Position: Secretary - Interior

Type of Appointment/Position: Presidential with Senate confirmation    

John Kitzhaber

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Nominee's Background: Kitzhaber first ran for public office in 1978 and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. In 1980 he was elected to the first of three terms in the Oregon Senate representing Douglas County and parts of Jackson County. He was elected Senate President in 1985 and served in that position until 1993. Kitzhaber was elected governor November 8, 1994, and was sworn into office January 9, 1995. He was re-elected on November 3, 1998 and inaugurated for a second term on January 11, 1999. As Senate President, Kitzhaber was recognized nationally for authoring the ground-breaking Oregon Health Plan. He is credited both with crafting the plan itself and for bringing together diverse interest groups to pass the law, which took effect in February 1994. Kitzhaber also received recognition for his many accomplishments in the field of environmental stewardship, including the prestigious Neuberger Award given by the Oregon Environmental Council. During his first term as governor, Kitzhaber oversaw the expansion of the Oregon Health Plan, which reduced the rate of uninsured Oregon children from 21 percent to eight percent. In addition, Kitzhaber's welfare reform plan, known as the Oregon Option, has reduced the number of welfare caseloads more than 50 percent, saved more than $200 million in the state budget, and helped nearly 20,000 Oregonians find work. Preserving Oregon's environment remains a priority for Kitzhaber, and during his first term he developed and implemented the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. This is a collaborative plan that encourages federal, state and local government agencies to work with private landowners to restore watershed health and recover endangered salmon species. Education and opportunity for Oregon's children also has been a centerpiece of Kitzhaber's administration. He has fought for stable education funding, implementing the Education Act for the 21st Century, increasing investment in Oregon's colleges and universities, including freezing tuition, and juvenile crime prevention. Nominating Speech: rugged progressive marlboro man To research this nominee, please look for them on the Wikipedia website or at Google.

Progressive Criteria: The Department of the Interior will Work to protect and extend the Commons, our nation's common heritage: public lands, air and water, biodiversity; Reverse the privatization of our public resources and stop the encroachment of commercial interests and polluting activities into our public lands; Acknowledge the absolute value of wilderness and the natural environment in an ever more crowded world; Support true economic development opportunities for Native Americans and work with tribal representatives to make sure that Native American resources are managed in an ethical, transparent and democratic manner.

• Still up in the air on possible arts forum with Chris Dudley and John Kitzhaber
  Chris Dudley and John Kitzhaber have yet to respond definitively to a request to participate in a public forum on arts and culture issues.
• John Kitzhaber's budget plan would put brakes on social service, prison spending
  The former governor, who's running for a third term, says the state must focus its dollars on prevention programs and on training people for better-paying jobs.
• Kitzhaber: Oregon worker bargaining will be tough
  Democratic governor candidate John Kitzhaber says there will be tough bargaining ahead with state employee unions and he proposed Tuesday to put Oregon school districts in the same position with their teacher unions. Oregon - John Kitzhaber - Democratic Party - Chris Dudley - United States
• Dudley Ducks Labor Day Debate
  It’s an American tradition for political candidates to show up at Labor Day picnics, and John Kitzhaber and Chris Dudley both upheld the tradition – but in different cities. Republican Dudley put in an appearance at a picnic in Bend sponsored by the Central Oregon Labor Council. His Democratic rival John Kitzhaber attended one put on by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council in Portland’s Oaks Park ...
• Kitzhaber unveils plan he hopes will fix Oregon's budget
  John Kitzhaber unveiled his plan to 'Rebuild and Reinvest in Oregon' Tuesday morning at the UO Portland Center in Northwest Portland.
• Kitzhaber budget would put education No. 1
  Democrat John Kitzhaber said Tuesday that he would emphasize education more, and social services and prisons less, under a set of budget priorities he would follow in a third term as governor.
• Kitzhaber Agrees to Make Tax Returns Public; Dudley Considering Same
  In the wake of questions about Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Dudley’s residency during his first stint playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, WW asked Dudley and Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Kitzhaber for their tax returns from 1994 through 1998. The issue is whether Dudley lived in Washington, which has no income tax, from 1994 to [...]
• Kitzhaber talks jobs, economy with KATU.com
  KATU.com invited both major gubernatorial candidates, John Kitzhaber and Chris Dudley, to discuss their ideas to get Oregon back on track with KATU News anchor Steve Dunn. Both accepted.
• Kitzhaber Unveils Oregon Budget Plan
  Democrat John Kitzhaber says there will be tough bargaining ahead with state employee unions over pay, pensions and health benefits -- and he proposes to put Oregon school districts in the same position with their teacher unions.
• Kitzhaber: State, unions face tough bargaining
  PORTLAND (AP) -- Democratic governor candidate John Kitzhaber says there will be tough bargaining ahead with state employee unions and he proposed Tuesday to put Oregon school districts in the same po