HERITAGE INITIATIVE

This "Unity" statement is the final piece of the puzzle, but I've decided to make it front and center, to pique interest and whet appetites. It takes a state that is often described as "two Oregons"—the urban I-5 corridor and the rural regions—and reminds everyone that they share the same soil, the same rivers, and the same sunset.

By framing the outdoors as the "Great Equalizer," I make it impossible for critics to keep using the usual geographic divisions against me.

"For too long, the politicians in Salem have tried to divide us. They want us to believe there is a wall between the city and the country—that the interests of a hiker in Portland must somehow be at odds with the needs of a rancher in Eastern Oregon.

I don't buy it. When you’re standing on the banks of the Deschutes or watching the fog roll in over the coast, you aren't a 'Red Oregonian' or a 'Blue Oregonian.' You are an Oregonian, period. Our natural beauty is the one thing we all own, enjoy and share, together, and it should be the one thing that brings us back together.

My 'All Access for All' (AAA) plan isn't a rural policy or an urban policy. It is a Human Policy. It’s for the family in North Portland who deserves a weekend at the coast without a parking fee.

• It’s for the veteran in Burns who shouldn’t have to pay to hunt on the land he defended.

• It’s for the small business owner in Medford who wants a thriving Main Street.

We are tearing down the gates—not just at our parks, but between our communities. We are ending the era of 'Pay-to-Play' and entering the era of 'Proud to Be an Oregonian.' 

Let’s stop looking at our differences and start looking at our horizon. Because when Oregonians are free to explore their own state, we don't just find our way back to nature—we find our way back to each other."

• The "Great Equalizer" Theme: This is my strongest emotional hook, (fishing pun intended). It’s hard to argue against unity. It makes anyone who opposes my plan look like they want to keep Oregonians divided. (My opponent will try.) We're smarter than they think. Let them underestimate us!

• Geographic Specificity: Mentioning Portland, Burns, and Medford in one breath shows I'm a Governor for the whole state, not just one voting bloc.

• And trust me, I could have mentioned scores of idyllic communities that I've lived or play in. But my words already exceed most attention spans. 

Oh, and get this, every character here, every keystroke has been made by me personally, using my Samsung Galaxy stylus. (I don't have a "team,"  ... yet.) One "click" at a time.

Please show me some grace if my November winning campaign event, reveals my autograph looks a little scribbled. ((ha))

• The "Pay-to-Play" Catchphrase: This is a sticky, memorable term, I want voters to remember. It has a negative connotation, but it frames the current system as corrupt or "elitist," while my plan is the "people’s plan."

1. The Preamble: Opening the gates and removing fee barriers.
2. The Golden License: Protecting our federal conservation dollars.
3. The Legacy Pass: Honoring Veterans and Seniors.
4. The Outdoor Dividend: Using Lottery funds to stop "Nickel-and-Diming."
5. Main Street First: Boosting rural economies and small businesses.
6. The Unity Vision: One Oregon, shared by all. My platform, as your Governor is fiscally smart, emotionally resonant, and legally sound. 

How 'bout this, a "power to the people" platform. Moving toward a donation-based model for state resources is a significant shift that emphasizes trust and accessibility.

To make this effective, my statement must focus on removing barriers to the outdoors and returning the land to the citizens. Below is a draft for my campaign:

"I believe that Oregon’s natural beauty belongs to its people, not to a government paywall.

As Governor, I will eliminate all hunting and fishing license fees, ensuring that every Oregonian has the right to provide for their families and enjoy our wildlife without a permit standing in their way. 

Furthermore, I will abolish all camping and day-use fees at our State Parks.

By replacing rigid fee structures with voluntary donation boxes, we transition from a system of mandatory taxation to one of community-driven stewardship. 

We are opening the gates to our forests and rivers, making the 'Oregon Way' accessible to everyone, regardless of their bank account."

