work to the best of their ability. The current salary of $35,000 makes it so senators and representatives often seek other sources of income while not in session, and means they are able to give their full attention to their duties. It also means people who already have money are more attracted to the position, as they are not dependent on the state salary. Increasing pay will create more competition as more people may run when the pay is higher. Requirement of maintaining a residence in the district you were elected from will also be removed for incumbents. New duties will also be assigned to senators and representatives. Each agency will have at least 2 senators/representatives assigned to budget oversight. Ideally, the senators/representatives are from different parties to help double check analysis from different perspectives. The schedule of the legislature will also be reorganized. Monday- Tuesday will be dedicated to committee meetings, Wednesday-Thursday will be dedicated to budget oversight and office hours, Friday will be dedicated to legislative sessions. This schedule, I believe, is better organized than the current one and will enable senators and representatives to use their time more efficiently. Will use emergency sessions to require 200 day years in the short term, before amending the constitution.
Renewable Energy - Will increase funding for renewable energy projects, as well as ensure current spending is being used efficiently. Renewable energy projects will be in republican controlled districts, as these have the most energy potential anyway.
Wildfire Prevention - I will work on two different solutions. One, a heavy-duty sprinkler system that runs through Oregon’s forests. Two, GMO trees that are fire resistant.
The first solution is the construction of a sprinkler system throughout Oregon’s forests, and other areas of Oregon that are vulnerable to wildfire. The sprinkler system will be made up of heavy-duty pipes. The sprinkler system will be built on a grid like system, possibly following natural fire breaks. Water will be pumped from nearby lakes, or other bodies of water. Ideally a large grid of pipes will first be completed, with the grid then slowly being filled in becoming tighter and closer together. For example first a 40 by 40 mile grid will be completed, and then more piping will be added in cutting the distance in half so it will be 20 by 20 and so on. The sprinklers will be able to be turned on in sections throughout the grid, so in the case of a wildfire sprinklers strictly in the area will be turned on. The sprinklers won’t necessarily put all fires out immediately, but will stop them from spreading. Sprinkler systems that are strictly built around the outskirts of cities could also be built. The exact design of the sprinkler system will have to be decided upon. Two possible designs include an above ground system and an on ground system. An above ground system has the advantage of being able to reach the tree tops easier where fires sometimes jump from tree to tree. It would also be able to spray more mist in the air helping prevent sparks from floating over sprinklers. One danger to the sprinkler system is trees falling on the pipes. The design should take this into account. Different sections should be able to be shut off in case of damage. Guard rails could be put on the pipes so trees don’t fall directly on them, guard rails would essentially absorb the impact from the fall of a tree. The costs of a project will have to be determined before moving forward, as it may be fairly expensive.
The second research project will be for the design of GMO trees that are fire resistant, specifically Oregon’s most profitable tree the Douglas Fir. GMO trees have already shown to be able to grow up to 30% faster, sequester carbon at higher rates, and be immune to disease. Faster growing trees are not only more profitable for the forestry industry but they are also less prone to igniting as they grow through their early stages of life quicker which is when they are most vulnerable to fire. Disease free trees would also increase the profitably of the forestry industry as they don’t die as easily, and the industry will have more trees to cut. Further advances could be made to make trees more fire resistant, including making trees more drought tolerant and able to store water longer. Trees such as the Mediterranean Cypress have shown to be more fire resistant due these features. Different types of bark have also shown to make trees more fire resistant, due to thickness, water content, and having less resin. Trees such as the Redwood have shown to be more fire resistant due to these features. GMO trees could also help protect old growth forests as the forestry industry could focus its logging on GMO trees that grow back quicker, don’t die of disease, and don’t burn. Tree farms could be grown in Eastern Oregon where there is great potential for afforestation due the forests having lower tree density. Oregon is home to the world’s leading GMO tree designer Steven Strauss of Oregon State University. Under his guidance GMO trees could be designed.
Estimated Savings: Fires in Oregon have cost up to $500 million annually to fight in recent years, and caused over $1 billion in damage in Oregon in some years. Indirect economic costs are unaccounted for and may further increase these figures.
Regulating Car Mechanics - There are two ways to potentially regulate car mechanics to ensure they are doing quality work and not over-recommending repairs. Thie first way is to keep track of the rate of recommendations of each auto body shop, and potentially each mechanic. This can be done by having the auto body shops file all recommendations they make with the state. This can easily be done by having a computer program, with an email foreach auto body. When the mechanic is done inspecting a vehicle and preparing their list of recommendations, within the auto body shops computer program there can be a file button, and the reports will be submitted. A few other buttons can be intergrated into the autobody shops computer program as well, including total recommendations, type of car, and year of the car, which the shops will fill out and submit. This way the rates can be calculated automatically by a computer, and the rates can be weighted based on the type of car and year, as some cars need more repairs. All the rates will then be posted on a website. A second way to regulate car mechanics is by having specific standards as far as when you can make a recommendation, there must be certain symptoms that are occurring.
Requiring Microwaves and Fridges in every hotel room - Will require microwaves and fridges in every hotel room. Will eliminate 30 day tenant rights for hotels, so occupants can stay longer.
