The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), Oregon’s first new Speaker of the House since 2013, told OPB the 2022 legislative short session that began on February. 1 is “the most important short session” of the state’s history, and with inflation, Covid-19, and homelessness[Read More…]
Government
Oregon economic forecast: More money for lawmakers to spend, tax credits likely in two years
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Higher wages for workers and more income for businesses is driving up state tax collections, creating the prospect for even more state government spending and then credits in two years for those paying income taxes, state economists announced Wednesday. The economists[Read More…]
How should Oregon spend $400 million on roads and transit? State officials want your input
Highway 6 in Gales Creek at the intersection of the county-maintained Highway 8 and ODOT-maintained Highway 6 on February 24, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Transportation Commission wants Oregonians’ thoughts on how best to spend more than $400 million, available as part of the recent federal infrastructure law. Oregon[Read More…]
In final State of the State address, Brown touts victories, pushes spending plan
Gov. Kate Brown delivers her State of the State address from her office on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022 Gov. Kate Brown’s final State of the State address on Thursday served largely as a victory lap, while she challenged legislators to approve her plans to spend $700 million on job training,[Read More…]
Local legislators introduce bills for short session beginning Feb. 1
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Legislature began the 2022 short session today, February 1, and these are some of the bills that the region’s five legislative representatives signed onto as chief sponsors. To read more about each bill, visit olis.oregonlegislature.gov and click on the[Read More…]
Gov. Brown appoints Miranda S. Summer to Washington County Circuit Court
Miranda S. Summer, photo courtesy Gov. Brown office Gov. Kate Brown announced she appointed Municipal Court Judge Miranda S. Summer to the Washington County Circuit Court, filling the vacancy left by the elevation of Judge Ramon Pagan’s appointment to the Oregon Court of Appeals. Summer’s experience includes previously serving on[Read More…]
Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen hospitalized after fall
Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen during a press conference held December 17, 2021. Photo from YouTube The director of the agency tasked with leading the state’s coronavirus response was hospitalized Sunday morning after a fall the Oregon Health Authority described as “serious.” OHA Director Patrick Allen is currently undergoing[Read More…]
Rachel Armitage appointed to vacant Senate District 16 seat
Rachel Armitage, photo courtesy Armitage campaign website County commissioners from the six counties in Senate District 16 appointed Rachel Armitage to fill the remaining year of former State Senator Betsy Johnson’s empty seat. Armitage, a former legislative assistant in 2016 and 2017, according to her campaign website, is a Warren[Read More…]
New law will allow ballots postmarked by day of election to be counted
Two ballots from a previous election. File photo: Chas Hundley A new Oregon law that went into effect January 1 allows mail-in ballots to be counted on Election Day as long as they are in the mail and postmarked by 8:00 p.m. House Bill 3291 changed Oregon mail-in voting laws,[Read More…]
County to fill vacant state senate seats Friday
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Washington County Commissioners are meeting virtually Friday, January 14 at 9 a.m. to interview candidates to replace District 16 Sen. Betsy Johnson who resigned Dec. 15 to focus on her run for Oregon’s governorship, and at 1:30 p.m. to interview candidates[Read More…]