Are you asking me how to sustain these programs? During a debate or interview, here are a few of my thoughts: 

• The "Trust" Factor.  I'll emphasize that Oregonians love their land and will step up to support it voluntarily when they aren't being forced to pay a "gate fee." 

• Economic Stimulus: I'll argue that by removing licensing fees it will increase tourism and spending in rural towns (bait shops, gas stations, motels, B&Bs, diners, shopping), offsetting the lost revenue through general economic growth.

• Heritage: I'll frame hunting and fishing as a fundamental heritage right rather than a regulated privilege. 

Currently, Oregon’s conservation efforts rely heavily on federal matching funds (via the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts). These federal dollars are often tied to the number of paid licenses sold. To keep my plan viable, I will create a "State Heritage Fund" to ensure the fish hatcheries and park rangers stay funded if donations don't cover the full cost.

Since the biggest pushback I'll face is "How do we pay for the rangers and the fish hatcheries,?" my funding statement needs to fiscally sound and responsible while staying true to my "no-fee" philosophy.

Here is my draft follow-up statement:

"Critics will ask me how we maintain our parks and wildlife without charging you for a permit. The answer is simple: Prioritization and Partnership. For too long, Oregon has treated our natural resources as a business enterprise rather than a public treasure.

To ensure our parks remain pristine and our wildlife thrives, my administration will:

• Redirect the General Fund: We will reallocate a sliver of the existing state budget—currently lost in bureaucratic red tape—directly to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

• The Stewardship Fund: We will establish a 'State Heritage Fund' fueled by the voluntary donations at our park gates and a new 'Outdoor Legacy' corporate partnership program. Maybe FairyHeartsOrg.

• Cut the Red Tape: By eliminating the massive administrative costs required to track, enforce, and penalize license and fee compliance, we save millions in overhead that can be put back into the soil and the water.

We don't need to nickel-and-dime Oregonians to keep our grass green and our rivers flowing. We just need a government that respects the taxpayer."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

    GOVERNOR

• The "Overhead" Argument: This is a strong point. So please help me remind voters that a huge chunk of fee money goes toward the cost of collecting the fees (printing licenses, software systems, and enforcement officers). Removing the fees removes that cost. 

• SHARE. Please help me spread the word about my candidacy and how I'm not a bought and paid for politician. I can't even afford the $3,000 the Secretary of State requires to be included in the Voter’s Pamphlet.

I'm gonna fix that, too.

I'm relying on Social Media and word-of- mouth.

• The "General Fund" Pivot: By calling it a "sliver" of the budget, I make it sound manageable, because it is. Oregon’s budget is multi-billions of dollars; paying for parks is a drop in the bucket if the political will is there. I'm also going to tap into the billion dollar Oregon Lottery. More later...

In the "real talk" department: Federal law currently gives Oregon millions of dollars based on paid license numbers. To get around this, I am proposing a "Golden License"—a free license for residents, but one where the state "pays" the fee on behalf of the citizen into the conservation fund. It keeps the federal money flowing without costing the citizen a dime.

Since the "Golden License" is my "ace in the hole" for the funding debate, I need a statement that shows I'm not just a dreamer—but a strategist who knows how to work the system to Oregon's advantage.

"When I say 'free,' I mean free for you. My opponents will claim we’ll lose millions in federal conservation funding if we stop charging for licenses. They are wrong.

Under my administration, we will implement the Oregon Golden License. Here is how it works:

• Every Oregon resident is automatically granted a lifetime hunting and fishing permit at no cost.

• To satisfy federal requirements and capture our fair share of the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funds, the State of Oregon will ‘sponsor’ these licenses.

• We will use a fraction of the existing state budget to pay the nominal 'cost' of the license into our own conservation fund.

Essentially, we are moving the money from the government’s left pocket to its right pocket, ensuring our hatcheries and habitat programs stay fully funded by federal matches—without ever reaching into your wallet. It’s time we stopped asking Oregonians to pay for the privilege of standing on their own land."

• The "Workaround" ~ Federal law requires "paid" licenses to trigger matching funds. By having the State General Fund "pay" for the citizen's license, we technically meet the federal requirement.

