In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., host Senator Mike McLane is joined by Senator Daniel Bonham, Representative E. Werner Reschke, and analyst Alex Lopez for a deep dive into one of Oregon’s most polarizing budget conversations—state spending on undocumented immigrants.
With Oregon ranking 8th nationally in per capita spending on undocumented immigrants, while simultaneously sitting 42nd in financial distress, legislators ask a pressing question: Are we spending taxpayer dollars where Oregonians would choose to spend them?
The discussion unpacks the financial scope of Oregon’s “Healthier Oregon” program, which offers full healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants. According to Lopez, the state’s general fund shoulders most of the cost—an estimated $1.5 billion per biennium—without federal reimbursement. This, the panel argues, diverts funding from core services like wildfire suppression, education, and road maintenance.
The team also confronts the state’s broader immigration policies, such as its sanctuary status and the impact of “Driver’s Licenses for All” on potential voter registration issues. Citing a growing trend of “mission creep” in public spending, legislators draw attention to the disconnect between how Oregonians believe their money is being spent and what the budget actually prioritizes.
Tensions escalate with a review of recent floor remarks comparing ICE agents to the Gestapo—statements that drew rebuke from Bonham and others as disrespectful to law enforcement and historically ignorant.
The episode wraps with a challenge to the public: “Would you rather see state funds go to core services like roads, education, and public safety—or continue expanding benefits for non-citizens while claiming there’s not enough left for the rest?”