The Daily Signal Fighting to Bring Conservative Common Sense to Liberal States
Aug 26, 2025
John Charles, leader of the Cascade Policy Institute, and Zilvinas Silenas, head of the Empire Center, share insights on fighting for conservative principles in liberal states. They discuss Oregon's transportation woes, highlighting the effects of mismanagement and restrictive land use. In New York, concerns about socialist governance arise, particularly regarding affordable living versus climate initiatives. They also critique government-run grocery stores and the challenges of establishing charter schools, advocating for educational reform and school choice as solutions.
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Revenue Earmarks Can Starve Maintenance
- Oregon directed growing transportation revenues into capital projects, leaving maintenance underfunded.
- Bond debt service now consumes a large share of gas-tax receipts and limits future spending flexibility.
Shift Funds To Maintenance And Pay Debt
- Give agencies more flexibility to spend on maintenance rather than locking funds into capital projects.
- Pay down DOT bond liabilities from general sources like lottery funds instead of raising new gas taxes.
Politics Is Cyclical — Prepare For Shifts
- Political majorities shift over decades, so policy influence is cyclical and reversible.
- John Charles expects a political reckoning («Biden debate moment») to create openings for conservative ideas in Oregon.