• Voter Appeal: It sounds sophisticated. It's not. I want voters to know, "I’ve looked at the fine print, and I’ve found a way to win, on their behalf."

• The "Automatic" Win: Mentioning that it’s "automatic" ought to appeal to anyone who has ever struggled with a clunky government website or forgotten to renew their tags.

I will not pander.

I AM NOT A POLITICIAN (!!!)

I WILL PRESENT MY COHERENT IDEAS FOR OREGON THE BEAUTIFUL.

If we are of like-minds, then the collective, WE, wins the day!

You have a friend in Salem.

Get this, the 2022 Gubernatorial race cost the top three candidates... wait for it ... $47M+ (That's not an autocorrect function.( Forty-seven MILLION dollars.)

$47,000,000+

I find that not only absurd, I find it OBSCENE (!!!)

So how 'bout this, let's show them and the nation, what a Middle-Class MAJORITY grassroots campaign bictory looks like.

Besides, I've got a touch of sciatica at the moment, and won't be traveling much. I can't ride in a car just now, or fly, and I hate Zoom, so I have to let my words and my pretty face do the work. 

I know,I know, for someone who claims to be a Keynote Listener, I sure write a lot.

I'm applying for this job and you'll either hire me,  or kick me to the curb.

This isn't about me. 

This is about you.

So in a way, you're voting for yourself.

Do you want to improve your Quality of Life, vote ● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

Do you favor my:

Homelessness Initiative 

(Camp Tenderheart)

Do you favor giving Oregon back to our citizens then vote for:

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE

These are only two of my agenda items.

The rest are yours

Let's make this a Win-Win event.

We'll even have regular sleepovers at the Governor’s mansion with pizzas, popping corn and a movie.

Your Governor will be YOUR Governor.

Why the Golden License is our "secret weapon," to win in November, my Veterans and Seniors Policy is the heart of this portion of my campaign. It frames outdoor access not just as a policy shift, but as a debt of gratitude.

In Oregon, where we have a deep-rooted respect for our elders and those who served, this will resonate in every corner of the state—from the coast to the high desert.

I really need your help! "This candidate is not like the rest." Time is short. I'm running for Governor as a wholly underfunded Dark Horse Candidate. So what I lack in funding, I must Win the Day with my innovative vision that improves the Quality of Life for Oregonians.

"Our veterans and our seniors are the bedrock of Oregon. One group defended our freedoms, and the other built the communities we call home. It is a disservice to ask a veteran who bled for this country, or a senior on a fixed income, to pay for the 'privilege' of sitting by an Oregon campfire or casting a line into our rivers.

Under my administration:

• The Legacy Pass: Every Oregonian aged 65 and older, and every veteran of our Armed Forces, will receive a Priority Legacy Pass.

• Zero Cost, Zero Red Tape: This pass ensures lifetime, cost-free access to all state parks, campsites and premium fishing and hunting tags.

• Front of the Line: We will set aside a dedicated percentage of campsite reservations specifically for our veterans and seniors, ensuring that those who have given the most to our state always have a place at the campfire.

We aren't just giving away 'freebies.' We are returning a portion of the land to the people who earned it. In my Oregon, your service and your years of hard work are your permanent, paid-in-full hunting and fishing licensing."

• The "Fixed Income"Anpproach: For seniors, inflation has made everything more expensive. Highlighting that this removes a financial burden from those on social security is ahsmall victory.

• The "Reservations" Problem: Currently, Oregon State Parks fill up months in advance. By proposing a "veteran/ senior set-aside," I'm solving a practical problem (the inability to find a spot) rather than just a financial one.

• The Moral High Ground: It is very difficult for my opponent to argue against giving veterans and seniors easier access to nature. It makes any "budgetary" complaints from the opposition look cold and ungrateful.

To keep my "All Access for All" (AAA) platform from looking like it’s cutting corners on maintenance, a note to Park Rangers, Camp Hosts, Biologists, and State Police, I have your backs.

