GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Senator Doug Whitsett is currently serving his second term in the Oregon State Senate representing Senate District 28 - Klamath, Lake, Crook and parts of Jackson and Deschutes counties, the second largest district in Oregon. Doug grew up on a small dairy farm in Powell Butte, OR. Doug received his Associates degree from Central Oregon Community College and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University. Doug is a past president of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and has been active with the Oregon Cattlemen's Association and served as past President of Water for Life. He has been active in Klamath Basin and state water issues. Doug is also a past president of the Klamath County Cattlemen's Association and the Lake County Veterinary Medical Association. Doug and his wife, Gail, currently own and operate two small farms in the Klamath Basin where they breed and raise European Warmblood Horses.
EXPERT WHO PUBLICLY CHALLENGED THE SCIENCE OF THE KLAMATH DAM REMOVAL LOSES HIS JOB — This story was first reported on I Spy here. Dr. Paul R. Houser is the whistleblower who was recently fired by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) for publicly expressing his concerns regarding the integrity of the science being [...]
The Endangered Species Act was intended to identify animal and plant life that is determined to be in peril of extinction and to recover those species. This original purpose was and remains a laudable goal. However, the Act has two fundamental flaws. The first is that no economic considerations are permitted to be included as [...]
Last week we reprinted Representative Dennis Richardson’s newsletter describing the most recent shortfall in projected state revenues. Richardson noted that Republicans anticipated this outcome and provided for a cushion that will help but may not be enough. Here we reprint Senator Doug Whitsett’s newsletter elaborating on why the state continues to be in financial difficulties: [...]
Last week Gail and I met with Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba and Assistant Director Dalton Hobbs in my Senate office. We talked about their recent trade mission to Pacific Rim countries and other Ag related topics for more than an hour. Agriculture is Oregon’s second leading industry. The more than $900 million [...]
Missed opportunities were an everyday occurrence during the 76th Legislative Assembly. Many Senate bills designed to improve Oregon’s business environment, and to encourage growth in private sector jobs, were not given the opportunity for a vote. It was disappointing, and more than a little upsetting, to watch the Democrat Senate leadership daily refuse to address [...]
We believe that more than 20,000 private sector family-wage jobs would be created by the passage of three bills currently stuck in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. It becomes less likely with each passing day that these bills will move because time is running out on this legislative session. To date, neither the [...]
