Grain at a farm outside of Forest Grove. Photo: Chas Hundley Emotional and passionate testimony stretched into the night Tuesday during a legislative hearing on a proposal to require overtime pay for Oregon’s farmworkers. Legislation put forward by two Democratic lawmakers would pay farmworkers time and a half after working[Read More…]
Salem
Week one: Western Washington County’s legislators busy in first week of short session
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…]
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…]
Bill would require ODOT study, give repair recommendations for Highway 6
The junction of Highways 6 and 8 in Gales Creek on February 24, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley A bill introduced in the Oregon House of Representatives in advance of the upcoming short session beginning Feb. 1 would direct the Oregon Department of Transportation to study the Wilson River Highway (signed[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…]
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…]
Sen. Betsy Johnson will resign to focus on run for governor
State Senator Betsy Johnson in the Banks BBQ Parade on Sunday, August 22, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley Betsy Johnson will end her 20-year career in the state Legislature on Wednesday to focus all her attention on her non-affiliated run for governor. Johnson, who left the Democratic Party in October to[Read More…]
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