Trimet Reforms - I have several reforms to help increase the efficiency of trimet, as well as new buslines. The 2024 trimet budget was around $1.9 billion. Not including beginning and ending fund balance the budget was around $1 billion. About $700 million of this goes to operation costs, personel, and supplies, about $230 went to capital investments, while about $70 million went to debt servicing.1 There is currently around 1.2 million trips made a week and 58 million a year.2 This equates to a real cost of $17.5 a trip. Currently Trimet is primarily funded by taxes with only about $50 million coming from ticket sales, and $15 million more from other sales.3 General Reforms are as follows...
Decrease Route Frequency - Ensuring supply and demand meet properly will decrease cost of trimet. Decreasing frequency to around 20 minutes can decrease costs and ensure busses are full.
Larger buses - During busier hours, larger buses can be used. This is a more efficient way of transporting more customers, versus having more frequent arrivals with smaller buses. The main cost of operating a bus is the driver, and the oil. The costs are about half and half for a normal trimet bus I estimate. If you decrease frequency costs are going to be cut by that amount. If you increase the size of a bus the savings from using less gas may be eliminated, as they have lower gas mileage, but the savings from using less drivers are still there, creating an overall decrease in costs. During less busy hours if routes have very few riders but it is not very reasonable to decrease frequency, small buses could potentially be used as well, which will increase efficiency due to using less gas.
Less Bus Stops - Eliminating bus stops can increase the efficiency of a bus route. Every time a bus stops it takes 30-60 seconds to slow down, stop, and then get back up to speed. Extra stops means a longer traveling time for riders, extra oil being used, and more bus drivers to pay as routes are longer. Currently stops are around every 2 blocks, if we decrease this to every 4 blocks we can increase bus route efficiency while still serving customers effectively.
Bus Stops After Intersections - Currently many bus stops are before intersections. This decreases efficiency of a route as buses often have to stop more. If a light is green they have to stop to pick up riders, then when the bus is full the light may be red and they have to wait to start moving again. If bus stops are after intersections, a bus will only have to unnecessarily stop if lights are red when they get to the intersection. Since new bus stops would have to be built it would be best to just test this on a single route first, and measure the costs of construction and increase in efficiency. This will also make it easier for cars to turn right, as they wont be as likely to be stuck behind a bus.
Integrating Traffic Lights With Bus Routes - I believe they have started to do this on Division. But essentially if bus drivers, or a computer can signal a traffic light to change when a bus is approaching a light, buses will never have to stop at a red light. Having bus stops after the intersection will help make this easier.
Buses With Greater Acceleration - Buses with greater acceleration could increase efficiency of trips. Tesla has buses and trucks that have great acceleration capabilities, possibly these buses could be tested.
Autonomous Buses - Potentially all buses could be driverless and run by robots. This would greatly decrease operations costs as we wouldn't have to pay for drivers.
Free Trimet - Currently ticket sales only fund 5% of Trimet's budget of $1 billion. A free Trimet system would not be very expensive, and could cost nothing if we increase efficiency in other areas. Free Trimet may have various benefits including increased ridership, which would increase overall cost efficiency. Less traffic if people use the bus more. With autonomous buses it would be difficult to police who has paid, making Trimet free might be necessary if we make this investment. Free Trimet may also increase boarding efficiency, as paying for tickets can take time, and boarders have to strictly use the front door.
Security - Security currently is estimated to cost $50 million,4 most security on trimet is just for show and doesn't really have any effect, I plan on trimming this up. Police will begin to have a presence on the light rail as they do drug raids, and will help keep things orderly.
New BusLines - Maps of new bus lines can be found HERE and directions HERE
Require Free Tire Inflators at Gas Pumps - In order to make it easier to fill tires with air, free tire inflators will be installed at every gas pump so customers can fill their tires while filling their cars with gas.
Make Ashwagandha and Fish Oil - Both can have negative impacts on the brain.
Eliminate Oregon Saves – A stupid policy.
Eliminate business renewal fees - Random Expense.
Ballot Initiatives - Will restrict ballot initiatives to 3000 words. Often times, initiatives are very lengthy and written unclearly. Restricting word count of the measures should increase clarity of the bill. All initiatives are supposed to be one subject, so this should never be an issue.
All lawsuits against state government, county government, city governments will be listed publicly - This way governor can overturn courts cases as they feel is necessary.
Bill Communication = Every bill proposed should have a contact phone number or email attached to it, so state reps and senators, governor can contact the author written if they have questions.
Electric Vehicle Chargers - Will analyze the cost of install electric vehicle chargers at restaurants and hotels (natural resting places) near freeway entrances and exits throughout oregon.
DMV Reforms - Will work on eliminating renewing vehicle registration fees, and make title transfer process more efficient.
Public Records - All personal information will be removed from public records besides names, with exceptions made by police and legislature, for examples sexual offender lists.
Electric Vehicle Chargers - Will examine the costs of building electric vehicle chargers at restaurants and hotels around the freeway exits in Oregon.
Lights on Freeways - Will examine designs and costs of isntalling more loghting on freeway, o people can drive safely at night.
1 Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget - TriMet. (Page 7,40) Retrieved from https://trimet.org/budget/pdf/2025-adopted-budget.pdf
2 Riding and Performance Statistics. Retrieved from https://trimet.org/about/performance.html
3 Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget - TriMet. (Page 41) Retrieved from https://trimet.org/budget/pdf/2025-adopted-budget.pdf
4 Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget - TriMet. (Page 132) Retrieved from https://trimet.org/budget/pdf/2025-adopted-budget.pdf