Oregon Citizens Lobby

Committees to Be Held Virtually During 2022 Session Due to Surge in COVID-19 Cases

Posted on January 17, 2022 by BJ | 1 Comments

Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek announced Monday that all committee meetings during the upcoming 2022 Legislative Session will be conducted virtually. The decision was made based on input from infectious disease doctors from Oregon Health & Science University and public health experts amid the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. “We are committed to ensuring the legislative…

New law requires Oregon tobacco retailers to be licensed

Posted on January 4, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

Tobacco retailers in Oregon must now be licensed. That’s because of a new law that took effect this month. The new license costs $953 a year and applies to stores that sell tobacco of any kind, including vaping products. The money will go toward education programs to prevent underage tobacco use, as well as increased enforcement of age limits….

Oregon’s political numbers as election year dawns

Posted on January 1, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

Saturday may be New Year’s Day, but for hardcore political watchers, the first toot of a 2022 party horn also sounds the dawn of an election year full of numbers to remember and crunch. A few key counts: It’s 69 days until the March 8 deadline to file to run for most political offices. And 139 days until the May…

2022 brings changes to Oregon law approved in 2021 session

Posted on January 1, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

SALEM, Ore. — 2022 brings a fresh start for us all, and it also means a lot of bills passed in Oregon during the 2021 session go into effect. On police reform, Senate Bill 621 gives Portland the go-ahead to create its new citizen-led police oversight board. Previously, state labor law was unclear on if the city and police union…

Oregon Prepares To Expand Coverage to Undocumented Adults

Posted on December 29, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

The free coverage offered under the Oregon Health Plan will soon be open to people regardless of their immigration status. “Cover All People,” which the Legislature passed in the 2021 regular session through House Bill 3352, will extend the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan to low-income adults who are undocumented immigrants. Lawmakers appropriated $100 million in state funding for the program,…

Gov. Brown raises 36-cent gas tax, utility costs — without a vote!

Posted on December 17, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Our democratically elected lawmakers did not pass a Carbon Tax in the past Legislative Sessions. Not getting her way, Oregon Governor Kate Brown decided to take the law into her own hands by using her Governor’s Executive power to pass a Carbon Tax anyways. This week Governor Brown,’s Department of Environmental Quality passed a new Carbon Tax Scheme that studies…

Oregon Legislature commits money to eviction protection, drought relief in one-day session

Posted on December 14, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The Oregon Legislature voted to extend the state’s eviction “safe harbor” for those who have applied for rental assistance and also allotted $215 million in state and federal dollars toward supporting landlords and tenants during a one-day special legislative session Monday. The legislation passed as an estimated 8,000 Oregonians are at risk of eviction for non-payment of rent due to…

Rep. David Brock Smith: Special Session is a political stunt

Posted on December 12, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Second Special Session is Not Necessary and is a Political Stunt in the Attempt to Mask Democrat Failures to Oregonians SALEM, ORE. – Representative David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) calls out the failures of the Governor and her Democrat Supermajority to get resources to Oregonians that need them and condemns the purely political fanfare of a Special Session as their…

Gov. Kate Brown’s executive version of cap-and-trade nears the finish line

Posted on December 9, 2021 by BJ | 3 Comments

Oregon Democrats attempted to adopt a similar program in 2019 and 2020 but were blocked by GOP walkouts. This version comes from the governor’s office. SALEM, Ore. — After years of failed attempts, Oregon is poised to enact a cap-and-trade program to combat climate change. Unlike past attempts, this version comes from the governor’s office rather than the state legislature….

Talks resume over overtime for farmworkers

Posted on December 7, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Political posturing is becoming a holiday tradition in Oregon. Earlier the Governor called for a special session to provide funding for rental assistance. The response was mixed, as House Speaker (and Democratic gubernatorial candidate) Tina Kotek supports the session, Senate President Peter Courtney is somewhat hesitant, and Republicans noted that the Legislature’s Emergency Board could provide funding without a special…

Oregonians can bid for lower taxes while funding scholarships through state auction

Posted on December 5, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

An upcoming auction for tax credits could save winners anywhere from $50 to $1.12 million on state taxes, all while funding Oregon’s largest needs-based scholarship program. The online auction is in its fourth year, and offers bidders the opportunity to shave their tax bill and direct a portion of what they would pay in taxes to college scholarships. From Monday,…

Gov. Brown wants offshore wind farms, otters and heat pumps to help fight global warming