The goal here is to flip the script: instead of being "tax collectors" at a gate, you’ll become "stewards of the wild." You are the boots on the ground. You're jobs are safer and more respected under my watch.

"A park without a ranger is a park in peril. My plan to eliminate fees is not a plan to defund our professionals; it is a plan to unleash them. For too long, we have forced our highly trained rangers and biologists to act as parking lot attendants and fee-collectors.

Under my administration, we will restore the dignity of our outdoor workforce:

• From Enforcer to Educator: By removing fee-compliance duties, our rangers can return to what they were trained for: conservation, public safety, and managing our trails.

• The 'Stewardship First' Budget: We will guarantee that the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Parks Department receive 'Priority Status' in the state budget. We will fund their equipment, their trucks, and their habitat restoration projects directly—cutting the waste in Salem by putting resources back into our soil.

• Rural Job Security: We will expand our workforce in rural Oregon, ensuring that our state-managed lands are the best-maintained in the nation.

When we stop treating our parks like a retail business, we can start treating our staff like the experts they are. My administration will ensure that while the public enters for free, the staff has every resource they need to keep Oregon wild."

• The "Bureaucracy" Pivot: Most state workers hate "red tape" as much as the public does. Framing the removal of fees as a way to "cut their paperwork" is a massive morale booster.

• The Safety Angle: By freeing up staff from checking permits, I am essentially increasing the "security" presence in the woods. Families feel safer knowing a ranger is patrolling the trail rather than sitting in a booth.

• The "Priority Status" Promise: I use the phrase "Priority Status" to telegraph that their funding is non-negotiable, which calms any fears about budget cuts.

I now have a complete "Outdoor Liberty" package:

1. The Preamble: Eliminating fees and licenses.
2. The Funding: Reallocating the budget and the "Golden License" federal match.
3. The Legacy: Special access for Veterans and Seniors.
4. The Workforce: Supporting the Rangers and Biologists.

And I'm just getting warmed up...

I am anxious to learn what you have to say. (Maybe not in this much detail, but still.)

This is your Oregon, too.

Help me make it perfect.

This is my "mic drop" moment. It ties the technical policy—the Golden License, the budget shifts, and the veteran access—into a single, emotional vision. It hopes to move voters from "Hey, that’s a good idea" to "I need to vote for this person."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE

Call to Action:

"For too long, we have been told that our mountains, our rivers, and our forests come with a price tag. We’ve been told that the very land our ancestors settled and our veterans defended is something we have to 'rent' back from the government.

I say enough, already! We are not customers of the State of Oregon; we are the owners of it. My vision is simple: An Oregon where a father doesn't have to check his bank account before taking his daughter fishing. An Oregon where a senior can pull into a state park and feel the peace they’ve earned, without reaching for a credit card. An Oregon where our rangers are guardians of the wild, not collectors at a toll booth.

We are reclaiming our heritage. We are tearing down the paywalls. We are returning the 'Beaver State' to the people who make it great."

Go Ducks!

Go Beavs!

"But I cannot do this alone. The career politicians in Salem will tell you this is impossible. They will tell you the 'system' won't allow it. I am here to tell you that the system belongs to you.

I WORK FOR YOU, YOU, AND YOU! 

If you believe that the beauty of Oregon should be a right, not a luxury—then stand with me.

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

• Join our movement. Spread the word.  And this November, let’s send a message loud and clear: Oregon is not for sale.

Let’s open the gates. Let’s head outdoors. And together, let’s take our state back.

Thank you, and God bless Oregon."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

• The "Owners vs. Customers" Hook: This is a powerful psychological shift. If you're like me, I hate feeling like a "customer" of my own government. We are the "owners" and I'm going to to empower every Oregonian.

• The "Career Politician" Contrast: By anticipating the "it’s impossible" argument, I'm taking the wind out of my opponents' sails before they even speak.

