01/20/2023
VOTE: NO – Died in Committee
Status (overview) of bill:https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB2738
This bill requires Department of Human Services to study and recommend how to implement a guaranteed income program in this state.
The bill states that it is interested in “a program that provides an unrestricted and unconditional cash payment to individuals who are members of a targeted population to meet basic needs…” That means these “unrestricted” and “unconditional” funds could offset expenses in order to buy more alcohol, fentanyl, meth, heroin, cryptocurrency, online gambling, video poker and so forth. Oregon is a top addiction state on many levels.
Sponsor claims that a guaranteed income will have positive health outcomes, boost employment, and improve economic security. Despite the 100 pilots across the U.S. they cannot prove that a handout will change character. That’s why there is an application process, much like a welfare program, targeting the disabled, foster teens, early released prisoners, and those needing a handout in hopes they will rotate out of the program. If welfare handouts didn’t work, why would an identical program under a different name provide better results?
This is pure redistribution of wealth – more than socialism. It is aimed to interfere with local charities promoting a dependency on government.
This is not the first attempt to give cash to our lowest income brackets at taxpayer expense. They tried it last session to fund $750/month handouts to low-income individuals. This type of agenda further deteriorates the economy and stability of our state.
Comments
GLENN STUTZMAN says:
January 20, 2023 at 4:02 pm
The term “members of a targeted population” is not defined. This is wide open to reparations and buying more imported welfare people.
What’s the buzz?