In 2001-2003 Oregon's budget was $34 Billion:
32% for education
25% for social programs
12% for infrastructure
12% for administration
6% for public safety
13% for everything else
The 2025-27 budget was $140 Billion, over four times higher:
18% for education
45% for social programs
7.5% for infrastructure
14% for administration
5% for public safety
10.5% for everything else
Focus on the money they are giving away: In 2001-03, Oregon spent $8.5 Billion, 25% of its budget, on social programs. In 2025-27, they are spending $62.7 Billion, 45% of the budget on social programs. That is 7 times as much and almost half the budget on handouts. The “Healthier Oregon” portion of the OHP spends $1.3 Billion and offers free medical for illegal migrants. They spent $60,000 on “homeless services” per homeless person in 2024, and the homeless count rose anyway.
Oregon schools fell to the bottom of the US reading and math scores. To fix the poor graduation rates, they passed a law that students don’t need to prove proficiency to graduate.
This doesn’t seem like they are addressing poverty or poor education; they are building an empire of permanent dependency with themselves in charge . With that their campaign strategy is, “Vote for us or the Republicans will take away your benefits!”
Kotek can’t blame Oregon’s money troubles on Trump. Democrats have controlled Oregon politics this whole time, even as the Federal government has flipped party control 5 times!