The Founders continued with the Bill of Rights which included free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to bear arms and so forth. Then the 10th Amendment assigned the rest of the responsibilities, not expressly written in the Constitution, to two groups: state governments and the people.

Fifty-one of the 55 founders (93 percent) held a Christian worldview. This overwhelming super-majority believed in a higher power over government. They also believed the only fair government is one limited in size and scope, subject to the people it serves.

In Oregon this is not the case. State government cranks out thousands of new regulations each year.

In addition, over the past nine years state revenue has increased 28 percent to record levels. Oregon’s government continues to grow and yet this is not enough.

Case in point is Ballot Measure 97 which plans a massive increase to state revenue by $3 billion a year. Measure 97 will tax the sales of corporations generating $25 million or more each year. This means grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies and utilities will pay this new sales tax. These business will then pass those increases along to the rest of us. In the end, Oregonians will be worse off — $3 billion worse off each year.

Enough. As your state representative I will say “no” to tax increases and bad ideas such as these generated by liberals in Portland, Salem and Eugene. Instead, I will champion the rural Oregon values of liberty and personal responsibility, not more government.

We the people — your liberty first!