I would also regulate the insurance indus-
try in Oregon. I support legislation that would
require insurance companies to submit their
proposed rate increases to the Oregon
Insurance Commission. Business and con-
sumer interests would be represented on the
commission.
Are Democrats disappointed with
Kulongoski?
They are really flocking to have this
strong alternative voice. I’m not going to be
concerned about what corporate lobbyists
think about what I am saying. The kinds of
issues I represent are really the issues that
most Oregonians want for their government
and want out of their governor. It’s been a
very exciting thing for people to come up to
me and say, “Hey, I’ve heard about you.
You’re the guy that’s running for governor
that’s not the corporate candidate.”
Pugilist Populist Pete Sorenson
What do you think about the enterprise
zone tax break program?
It’s another example, it’s been a tax shift
over to the largest corporations that tend to
receive the biggest benefits. The [Eugene]
enterprise zone primarily benefited Hynix. I
was one of the no votes [on the County
Commission] because of my concern over
the tremendous shift in taxation.
This tax shift [concern] rises above such
things as a Republican/Democrat issue, a liber-
al/conservative issue, the way that we often talk
about Oregon politics. It gets to an issue of fair-
ness. People can recognize fairness or unfair-
ness when they see it. I will continue talking
about this massive tax shift because I think it
does separate me and clarify my public interest
orientation towards the job of governor.
The governor recently said he wouldn’t
push the lottery commission to dedicate
more video poker revenue to schools.
What do you think he
should have done?
I don’t think the lottery
commission rates were set
fairly. It was too heavily
favoring the bars and tav-
erns at the expense of
school children. In the
case of the Lane Transit
District board, the people
the governor appointed
basically forced a strike
over having the employees
eat the health insurance
costs. Both are examples
of where the governor
should have spoken out.
I would reduce the size
of the lottery. Kulongoski
opposed expanding the
lottery as attorney general
and now promotes the
most addictive forms of
gambling.
A growing chunk of the
state budget is going to
prisons. What do you
think of talk of reform-
ing Measure 11’s long
mandatory sentences?
APRIL 14, 2005 13