Building Prosperity
Economic Justice & Tax Fairness for All
For too long, our economy has been tilted in favor of corporations and the ultra-rich. It's time to rebalance the scales.
Tax Fairness for Working Families
We will ask the wealthiest Oregonians to pay their fair share by creating truly progressive income tax brackets. We will close corporate loopholes and use the new revenue to alleviate the tax burden on working and middle-class families.
Empowering Oregon's Workers
We will establish a state-level Oregon Labor Relations Board (alternative to NLRB) to provide robust, state-level protections for unions and the right to organize.
An Oregon for All (UBI)
We will establish an Oregon Sovereign Wealth Fund, investing our state's resources to build a permanent fund for all Oregonians that can one day provide a Universal Basic Income.
Ending Predatory Practices
We will ban predatory lending and cap usurious interest rates. If lenders wish to do business in Oregon, they can do so without exploiting Oregonians.
Investing in Our Communities
We will support small family farms with state-sponsored grants to boost productivity and lower prices. We will launch innovative grant programs, modeled on successful initiatives like Tulsa Connect, to expand our tax base and spur local economic growth.
Debt Relief
We will fund a debt-buying program. Beginning with medical debt, we will expand to student loan debt, then credit card. If a TV host like John Oliver can waive the debt of thousands, there is no reason Oregonians can't do the same for each other. We cannot expect people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps if they are still paying off those boots on Klarna.
$25/Hour Minimum Wage
We will raise the minimum wage to match the original intention of minimum wage from the 1930s. While Oregon is already a leader for wages, working people know it isn't enough. We can support small/rural/niche businesses through expanded grant programs to ensure they can compete. Our State brings in nearly a third of a trillion dollars each year, we can afford to pay our folks what they deserve.
Housing as a Human Right
A safe, stable home is the foundation for a healthy life. We will treat housing as a fundamental human right, not a commodity.
A Renter's Bill of Rights
We must protect tenants from exploitation and instability. We will enact:
- An immediate four-year eviction moratorium to stabilize our communities.
- Legislation to tie rent increases to the rate of inflation.
- State-backing for tenant co-ops and buy-outs, including a right of first refusal for longtime tenants.
- A full repeal of the state ban on local rent control (ORS 91.225).
Ending Homelessness
We will implement a statewide "Housing First" policy to end homelessness, period. This proven, low-barrier model provides rent vouchers and comprehensive wrap-around services to get our neighbors off the streets and into stable housing.
Restoring & Respecting Tribal Sovereignty
We must move beyond words and into meaningful action to honor our trust and treaty responsibilities with Oregon's First Nations. This is a moral imperative.
Land Back
We will aggressively pursue a "Land Back" policy, working in partnership with all tribes in Oregon to restore their traditional lands and ensure they have the land base needed to re-establish their presence and self-governance.
A Seat at the Table
We will create a new, cabinet-level Office of First Nations to ensure all state action is in full consultation with tribal governments, regardless of federal recognition status.
State Recognition
We will grant full state recognition to all of Oregon's federally unrecognized tribes, ensuring they receive all benefits and respect accorded to sovereign nations.
Upholding Our Promises
We will enforce all tribal treaties at the state level and dramatically expand grants for language preservation, cultural revitalization, and sustainable development as defined by tribal leadership.
A World-Class Public Education, Pre-K to College
Every child deserves a world-class education, regardless of their zip code. We will invest in our students, our educators, and our future.
Fully Fund Our Schools
We will finally fund our K-12 schools to meet and exceed the Quality Education Model (QEM) standards.
Tuition-Free Higher Education
We will make all public universities, community colleges, and trade programs tuition-free for Oregon residents seeking a degree or trade certification.
Hands-On Learning
We will establish a greenhouse for every school district, linking education to nutrition, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
A Strong Social Safety Net for Healthy Communities
A strong society is one that cares for its most vulnerable. We will build a robust public safety net that ensures no Oregonian is left behind.
Ending Hunger
No one should go hungry or forgo medicine. We will establish a state-sponsored grocery option in every county to end food deserts. We will enhance state-level pharmaceutical production and pharmacies to make essential medicines affordable.
We will create a supplemental Oregon Food Card to enhance SNAP benefits beyond federal guidelines.