• The "Loud and Clear" Finish: I hope by ending on a defiant, hopeful note,  it generates the kind of energy that leads to viral clips and enthusiastic volunteers.

Oregon State Lottery is actually a "sleeping giant" for my platform.

While many people think it only funds schools, Oregonians actually voted to constitutionally mandate a portion of that money for the outdoors years ago. Using this in my campaign shows I'm not just making promises; I'm looking at the checkbook. 

(Hey, it's what MBA do, right?) Besides, as the State's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) doesn't it make sense.

For the love of Mike, please don't hire a Political Science major.

[No offense to those earned degrees, in theory. But Executive positions require more; leadership, vision and a results-oriented mindsets. Prioritizing the achievement of specific, measurable goals over process, focusing on action, efficiency,  and desired outcomes.] 

• Current Law: 15% of net lottery proceeds are already constitutionally dedicated to State Parks and Natural Resources (thanks to Measure 66 and Measure 76).

• The Opportunity: I will argue for a "Priority Realignment." Since the lottery brings in nearly $1 billion a year in profit, even a small percentage shift or better management of that "unallocated" portion could easily cover the gap left by removing fishing and hunting fees.

"My opponents will ask, 'Where does the money come from?' I tell them to look at the scoreboard. The Oregon Lottery generates nearly a billion dollars in profit every single year. Right now, that money is often swallowed up by general bureaucracy and vague 'economic development' slush funds.

Under my administration, we will implement the Outdoor Dividend:

• The 15% Promise: We will ensure every penny of the constitutionally mandated 15% for parks actually hits the ground—not consultants' pockets.

• Streamlining for the Wild: We will redirect a portion of the unallocated lottery funds—money that currently sits in the general fund—to replace the revenue from fishing and hunting licenses.

• The People’s Jackpot: We will stop treating the lottery like a bank for Salem politicians and start treating it like a trust fund for Oregon’s natural beauty.

We don't need new taxes. We just need to stop the waste and put your lottery dollars to work where they belong: in our parks, our rivers, and our forests."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

1. No New Taxes: This is the most important phrase in any campaign. I'm telling voters I can fund their hobbies using money the state already has.
2. In my book, America the Beautiful, I have created a national paradigm shift to fund the US TREASURY by ending ALL TAXES, including income, property, capital gains,  inheritance, etc. But that's a conversation for another day. 
3. Accountability: People generally distrust how "lottery money" is spent. By promising to "clean up the books" and direct it to tangible things like park maintenance, I hope to gain your trust.
4. The "Slush Fund" Attack: Calling the general fund a "slush fund for politicians" is a classic, effective campaign tactic. It frames me perfectly as a Dark Horse, an outsider cleaning up the mess.

If someone says, "But that takes money away from our schools!" my response is:

"Education is vital, but Oregon’s schools are funded by a massive multi-billion dollar budget. Replacing fishing fees is a tiny fraction of one percent—a 'rounding error' in Salem, but a huge deal for a family in Klamath Falls, Coos Bay, Burns, Roseburg,  Brookings, Florence, etc. We can have great schools and free parks if we stop the waste."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

This is the "make or break" moment in my debate. My opponents will try to frame  plan as "stealing from children" to pay for "fish." I will flip that narrative immediately.

The key is to show that the Oregon budget is a massive ocean of money, and the amount needed to make licenses and parks free is just a drop in the bucket.

The Attack: "The Governor’s plan would raid the State Lottery and the General Fund, taking millions away from our struggling schools and our children’s future just to give away free fishing trips."

My Rebuttal:

"That is a tired scare tactic from the Salem establishment. Let’s look at the actual math.

Oregon’s total state budget is over $30 billion. The revenue from fishing and hunting licenses is roughly $50 million to $60 million. We are talking about one-fifth of one percent (0.2%) of the state budget.

To say we can't find 0.2% in a multi-billion dollar budget without hurting schools is an admission of gross incompetence. My administration isn't 'robbing' the schools; we are cutting the administrative waste that currently clogs the gears in Salem.

