An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin describing how 11 Republicans in the Oregon House of Representatives put the state of Oregon first above partisan goals. He states that Republican Rob Patridge of Medford stepped up and voted to preserve public services and balance the budget, going against traditional party lines. AuCoin shares his admiration for the Republican 11, who "defied their party's dogma" and stepped up as leaders in order to compromise and address the issue of the Oregon budget deficit. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin criticizing the implementation of Oregon Ballot Measure 66: Lottery Funds for Parks and Watersheds. He states how the Oregon legislature used the money for other purposes, such as a research laboratory, which he felt wronged Oregon voters. Habitat Division Director Dave McAllister will be removed and replaced by Fish Division Administrator, Ed Bowels. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on Oregon state senators Republican Randy Miller and Democrat Kurt Schrader refusing to accept a federal grant of $10 million to fight obesity in Oregon schools and communities. AuCoin criticizes this action, citing that Oregon is one of the most obese states in the West. He also comments on the more general issue of the Oregon state budget deficit. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin commenting on the Oregon legislature and the Oregon income tax credit "kicker." AuCoin suggests getting rid of the kicker and replacing it with a rainy day fund in order for the Oregon legislature to more adequatedly organize the state budget. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on how the government has viewed the probability of winning a hypothetical nuclear war. As a US Congressman in the 1980s, he recalls being informed that the Reagan administration felt strongly that the US would prevail in a hyopthetical, global, nuclear war. AuCoin questions how any country could really win a nuclear war. He shares how as small nuclear weapons increase in number, more and more nonelected US military officials would have access to the nuclear buttons. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on a then recent Oregon forest report. Douglas County requested and paid for the report, led by researcher of Oregon State University School of Forestry, John Sessions. AuCoin points out how Sessions is a civil and forest engineer, not a wildfire scientist, and was seemingly unqualified to author the report. AuCoin states that the best approach to generating healthy forests is by natural recovery. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on recall elections. AuCoin asserts that while recall elections are an important component of democracy, they can be abused when politicians are unjustly put up for a recall election. He specifically mentions California Governor Gray Davis' recall election, and mentions how conservative republicans of California also agree that recall election can lead to political instability. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on a flaw of the environmental lobby, specifically criticizing their frequent "my way or the highway" approach. For example, Democrats Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio and California Congressman George Miller had collaborated with Republican Congressman Greg Walden on a forest health bill, but because it was a compromise, AuCoin states that other environmentalists were dissatified and the congressmen ended up dropping the bill. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on the Bush administration's attempts to privatize up to half of government jobs, including management jobs with the Forest Service and BLM. Mitch Daniels, Bush's former director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, says this move could increase quality and keep down operating costs. AuCoin criticizes this proposal. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on operation “Iraqi Freedom." AuCoin points out how truth was a casualty of the War in Iraq, specifically pointing out how the Bush Administration used the idea of weapons of mass destruction to justify the war. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on coverage of the War in Iraq. He asserts that CNN is one of many news organizations that has covered the Fall of Baghdad in a entertainment-focused manner in order to capture more viewers. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on the Bush's administration's move "not to impose the West's will" on Iraq following the fall of Baghdad. AuCoin supports this move, as he asserts that Iraqis are skeptical of the United States intentions. He points out some of Franklin Graham's negative remarks on the religion of Islam. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on urban voters in Oregon agreeing to local levies in order to improve the quality of their schools. According to AuCoin, such levies were in reponse to Oregon Republicans rejecting any proposal to raise the state revenue. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on betrayal based scandals, specifically pointing out Martha Stewart’s insider trading scandal. Making some comparaisons, AuCoin wonders where the Bush aministration got the idea that Iraq had biological and chemical weapons, the idea of which that was used to justify the invasion of Iraq. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin commemorating his 38 year wedding anniversary. AuCoin reminisces on his life and political career with his wife Sue at his side. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski's approach to the state budget. AuCoin deems Kulongoski's budget as purposefully milquetoast, as Kulongoski himself calls the proposed budget "inadequate." This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on the occassion of his retirement from teaching at Southern Oregon University (SOU) at the age of 61. He reminisces about students' interactions and the joy of being a teacher. AuCoin shares his plans of going into writing following his retirement from teaching. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin commenting on a Fox News poll that revealed that most Americans do not believe that the country was heading in the right direction. AuCoin states that this makes sense when one considers that "prey are always less happy than, say, predators." He expresses concern about Medicare's future following a prescription drug bill proposal supported by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), which would be detrimental to retired Americans but monetarily beneficial to the organization. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin sharing his opinion of the Patriot Act and how it rejects the traditional concept of conservatism. AuCoin points out how both he and Newt Gingrich, "political opposites," believe that the Patriot Act oversteps human rights and disrespects the rule of law. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on President George W. Bush's comments admitting to not often reading. AuCoin speculates on whether or not Bush had read former President George H. W. Bush's memoirs, which discussed the topic of a hypothetical Iraq invasion during his administration. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on Washington DC-based group called the “Citizens for a Sound Economy,'' an anti-tax organization dedicated to defeating a temporary tax surcharge in Oregon. Three likely Oregon businessmen involved with the organization include Aaron Jones, Wes Lematta, and Dick Wendt. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on the government abusing the national intelligence powers of the Patriot Act to investigate ordinary crime, not just terrorist activity. AuCoin deems the situation "Orwellian news," as the federal government was able to spy on American citizens without prior grand jury approval. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2004.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin commenting on President Bush's appointments of individuals with strange, nonmainstream views in high positions of power. AuCoin goes on to list odd remarks from Bush appointees, including the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, William G. "Jerry" Boyken, and reactionist California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired between 2002-2004.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on catching a rainbow trout during a fishing trip. AuCoin further discusses fishing tactics and culture. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired sometime in the summer of of 2001-2004.