Security for Families
We will fund direct payments to families with children. Families thrive when they have the resources they need.
When families are forced to make decisions between food, shelter, medicine, clothing, etc., we see higher rates of domestic violence and civil unrest. For safer communities, we must lower the chances crime occurs in the first place.
A Secure Retirement
We will protect and increase PERS returns by working with the Treasurer to responsibly diversify the state's investment portfolio; ensuring a secure retirement for our public servants.
We will establish a separate pension system for private employees and self-employed folks.
Green Future & Sustainable Economy
We have a duty to protect our planet for future generations. We will lead the nation in sustainability and green innovation.
Sustainable Stewardship
We will modernize our logging and mining tax systems to reward sustainable producers, end destructive practices, and ensure our natural resources benefit all Oregonians.
Lead by Example
All public buildings will be required to have solar panels and rain catchment systems.
Responsible Innovation
We will proactively regulate the AI industry to mitigate its environmental impact, its effect on the workforce, and the unintended social consequences of its use.
Protecting Civil Rights & Human Dignity
Our government must be a shield for personal autonomy and a force for equity.
Confronting Our Past
We will launch a commission to study and implement a comprehensive reparations program for Black, Asian, and Indigenous Oregonians affected by our state's history of redlining, exclusion, exploitation, and genocide which will make direct payments within my term.
Protecting LGBTQ+ & Reproductive Rights
We will be a beacon for freedom and bodily autonomy. We will go beyond the Equal Rights Amendment, using it as the backbone for policy.
Attract Talent
We will launch initiatives to attract skilled folks of all kinds fleeing state violence in The United States. While other states punish providers for doing their job, we will welcome them to build a life here. We can do this without sacrificing jobs for Oregonians, it just takes funding.
Build on Our Progress
Oregon stands out as a leader for so many critical issues. On housing, climate, economic justice, and more we already have leaders working every day to progress these issues. We will bring these organizations into the halls of power.
We will:
- Ban all non-consensual surgeries on intersex children.
- Fully fund gender-affirming and reproductive care at the state level.
- Strengthen privacy protections, including sealing birth certificate changes.
- Work to remove sex/gender categories from state IDs and birth certificates.
Reimagining Public Safety & Justice
True public safety comes from strong, healthy, and healed communities—not from failed policies of mass incarceration.
A Justice System That Heals
We will move away from a system of punishment and toward one of rehabilitation. We will:
- Make the moratorium on the death penalty permanent by a referral to voters.
- Champion and fund restorative justice programs.
- Implement true bail reform to end wealth-based detention.
- Ensure living wages for incarcerated workers and provide robust community support and health equity upon re-entry.
Protecting All Oregonians
We will ensure all Oregonians are safe from harassment and intimidation. OSP will be directed to protect our residents and ensure any federal agency operating in our state follows the law, respects constitutional rights, and possesses a valid legal warrant. In Oregon, no one is above the law.
Police Departments who do not comply, or aid and abet illegal behavior, will be held accountable.
Police Accountability
In 2020, Austin was 1 of 7 municipalities which reduced police budgets as response to corrupt or inappropriate behavior by law enforcement. I was proud to author the recommendation from Austin's Human Rights Commission to lobby for this change.
Words matter, but actions matter more.
In order to heal the broken trust between marginalized communities and law enforcement, marginalized people need to know we will not be held to a higher standard than police. In Oregon, no one is above the law.
An Accountable, Modern Government
We will restore faith in our government by making it more transparent, responsive, and equitable.
A Government for the People
As governor, I will send legislative referrals directly to the voters to enact:
Equitable Kicker Reform
A Full-Time, Professional Legislature
Property Tax Reform
A Lottery That Works for Everyone
We will reform the Oregon Lottery to increase the number of winners at lower prize values, paired with free financial literacy education for all winners.
An Evolving Platform
Rabbi Fora believes in a government that truly represents its people. That's why this platform is a living document, constantly evolving to address the most pressing concerns of Oregonians.
In the coming months, Rabbi Fora will travel across the state, meeting with communities, listening to their stories, and incorporating their invaluable feedback directly into our vision for Oregon.
Your voice is crucial.
We invite you to share your ideas directly with Rabbi Fora.
paid for by friends of fora (PACID #XXXX)