Posted on December 3, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Oregon’s governor shared her takeaways from the Glasgow Climate Change Summit with KGW’s Pat Dooris. PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown wants offshore wind turbines off the southern Oregon Coast as the state combats a warming planet. It’s just one takeaway she brought back from attending the Glasgow Climate Change Summit (COP 26) in Scotland in November. The windy…

Gov. Brown expects special session to focus on housing, also cover drought, illegal pot

Posted on December 2, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

The federal government sent Oregon $289 million to help cover rent. From that money, the state has paid out $157 million to 23,155 applicants. PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said a special session of the legislature is needed to address several issues, the biggest of which is housing. She said she’s worried about people who fell behind in…

Oregon lawmakers request $18 million to support the resettlement of 1,200 refugees

Posted on November 27, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

Legislative Emergency Board will consider the request based on a 12-month plan outlined by Rep. Khanh Pham and Sen. Kayse Jama who have led Oregon’s effort to welcome Afghan refugees. Oregon lawmakers leading the effort to resettle Afghan refugees are asking the Legislature’s emergency board for an additional $18 million to expand services and capacity. In a letter issued last…

Oregon lifts outdoor mask mandate, effective immediately

Posted on November 24, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

Oregonians no longer must wear masks in public outdoor settings, state health officials said Tuesday, lifting a COVID-19 pandemic mandate in place nearly three months. The state has since late August required that everyone wear a mask in a public, outdoor space where social distancing isn’t possible, regardless of vaccination status. The decision to lift the mandate reflected the state’s…

House Minority Leader Christine Drazan Is Planning to Run for Governor

Posted on November 23, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The Canby Republican represents a significant new entrant to a crowded field. In a notable addition to the field of possible gubernatorial candidates, House Minority Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) has announced her intentions to enter the race in the coming weeks. Drazan is a well-respected legislator, known as an effective political strategist and a clear communicator. “Over the past few…

Scramble is on for Salem seats following Supreme Court OK of district maps

Posted on November 23, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Long-delayed campaigns for the 2022 Oregon Legislature were given a green light on Monday by the state Supreme Court. The justices dismissed a pair of lawsuits seeking to block a redistricting plan approved on Sept. 27 by the Legislature and Gov. Kate Brown. The filings claimed Democrats had drawn districts that would build on their current supermajorities in Salem. Democrats…

ODE Workgroup Assessments

Posted on November 22, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

Oregon State Board Assessment Workgroup claims they are addressing what matters to you, and what is that? They say you care most about “ODE’s vision and values for statewide assessment systems.” Those values they say are “holding space for multiple truths.” Those truths are identified in “the legacy of high-stakes, standardized assessments.” SB 744, passed in 2021, exposes the “legacy”…

Lawsuit seeks to overturn Oregon’s first-in-nation ban on home buying ‘love letters’

Posted on November 21, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

A new Oregon law that bans so-called “love letters,” personal notes from prospective homebuyers to home sellers, has drawn a lawsuit seeking to invalidate it on First Amendment grounds before it takes effect in 2022. The lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Portland by the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation says the Oregon Legislature had no justification for making…

Zero emissions truck plan gets green light from Oregon regulators

Posted on November 18, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Will Oregon’s truckers give this a green light? ***** Oregon regulators on Wednesday [11-17-21] approved a plan to shift heavy trucks and buses away from carbon-polluting fuel by gradually replacing much of the fleet with electric vehicles. The Environmental Quality Commission adopted the new clean truck rules as an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful pollution starting in…

Opinion: Anti-hunting, ranching initiative would devastate Oregon’s family farms

Posted on November 17, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

An initiative petition seeking to ban hunting and ranching is gathering signatures for inclusion on Oregon’s November 2022 ballot. IP13 criminalizes standard practices for raising cattle, sheep and other animals, including artificial insemination, ear-tagging and slaughter, reclassifying such actions as animal sexual assault and abuse. [A similar bill was introduced in the 2021 Short Session, HB 3008] If passed, IP13…

Petition launched in Oregon to decriminalize sex work

Posted on November 17, 2021 by BJ | 3 Comments

Here we go again, this idea was introduced in the 2021 Legislature Session earlier this year by Rep. Rob Noose (D, HD-42) as HB 3088. Now we’ve got a person pushing for it via the New York City-based Sex Workers Project, which is the same group who asked Rep. Rob Nosse (D, HD-42) to sponsor HB 3088, making Oregon a…

