In this episode of the Oregon D.O.G.E. podcast, Senator Daniel Bonham, Senator Mike McLane, and Senator David Brock Smith pull back the curtain on what really happens inside Oregon’s Capitol. This isn’t your typical policy update — it’s a raw, unscripted breakdown of how power is used (and misused) in Oregon state government.
From placeholder bills to conflicts of interest and misuse of public dollars, this episode takes listeners behind the scenes of the state’s most opaque practices — and why the average Oregonian should care.
What Is a Placeholder Bill — and Why Should You Care?
Placeholder bills are skeleton bills with vague titles like “relating to transportation” or “relating to public safety.” These bills are quietly filled with controversial amendments — often just hours before a vote — giving the public no chance to weigh in.
In 2015, there were just 52 placeholder bills. By 2023, that number hit 451. In 2025? Already over 616 — and counting.
This process allows one-party rule to bypass transparency, debate, and the public process entirely. Senator Bonham describes it as “legislating behind closed doors with no accountability.”
Gut-and-Stuff: How Laws Are Made Without Public Input
The majority party is increasingly using “gut-and-stuff” tactics — where a harmless placeholder bill is gutted and replaced with sweeping legislation, often the day before it’s voted on. The public never sees it coming.
A prime example: A recent parole reform bill was transformed overnight with no warning — even Oregon Justice Resource Center was blindsided. It wasn’t an isolated incident — firearm restrictions, environmental mandates, and healthcare reimbursement bills have all been fast-tracked this way.
The Ethics Gap: Who’s Watching the Watchers?
From conflicts of interest involving Rep. Lisa Reynolds to the light $1,600 Ethics Commission fine proposed for disgraced ex-Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, the podcast exposes how the politically connected seem to skate by — while regular citizens or political opponents would be ruined.
Spending Without Accountability
- $6 million for legal services for undocumented immigrants
- $15 million for down payments for non-citizens
- Billions to nonprofits with no oversight
- Proposed state-mandated climate change curriculum across all subjects
The hosts ask: Why is Oregon funding this while rural DMV offices close and basic services shrink?
The Bigger Picture: Trust, Transparency, and the Future of Oregon
The team also covers:
- The impact of Oregon’s sanctuary state status on drug trafficking and crime
- Inaction on cartel-linked human trafficking in rural Oregon
- Billions in federal COVID money going to political nonprofits with no audits
- Proposed laws that would force political indoctrination into public education
- A pending bill that could force Google and Meta to pay $122M to Oregon newspapers — likely unconstitutional, but pushed anyway
Their conclusion? Oregon doesn’t just have a budget problem — it has a process problem. Without transparency, accountability, or balance, the system is rigged for power — not people.