Staff writer
Ryan Kost is a staff writer with The Oregonian's politics team.
The latest Truth-O-Meter items from Ryan Kost
Says "One-third of our healthcare dollars go to wasteful insurance billing and bureaucracy."
Says "Schaufler was the only Democrat who voted to stop" the state’s health care reform plan.
Says "at the state level we're spending more on tax expenditures than we are on public safety, health care and education combined."
Says "streetcars carry more people than buses … you attract more riders who don't ride transit now, and actually the operating costs are not any greater than the bus."
Says "for the duration of this recession not a single person in government middle management has lost (a) job or taken a pay cut."
Says "we got a chance to pass what I think is Oregon's first human trafficking bill which has increased by 66 percent the calls to the human trafficking hotline."
Says "the No. 2 cause of death in the U.S. (for) women under 50 is being killed by their spouse or domestic partner."
Says "traffic fatalities have fallen dramatically, even as population has risen. You are more likely to stay alive biking, walking and driving around Portland than you were before" he took over the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
"In 2010 about 75 percent of child abuse and neglect reports in Oregon were made by those required to report by law."
Says "in Oregon only 41 percent of adults have ever been tested" for HIV.
Recent stories from Ryan Kost
Six months in, it's time to update the Kitz-O-MeterSix months into his third term as governor, John Kitzhaber has moved quickly to set in motion plans to change the way the state builds budgets, educates children and delivers health care. Those promises proved to be a higher priority than tax and environmental reform.
John Kitzhaber has made progress on three promisesWe’ve updated the status of a few Gov. John Kitzhaber's promises now that his budget proposal has been released.
Our newest truth-telling tool: The Kitz-O-MeterGovernor-elect John Ktizhaber made more than a couple promises during last year's campaign season. We know, because we went through his statements, speeches, ads and position papers looking for them. Over the next four years, we'll be keeping an eye on whether Kitzhaber is keeping those promises.
The Voter Guide: Seven key distortions of the campaignAfter examining hundreds of claims in the 2010 campaign, we've seen some patterns in how candidates -- and outside groups -- have twisted the facts.
What makes a vote 'the deciding vote'?When politicians want to tie their opponents to a controversial bill, there are few tactics as powerful as labeling their vote for the bill as "the deciding vote." But determining a deciding vote is harder than it looks.
We want to hear your suggestions and comments. Email the Oregon Truth-O-Meter with feedback and with claims you'd like to see checked. If you send us a comment, we'll assume you don't mind us publishing it unless you tell us otherwise.
