Oregon Dem Gov Kate Brown Betrays Promise of Transparency, Pushes For Tax Hikes

Oregon Democrat Governor Kate Brown continues to face bad press for betraying her promise of government transparency while pushing for massive tax hikes.

Last week, Brown came under fire by the Bend Bulletin for instructing her special pension panel to operate in “complete secrecy”. The panel is considering tens of millions in tax hikes.

Now, the Albany Democrat-Herald is weighing in, slamming Kate Brown for betraying her promise of government transparency.

“When Brown took office after the resignation of John Kitzhaber, she made a point of talking about working to rebuild trust in Oregon state government. One big way to do that, she said, would be to increase government transparency… But the governor too often has been too willing to hold vital discussions behind closed doors. That’s no way to build trust in government.”

Kate Brown’s decision to double down on secrecy comes as she pushes for a “hurry-up carbon tax” that could hurt working families.

The Bend Bulletin editorial board writes, “Gov. Kate Brown said earlier this summer that she wants to use the short 2018 legislative session to pass a carbon tax for Oregon.”

“Trying to impose a momentous change on the state in barely over a month — on top of all the other bills that the Legislature will be considering — invites a monumental policy flop.”

“It could make the $300 million Cover Oregon boondoggle look teeny.”

Tax hikes and broken promises – it’s just more of the same from Kate Brown.