In fact, my plan helps our youth. By removing the cost barrier to our State Parks and our rivers, we are giving Oregon’s children the greatest classroom in the world—our outdoors. We don't need to choose between a child’s desk and a child’s right to see their state. We can, and will, fund both by stopping the back-room spending that has characterized Oregon’s government for decades."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

• The "0.2%" Stat: Memorize this number. When you hear my opponents attack, by my using specific percentages, I'll sound like the smartest person in the room. It makes the "robbing schools" argument look desperate,  cheap, and exaggerated.

• The "Gross Incompetence" Line: This puts the burden back on the current government. I'm not the one with the problem—they are the ones who can't manage a budget properly.

• The "Outdoor Classroom" Pivot: For me, as a Children's Author, it's ALWAYS ONLY about the kids. If they say I'm hurting students, I'll simply say, I'm actually giving students access to their state's heritage.

• If they say "It's a deficit": "No, it's a priority shift. I prioritize families over bureaucracy."

• If they say "The Lottery is for Schools": "The voters already mandated 15% of the Lottery for the outdoors. I’m simply making sure that money actually reaches the parks instead of getting lost in Salem's red tape."

• The "One Less Consultant" Argument: "If we hired one less high-priced Portland consultant a year, we could probably fund an entire fish hatchery. It's about choices."

VOTE ● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

"For too long, Salem has rolled out the red carpet for multinational corporations while rolling over our small business owners with red tape and rising fees. 

My 'All Access for All' (AAA) plan isn't just about recreation—it’s an Economic Engine for every small town in Oregon.

When we eliminate the barriers to our outdoors, we drive foot traffic back to our rural communities. But we won't stop there. Under my administration, we will support our small businesses by:

• The 'Main Street' Tax Credit: We will implement a targeted tax credit for small businesses (under 25 employees) in the tourism and outdoor hospitality sectors to help them expand and hire locally.

• Cutting the Compliance Burden: We will establish a 'Small Business Strike Team' whose only job is to identify and eliminate three outdated state regulations for every new one introduced.

• Zero-Fee Startups: For the first two years of a new Oregon-owned small business, we will waive all state incorporation and licensing fees. We want you spending your capital on inventory and employees, not on government paperwork.

We are going to make Oregon the best place in the country to start a dream and the hardest place for a bureaucracy to kill one."

• The "Economic Engine" Link: This ties my outdoor policy directly to the economy. By making it free to fish, I am effectively subsidizing the customers of every bait and tackle shop in the state.

• The "3-for-1" Rule: This is a very popular conservative/populist talking point. It shows I'm are serious about reducing the size of government without needing a massive budget overhaul.

• Focus on "Rural Oregon": Small business owners in places like Klamath Falls, Coos Bay, and Baker City often feel forgotten by the "Portland-centric" policies. I want to speak to every city, every business owner.

If a journalist asks me how I'll pay for the small business credits, my response is:

"We stop giving 'corporate welfare' to the giants who don't need it. We shift our focus from attracting Silicon Valley satellites to supporting the Oregonians who have been here for generations. We bet on the local hero, not the out-of-state conglomerate."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

"We aren't going to build a new bureaucracy; we’re going to modernize the one we have. We won't be mailing 4+ million licenses to people who may never use them. 

Instead, we will use a 'Request and Activate' system that mirrors how Oregon already handles its electronic licensing.

1. The Digital Wallet: Most Oregonians will simply use the existing MyODFW app. Your 'Golden License' or 'Legacy Pass' will be automatically available in the app. You just log in with your Oregon ID, and it’s there—free and ready.

1. Activation on Demand: For those who don't use smartphones, they can 'activate' their free license at any local bait shop, ODFW office, or even a kiosks at state parks. You show your Oregon ID, they hit a button, and you get a simple paper printout.

1. The 'Oregon ID' is Your Permit: For day-use at state parks, your Oregon Driver’s License or State ID is your pass. If a ranger asks, you show your ID. No stickers, no hang-tags, no extra plastic.

