State of Oregon Archives: on Technology
Bud Pierce:
Public transit ok, but future is autonomous drive vehicles
Q: What would you do to ensure that transportation options are safe, affordable, accessible, dependable, and user friendly?William (Bud) Pierce: We need large investments in transportation infrastructure to improve our mobility. In addition to a
gradual increase in fees/gas tax for those who use the roads, we should consider the use of bonds and private capital as potential sources of capital. While public transportation is important, I believe that our future lies with autonomous drive
vehicles, which will be especially useful for seniors in terms of maintaining the ability to travel freely. Programs which directly assist disabled seniors with transportation remain important. Subsidies to assist poor seniors must be in place
Kate
Brown: Oregon faces tremendous challenges with aging transportation infrastructure and mind-numbing traffic. I am committed to passing a transportation package in 2017 that addresses Portland-area congestion; expands transit; and makes seismic upgrades.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2016 Oregon Gubernatorial race
Oct 31, 2016
Casey Kulla:
Increase telemedicine by improving high-speed internet
Oregonians should be able to access healthcare. For some people, the absence of medical providers is the barrier, while for other Oregonians, the cost of health insurance or the cost of care is the barrier.
The pandemic has been a disaster for Oregonians, but it has also reduced the barriers to medical provider access with telemedicine; we can lower the barrier further by improving reliability and affordability of high-speed internet.
Source: 2021 OR Governor campaign website KullaForOregon.com
Aug 30, 2021
Jason Beebe:
Local Facebook expansion means tech and trade jobs
Facebook announced that it will add two new buildings to its campus in Prineville. "This latest investment into their site in Prineville is a continuation of the great partner they are for the City and the community," Beebe said. "The technical jobs
that come with expansions like these are great, but there is not as much focus on the jobs that are created from the trade industries. Plumbers, electricians, construction workers, and many more trades are in high demand at sites like Facebook's."
Source: Capital Press on 2022 Oregon Senate race
Mar 19, 2021
Kate Brown:
Expand public transit to ease traffic congestion
Q: What would you do to ensure that transportation options are safe, affordable, accessible, dependable, and user friendly?Kate Brown: Communities in every region of Oregon are facing tremendous challenges with aging transportation infrastructure and
mind-numbing traffic. I am committed to passing a transportation package in 2017 that:
- Addresses Portland-area congestion. It impacts all regions of the state and contributes to higher costs to Oregon businesses.
- Expand transit. It can ease
congestion and meet the needs of Oregonians. Every community around the state is asking for this.
- Make seismic upgrades. We must prepare Oregon for the inevitability of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.
William (Bud) Pierce: We need large
investments in transportation infrastructure to improve our mobility [via] a gradual increase in fees/gas tax for those who use the roads. While public transportation is important, I believe that our future lies with autonomous drive vehicles.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2016 Oregon Gubernatorial race
Oct 31, 2016
Knute Buehler:
Funding transit by payroll tax is unfair and bad policy
[On transit funding]: "I believe Oregon is overdue to improve our transportation infrastructure but this plan is the wrong way to do it. I'm strongly opposed to a new 'Tesla Tax' to subsidize electric cars for a privileged few. Further, a new payroll
tax which will reduce the take-home pay of working Oregonians, to fund transit in a few communities is unfair and bad policy. I have concerns about how billions of dollars will be spent by an agency which still lacks accountability and transparency."
Source: KTVZ on 2018 Oregon Governor race
Jul 5, 2017
Ron Wyden:
Limit taxes on Internet-based companies
The economy dominated the bulk of the debate, as the panelists asked a number of questions about the Wall Street bank and auto company bailouts at the beginning of the Great Recession.Wyden voted against the Wall Street bailout and said he favors the
federal government ending tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas. He also supports limiting taxes on Internet-based companies.
Huffman argued that these proposals are too small when the country faces double-digit unemployment and a terribly
slow recovery. He said Wyden's great mistake was voting for the stimulus bill because those funds will never be returned to taxpayers.
At one point, Wyden was shown a television ad he supported that claimed Huffman defended the Wall
Street bailout and believes in privatizing Social Security. When asked to comment on the negative ad, Wyden said it was the exception and not the rule of his campaign to run such an ad.
Huffman said the ad was full of lies and half-truths.
Source: Mail Tribune coverage of 2010 Oregon Senate debate
Oct 22, 2010
Tate Reeves:
$100 million in statewide broadband expansion
Access to the internet is an essential service just like our electricity. Our kids need it to participate in class, our businesses need it to connect to customers, and our communities rely on it to provide services to their people. My budget invests
over $100 million in broadband expansion statewide, with a focus on providing access to communities that have been disproportionately impacted during the pandemic, and ensuring every single school across Oregon is connected to the internet.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Oregon legislature
Jan 21, 2021
Tate Reeves:
Broadband expansion could mend the urban rural divide
This could be a bridge that helps Oregon mend the urban rural divide. And the disparities in access aren't just a problem here, but across the country.
The Biden-Harris administration can help unite this unnecessary division, especially in the west, by providing federal funding for broadband expansion.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Oregon legislature
Jan 21, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026