Ben Westlund's Record. It Ain't Pretty.
Voted Against Limits on Payday Loans.
Westlund voted against legislation to limit the crippling interest rates charged on payday loans. [2005 General Session, SB 545, Voice vote 5/31/05, Westlund - N]
Voted To Eliminate Cost of Living Increase to Minimum Wage.
Westlund voted to overrule the will of Oregon voters by eliminating annual cost of living adjustments to the Oregon minimum wage created under 2002's Measure 25. [2003 General Session, HB 2624, 4/1/2003, Third Reading, Westlund - Y]
Seal of Approval From Oregon's Leading Extremist Anti-Choice Group.
After Westlund was appointed to the Senate in 2003, Oregon Right to Life boasted of their role in the decision, crowing that Westlund "has a pro-life voting record." In 2005, he returned the favor by co-sponsoring three of their legislative priorities. [Ortl.org]
Alined himself with Oregon's extremist Christian right-wing group to permanently write blatant discrimination in the Oregon State Constitution.
Senator Westlund signed and paid for a voter's pamphlet statement of support in favor of Measure 36 in 2004, a measure which completely slammed the door on marriage and the family security that comes with it for thousands upon thousands of Oregonians. He stated (in part):
Voted in Favor of Bill Requiring a 24 Hour Delay and Biased Anti-Choice Information Before a Woman Could Receive an Abortion.
Westlund voted for legislation requiring that would have required women seeking an abortion to be given biased information regarding the procedure and then be delayed at least 24 hours before going ahead with the procedure. [2003 General Session, HB 2547, 3/27/03, Third Reading, Westlund - Y]
Voted to Double Logging in Tillamook & Clatsop State Forests.
Westlund voted to direct the State Forester to increase logging levels in the Tillamook & Clatsop state forests. The bill would have doubled the level of cutting, according to the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. [2003 General Session, HB 3632, 6/11/03, House Third Reading, Westlund - Y, OLCV Legislative Scorecard 2003]
Voted to Weaken The Endangered Species Act.
Westlund cast two votes to require the State Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider the economic and social impacts of protecting wildlife before listing animals as endangered species. The bill would have radically weakened the Oregon Endangered Species Act which currently lists endangered species based on biological status. [2001 General Session, HB 3981, 7/1/01, Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report, Motion to Repass, Westlund - Y, Y]
Voted Against Equality for Oregonians
In 1999, Senator Westlund voted for a House Resolution (HJR4) to "to establish that marriage may consist only of union of one male and one female".
Carried Budget Bill That Blocked Clean Car Initiative.
In 2005 Westlund was the floor carrier for the DEQ budget bill that included a Republicans amendment prohibiting the agency from implementing clean car emissions standards. Westlund voted for final passage of the legislation. [2005 General Session, HB 5135, 7/28/05, Carried by Westlund, Third Reading, Westlund - Y]
Progressive politics Ben? I can't even call this "middle of the road" politics.
- Jenn Stewart
Westlund voted against legislation to limit the crippling interest rates charged on payday loans. [2005 General Session, SB 545, Voice vote 5/31/05, Westlund - N]
Voted To Eliminate Cost of Living Increase to Minimum Wage.
Westlund voted to overrule the will of Oregon voters by eliminating annual cost of living adjustments to the Oregon minimum wage created under 2002's Measure 25. [2003 General Session, HB 2624, 4/1/2003, Third Reading, Westlund - Y]
Seal of Approval From Oregon's Leading Extremist Anti-Choice Group.
After Westlund was appointed to the Senate in 2003, Oregon Right to Life boasted of their role in the decision, crowing that Westlund "has a pro-life voting record." In 2005, he returned the favor by co-sponsoring three of their legislative priorities. [Ortl.org]
Alined himself with Oregon's extremist Christian right-wing group to permanently write blatant discrimination in the Oregon State Constitution.
Senator Westlund signed and paid for a voter's pamphlet statement of support in favor of Measure 36 in 2004, a measure which completely slammed the door on marriage and the family security that comes with it for thousands upon thousands of Oregonians. He stated (in part):
"While many people might expect me to break once again from my party and oppose Measure 36, they will be interested to know that I am a strong supporter of marriage being defined as being between one man and one woman.
Measure 36 is simple. If it passes, and I hope that it does, it will simply confirm what most of us thought already to be true-Marriage in Oregon is legally defined as being between one man and one woman. Of all our cultural institutions, few are more important and more worth protecting than marriage. Please, Vote Yes on 36."
Voted in Favor of Bill Requiring a 24 Hour Delay and Biased Anti-Choice Information Before a Woman Could Receive an Abortion.
Westlund voted for legislation requiring that would have required women seeking an abortion to be given biased information regarding the procedure and then be delayed at least 24 hours before going ahead with the procedure. [2003 General Session, HB 2547, 3/27/03, Third Reading, Westlund - Y]
Voted to Double Logging in Tillamook & Clatsop State Forests.
Westlund voted to direct the State Forester to increase logging levels in the Tillamook & Clatsop state forests. The bill would have doubled the level of cutting, according to the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. [2003 General Session, HB 3632, 6/11/03, House Third Reading, Westlund - Y, OLCV Legislative Scorecard 2003]
Voted to Weaken The Endangered Species Act.
Westlund cast two votes to require the State Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider the economic and social impacts of protecting wildlife before listing animals as endangered species. The bill would have radically weakened the Oregon Endangered Species Act which currently lists endangered species based on biological status. [2001 General Session, HB 3981, 7/1/01, Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report, Motion to Repass, Westlund - Y, Y]
Voted Against Equality for Oregonians
In 1999, Senator Westlund voted for a House Resolution (HJR4) to "to establish that marriage may consist only of union of one male and one female".
Carried Budget Bill That Blocked Clean Car Initiative.
In 2005 Westlund was the floor carrier for the DEQ budget bill that included a Republicans amendment prohibiting the agency from implementing clean car emissions standards. Westlund voted for final passage of the legislation. [2005 General Session, HB 5135, 7/28/05, Carried by Westlund, Third Reading, Westlund - Y]
Progressive politics Ben? I can't even call this "middle of the road" politics.
- Jenn Stewart
It think it's really sad that you find it necessary to spout the Governor's talking points and attack Westlund, who supported gays and lesbians last session. What's that they say about no good deed goes unpunished? What a shame.
By Gavin S., at 7/25/06, 9:22 AM
Unfortunately Ben is going to spoil this election. Even if he took 10 percent (which he polls at right now), there is a very good chance he will ruin it. If he could actually win that would be different. He's simply pulling more votes (about 80% more from D's than he is R's) which will mean a Saxton win and Saxton is not what Oregon needs. He is bad for Oregon
People need to realize that the 2006 governor's race is not between three people. It's between Kulongoski and Saxton. And that's the truth.
By Gavin S., at 7/25/06, 9:27 AM
And if you think using what you call "the talking points" is sad - they simply represent Westlund's voting record.
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