Oregon Discussion

Oregon’s Department of Human Services (DHS) now commands over $22 billion every two years. But with that size comes dysfunction.

In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., host Senator Daniel Bonham is joined by Senator Diane Linthicum, Rep. Ed Diehl, and analyst Alex Lopez to examine whether DHS is still serving Oregonians—or just expanding itself.

🎯 Topics covered:

• 14.2% budget increase while rural Oregon is still ignored
• 62,000 pages of regulation confusing providers and families
• Millions in DEI spending, lawsuits, and leadership bloat
• A billion spent on non-citizen coverage, while veterans wait
• $155M unionization effort with zero added caregivers
• A foster care system failing kids while spending skyrockets

Lawmakers ask: Is this about people—or policy gone rogue?

🎧 Full episode + links at oregondoge.com

In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., lawmakers dig into one of Oregon’s most powerful and controversial agencies: the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Senator Daniel Bonham, Rep. Greg Smith, and Senator David Brock Smith walk through:

• DEQ’s $800M+ budget, with 42% based on regulatory fees
• 8,200+ pages of rules, many created without legislative approval
• A federal DEI lawsuit that could cost Oregon millions
• How DEQ’s policies drive up energy, construction, and consumer costs
• Oregon’s Climate Protection Program, and the nonprofit funneling climate money with ties to political activism

Whether it’s zero-emission mandates, shrinking business incentives, or runaway bureaucracy, lawmakers ask: Who’s holding DEQ accountable?

🎧 Listen now and learn more at oregondoge.com

In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., host Sen. Daniel Bonham sits down with fellow Republican lawmakers from across the state for a candid conversation about their lives, values, and legislative goals.

Guests include:

• Sen. Diane Linthicum
• Sen. Todd Nash
• Sen. Noah Robinson
• Sen. David Brock Smith
• Sen. Mike McLane
• Sen. Bruce Starr

Topics covered:

• Why these senators stepped into public service
• The emotional toll of leadership and personal loss
• Budget battles, regulatory overreach, and federal funding cliffs
• Portland’s decline, rural Oregon’s frustrations, and what comes next

Whether you’re tuned in for policy or personality, this episode will give you a deeper understanding of the people trying to move Oregon forward.

🎧 Listen now at oregondoge.com

Is Oregon’s healthcare system helping people, or just burning cash?

In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., we dive into the Oregon Health Authority’s surging $39B budget, bureaucratic bloat, and scandals involving misused mental health grants, stalled patient care, and lawsuits from counties.

Topics include:

• A $1B program for undocumented care
• OHA’s 256-person, $55M Equity Division
• Patients are being asked for $4K upfront despite having insurance
• Why Oregon ranks last in hospital beds per capita
• Nurses paid top-3 nationwide—but staffing remains blocked
• State and county lawsuits over addiction funding

With guests Senator Suzanne Weber and Rep. Ed Diehl, this episode is a wake-up call about transparency, priorities, and the future of healthcare in Oregon.

🎧 Listen now and explore more at oregondoge.com

In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., Senators Daniel Bonham and Mike McLane tackle the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), one of Oregon’s most powerful and expensive state agencies. With ballooning budgets, case backlogs, and rising controversy, lawmakers ask: Is BOLI serving Oregonians or just expanding? We also dive into the political and financial implications of prevailing wage laws, nonprofit housing projects, and policy-driven cost increases that are pushing young Oregonians out of the state. Tune in for straight talk on accountability, affordability, and the future of public agencies in Oregon.

Oregon’s roads are failing—but the Department of Transportation says they need more money. In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., Senators Daniel Bonham and Bruce Starr and Representative Shelly Boshart Davis expose the truth behind ODOT’s $6 billion budget, the $1.1 billion “forecasting error” that went unnoticed for months, and how mission creep and wasteful priorities are breaking the system.

We talk snowplow shortages, ADA ramp cost overruns, “curb cuts to nowhere,” and the billions being funneled into non-core programs like DEI and bike lanes—while the roads fall apart.

It’s a must-hear conversation for anyone who’s ever asked: What is government really supposed to do with my taxes?

🎧 theoregondoge.com/podcast

Oregon passed bold legislation to ensure hospitals provide financial assistance to low-income patients. But is it working?

In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., Senator Mike McLane and Representative Jeff Helfrich talk with Dollar For founder Jared Walker and actor/director Joel David Moore about Oregon’s charity care laws, the impact of hospital bureaucracy, and the role nonprofits play in holding the system accountable.

Discover how Dollar For is helping Oregonians access financial aid, why hospitals resist implementation, and how this model could reduce medical debt nationwide.

https://dollarfor.org/

🎧 Stream the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and at theoregondoge.com

In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., Senators Daniel Bonham, Mike McLane, and David Brock Smith break down Oregon’s staggering $140 billion budget. With Health and Human Services taking up 45% of state spending, and new fees and taxes expanding under agency rulemaking, the episode asks: Is this sustainable?

They also rank Oregon’s performance in education, affordability, and federal dependency, and spotlight how taxpayer money is often diverted to questionable programs with little oversight.

This is a must-listen for Oregonians who want transparency, efficiency, and accountability in their state government.

🎧 Stream now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or at theoregondoge.com

Oregon’s tax burden isn’t just about income tax. In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., Senators Daniel Bonham and Mike McLane join Representative Greg Smith for a candid, eye-opening discussion on the hidden taxes and fees driving up the cost of living in Oregon.

From property and estate taxes to the controversial corporate activity tax, paddleboard fees, and the threat to Oregon’s Kicker refund, they explore how layer upon layer of taxation is hurting working families, small businesses, and rural communities.

Learn how Oregon compares nationally, why some businesses and retirees are leaving the state, and what lawmakers can do to restore balance and accountability.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & more.

📍 For more info: theoregondoge.com

In Episode 2 of Oregon D.O.G.E., Senator Mike McLane, Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham, and House Republican Leader Christine Drazan expose the unchecked power of Oregon’s administrative state. With over 40,000 rules now outpacing the number of state laws, unelected agencies are creating costly regulations that impact Oregonians without direct legislative oversight.

From hidden fees and taxes to overreaching mandates from agencies like DEQ and OSHA, this episode breaks down how government bloat is driving up costs and limiting economic freedom.

Subscribe to Oregon D.O.G.E. to stay informed on Oregon’s biggest policy battles.