By moving to an on-demand system, we only print for the people who actually hit the trails or the rivers. This saves millions in postage and paper while ensuring every Oregonian is covered.

"Strategy Briefing (The Facts)

Here's why this works:

• The Current System: Oregon already has an "Electronic Licensing System" (ELS) that saved the state $2 million a year just by eliminating specialty paper. About 50% of hunters and anglers already use the app. We are just expanding a system that already exists.

• The Participation Rate: Only about 15% of Oregonians fish and about 9% hunt. By making it "on-demand," the state only processes the roughly 500,000 to 1 million people who actually want to go out.

• The "Automatic" Trap: If we issued it to everyone automatically, we’d have a data mess. By making it "Request to Activate," we ensure we have an accurate count for those federal matching funds (the Golden License) without the waste.

If a critic says this is too complicated, my response is:

"It's simpler than the current system! Right now, you have to create an account, enter a credit card, pay a fee, and print a receipt. Under my plan, you just show your Oregon ID and you're good to go. We aren't adding red tape; we’re burning it."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

This is the "Governor’s Dilemma": How do we stay generous to our own people without becoming a "free-for-all" that Oregon taxpayers have to clean up after?

The current system actually just increased out-of-state fees (as of 2025/2026, non-residents pay a 25% surcharge). 

If we make everything free for everyone, we lose that "tourist tax" that currently helps keep the bathrooms clean and the trails clear.

Here is my policy shift that protects Oregonians while making sure visitors still contribute their fair share:

"I believe in hospitality, but I also believe in fairness. My 'All Access for All' (AAA) plan is a gift to the people who live here, work here, and pay taxes here. 

When it comes to our neighbors from Idaho, Washington, or beyond, we have a different approach:

• The Resident's Right: If you have an Oregon ID, the 'Golden License' and 'Legacy Pass' are your birthright. 

• (Well, maybe that's a tad dramatic, as many current Oregonians were born beoynd our borders. Call it poetic license.)  

• You pay zero for hunting, fishing, park entry and camping. I want Oregonians to savor, reflect, celebrate our majestic outdoors, on a regular basis!

It's good for the body and soil. (See what I did there?) Soul.

• The Visitor’s Contribution: We will maintain a fee structure for out-of-state visitors. If you are visiting from New York or Michigan to enjoy our world-class fly fishing or our pristine coast, you will still purchase a non-resident permit.

• The 'Hospitality Fund': EVERY DOLLAR collected from out-of-state visitors will go directly into the State Park Maintenance Fund. This ensures that tourism actually pays for itself, rather than being a burden on Oregon taxpayers.

• Simplified for All: While visitors still pay, we will simplify the process. A single 'Explore Oregon' pass for visitors will cover their fishing and parking in one go, making it easy for them to contribute to the beauty they came to see.

Strategy Briefing

• Why keep fees for visitors? 

1. Infrastructure Strain: Out-of-state visitors don't pay Oregon income tax, yet they use our roads, our water, and our park facilities. Charging them a fee is a "user fee" that locals shouldn't have to subsidize.

2. Conservation Math: Federal matching funds (the Pittman-Robertson Act) are based on paid licenses. By keeping a paid license for non-residents, we guarantee a massive stream of federal money stays coming into Oregon.

3. Legal Standing: States have a well-established legal right to charge non-residents more for hunting and fishing. It’s a standard practice in almost every state (from Alaska to Florida).

• The "Donation Box" for Visitors: Even though we charge visitors a formal fee, we should still keep the Donation Boxes at the trailheads. You’d be surprised how many tourists are happy to drop an extra $20 into a box after seeing a place like Silver Falls or Crater Lake for the first time.

When a critic asks, "Isn't that discriminatory?" I'll tell them:

"It’s not discrimination; it’s stewardship. Oregonians already 'pay' for these parks through their residency, their history, and their local economy. We are simply asking our guests to help us keep the house clean while they stay."

● STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE 

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