Portland City Council Testimony 3-10-10

My name is Richard Ellmyer. I am a candidate for the North Portland House seat.

Candidate for city commissioner Sam Adams acknowledged that you can’t make good public policy without good public data. He supported Equitable Distribution of Public Housing.

City commissioner Sam Adams twice asked HAP for statistical data, voted against a HAP nominee who opposed revealing HAP statistical data, supported mayor Potter’s announcement to gather HAP statistical data and, as mayor elect, instructed commissioner Fish to provide him with HAP’s Public Housing statistical data. In EVERY case Sam Adams FAILED to obtain the data and shrugged off the rebuffs to his authority. Adams failure to follow up on any of these efforts demonstrates his disingenuous and dishonest commitment to a public policy of Equitable Distribution of Public Housing.

Mayor Adams has the singular authority to nominate persons to the HAP board. Mayor Adams has never vetted a nominee with regard to the most important policy issue. Do they support Equitable Distribution or UNLIMITED neighborhood concentration of Public Housing? Mayor Adams has instructed his staff not to inform Richard Ellmyer of HAP nominations lest he embarrass the mayor with public testimony challenging the unvetted nominees.

"The study data shows 20 percent of Multnomah County children live in poverty, compared to just 11 percent of children in Washington County and 12 percent of Clackamas County children." http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=126765237912823900

1 in 18 residents of Multnomah county is a Public Housing client.

1 in 76 residents of Washington county is a Public Housing client.

1 in 84 residents of Clackamas county is a Public Housing client.

PUBLIC HOUSING IS A REGIONAL ISSUE. I have proposed that Metro administer the Housing Authorities of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties under a policy of Equitable Distribution of Public Housing throughout the region. Candidates for public office in these counties need to address this issue in their campaigns.

There is no such thing as a little bit pregnant. In America's past you were either for or against equal civil rights for all citizens, for or against a women's right to vote and for or against slavery. It is the same for Single Payer health care reform. You are either for it or against it. However, the American Federation of Teachers is trying to be both, an untenable position.

The AFT passed a resolution supporting Single Payer. The OSEA, Oregon School Employees Association does NOT support Single Payer. And yet, the AFT and the OSEA have united in a joint endorsement process for legislative candidates. With opposing views on the most important and contentious issue on the political agenda, one must ask, How can that be?

A questionnaire was sent to me and all other legislative candidates running in the May 18, 2010 primary. There wasn't a single question asking whether the candidates supported Single Payer? How could that be?

Every question was designed with a self-evident right answer. More of a tutorial than a test. So what is the point of asking? The theme, as in every special interest criteria practiced by Wall Street Banks, Health Insurance Companies etc. is the same, Will you promise to give us more of the limited state/federal resource pie? Business as usual in our American political process.

My question to AFT, why are you in bed with an organization that opposes Single Payer health care reform?

Should a health care bill finally emerge from congress it will not resolve America's/Oregon's moral and economic health care crisis. The battle for health care reform will rage on when the Oregon legislature reconvenes in January 2011. There MUST be at least one strong, loud, fearless voice representing Single Payer interests in our legislature in January 2011. That is the voice of Richard Ellmyer.

If elected to the North Portland House seat I will not only represent my district but ALL Oregonians that support Single Payer health care by:

1. Submitting my single payer Oregon Community Health Care bill, any single payer bill presented to me by a citizen of my district who votes in the May 18, 2010 primary and any single payer bill presented to me by any organization that supports my candidacy.

2. Submitting legislation that would repeal the 2009 legislature's 1% tax on health care premiums.

3. Submitting legislation that would repeal the illegitimate Billion dollar health care bill passed without input from Single Payer advocates.

4. Helping the lobbyists from Portland as well as Lane and Multnomah counties et. al. in their efforts to advance a Single Payer system.

5. Inviting leaders of a Single Payer health care solution to appear as my floor guests as often as possible.

6. Holding meetings, seminars, forums, town halls and whatever else can be done to bring Single Payer health care leaders and supporters to the state capitol for public conversations and debate.

7. Guiding whatever federal mandates on Oregon may emerge from a congressional health care bill towards a single payer solution.