State Senator Alan DeBoer is operating well below his skill level.
He is mature, accomplished, and prosperous. He should be good at this. He knows what he thinks, yet does the opposite. Strange.
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| Field Report: State Senator Alan DeBoer |
Today we look at how he dealt with the tax issue.
Alan DeBoer had an opportunity to clear up some confusion on Measure 101, a tax issue that will be on the ballot for Oregon voters in late January. The Oregon Legislature voted a bill to generate the money that would serve as the match for a much greater amount of federal money. They money would help fund the Oregon Health Plan, the local name for Oregon's Medicaid program. As a newly elected State Senator, DeBoer supported the tax plan, which makes sense given his political orientation as a "good government" Republican with a record of supporting public services. (He has been an Ashland mayor, on a school board, a leader in protecting and growing the YMCA, the Historical Society, the Transit system and other civic institutions.)
The plan is a 1.5% tax on revenues, to be paid by health insurers, and a .7% tax on providers. The providers themselves favor the tax.
Why would anyone like being taxed?
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| DeBoer |
The plan is a 1.5% tax on revenues, to be paid by health insurers, and a .7% tax on providers. The providers themselves favor the tax.
Why would anyone like being taxed?
Because the money it raises gets matched several times over by the federal government, then comes back to them.
It mean hundreds of thousands more Oregonians will get health care. It means that local hospitals will get reimbursed for providing emergency care, rather than providing care to uninsured people which gets written off as uncollectible. Without it, Oregon hospitals bleed money, which they were doing prior to the ACA. Expanded Medicaid plugs that hole. It brings money into Oregon and pays for itself.
Non-partisan ballot explanation here: Explanation by Ballotpedia
It mean hundreds of thousands more Oregonians will get health care. It means that local hospitals will get reimbursed for providing emergency care, rather than providing care to uninsured people which gets written off as uncollectible. Without it, Oregon hospitals bleed money, which they were doing prior to the ACA. Expanded Medicaid plugs that hole. It brings money into Oregon and pays for itself.
Non-partisan ballot explanation here: Explanation by Ballotpedia
Alan DeBoer explained the complexities and background of the initiative on the January ballot, but left out the important thing: clearly saying that he planned to vote yes and thought his audience should as well because it would bring money into Oregon, protect Oregon jobs, provide healthcare for vulnerable people, and keep our hospitals financially sound.
He believes that. He understands that. He had an opportunity to lead and advocate.
It is part of a pattern for DeBoer on this issue.
He believes that. He understands that. He had an opportunity to lead and advocate.
It is part of a pattern for DeBoer on this issue.
In the legislature he actually voted "no" on the tax. He supported the legislation, but voted no. He explained after the vote in the legislature that he saw it was going to pass thanks to other Republican votes, and since his vote wasn't needed to tip the outcome in the direction he wanted, he voted against the outcome he wanted. (Say, what? Yes. Really.)
He explained that by voting "no" he hoped he got some credibility points as a team player with opponents of the tax. His no vote suggests faux solidarity with a team, and it games the voting record score-card system.
He explained that by voting "no" he hoped he got some credibility points as a team player with opponents of the tax. His no vote suggests faux solidarity with a team, and it games the voting record score-card system.
It is difficult to explain why a person as accomplished as DeBoer is in other avenues of life (business, civil leadership, trade associations, philanthropy) can be so weak in messaging on this issue. One theory is that he is misplaced as a Republican, and he feels an obligation to his party to play a role he doesn't fully believe, so he does it reluctantly, inconsistently. Another theory is that he is, at bottom, a conflict-avoider in the wrong job, hoping to split differences.
It doesn't make sense. DeBoer is operating well below his skill level.
He represents a Senate district that has a strong Democratic lean. He showed promise as someone who could represent his district well, a Republican in a Democratic district, but now he appears more vulnerable. Democratic candidates are lining up. He is handing them an issue that undermines his greatest asset, his reputation for being a mature, accomplished leader.
He is weakening his own brand. It is unnecessary and self inflicted.
Tomorrow: Marijuana. How Senator DeBoer handled that one.
It doesn't make sense. DeBoer is operating well below his skill level.
He represents a Senate district that has a strong Democratic lean. He showed promise as someone who could represent his district well, a Republican in a Democratic district, but now he appears more vulnerable. Democratic candidates are lining up. He is handing them an issue that undermines his greatest asset, his reputation for being a mature, accomplished leader.
He is weakening his own brand. It is unnecessary and self inflicted.
Tomorrow: Marijuana. How Senator DeBoer handled that one.
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