Oregon lawmakers to consider relief for those convicted by non-unanimous juries

Posted on November 17, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

The proposal follows two recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings with major implications for Oregon’s justice system Oregon lawmakers are considering legislation that could vacate convictions for hundreds of people currently serving prison sentences if they can prove they were convicted by a non-unanimous jury [This idea was presented in 2019 as well, by mostly Democrat legislators]. Members of the Senate…

NFIB Lawsuit against OSHA’s vaccine mandate

Posted on November 13, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) filed a legal challenge against the Biden Administration’s emergency temporary standard, which would mandate businesses with 100 or more employees require workers take the COVID-19 vaccine or undergo weekly testing and wear masks while at work. NFIB filed a petition for review at the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit arguing…

Senate President Peter Courtney Strips Sen. Betsy Johnson of Key Budget-Writing Role

Posted on November 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Johnson is currently co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Her looming run for governor as an independent cost her that position. Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) has stripped one of the Legislature’s most powerful and longest-serving members of her position as co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. On Nov. 3, Courtney told Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose),…

Redistricting drama continues

Posted on November 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The fallout from last month’s dramatic redistricting session continues. This week, Rep. Marty Wilde (D-Lane County) joined Republicans who are already challenging several of the state legislative district boundaries as well as the Congressional maps. Whether any of the efforts to seek legal changes will be successful is unclear. However, the legal claims add to the political drama moving into…

Law that limits mugshot releases goes into effect in Oregon this week

Posted on November 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Booking photos will no longer be released to the public in Oregon, in an effort to protect the privacy and safety of people who have not been convicted of a crime. The law prohibits the release of mugshots except in specific circumstances, such as to other law enforcement agencies and to the public in the case of an emergency. Proponents…

Oregon lawmakers urge Biden administration to reconsider free community college

Posted on November 2, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Democrats in the Oregon Legislature sent letters to the state’s U.S. congressional delegation Monday, urging them and the Biden administration to revisit a plan for free community college. President Joe Biden originally included two years of free community college in his “Build Back Better Plan,” but removed it from the spending framework last week. Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill worked…

After politicians LOWER graduation standards…drop-outs surge!

Posted on October 31, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

In the six previous years that Oregon measured how many of its students entered 10th grade on track, it was never lower than 78.5% — and that group of students went on to post a graduation rate of just 77%, second worst in the country in 2017. In 2020, the share of Oregon high school freshmen who passed enough classes…

5% Meals taxes would hurt coastal restaurants

Posted on October 31, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Both Newport and Cannon Beach have 5% Meals Tax proposals on the November 2021 ballot. Newport’s tax is Measure 21-205 which would fund public safety, library, parks, facilities and other services. Cannon Beach’s tax measure is ballot 4-210 and it would fund the Fire District and a new City Hall. Both taxes would severely hit restaurants at a terrible time….

Rep. Brian Clem, One of the Longest Serving House Democrats, Resigns

Posted on October 31, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The representative from Salem will have plenty of options. State Rep. Brian Clem (D-Salem) announced Oct. 29 he is resigning from the Legislature to take care of his ailing mother. “It has been a true honor to serve and represent the people of Salem and District 21,” Clem said in a statement. “At this time, I have decided it is…

Governor Announces Historic Timber Agreement: Proposed changes to Forest Practices Act to be brought before Legislature

Posted on October 31, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today (10-30-21) announced that nearly ten months of negotiations between private forestry representatives, small forestland owners, conservation leaders, and fishing organizations has resulted in a historic proposal for new protections for sensitive species on over 10 million acres of forestland in Oregon. The proposal seeks to meet the federal standards for a statewide Habitat…

Bad reputation has large conventions skipping Portland, tourism report says

Posted on October 29, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s reputation has taken a bit of a beating recently, and as a result organizations and companies that thought about holding big conventions here, bringing tourists and money with them, are now looking elsewhere. That’s according to a recent tourism report by Travel Portland. The agency presented its finding to Portland city commissioners earlier this week. “Here’s…

Clear connections between Klamath marijuana grows and Mexican cartels

Posted on October 24, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Many of the illegal marijuana grows in Klamath County have been linked to national and international criminal organizations, and the breadth of the problem has overwhelmed local law enforcement and justice systems and has begun to deplete county resources. Two major marijuana busts in Klamath County just this month led to the seizure of more than $140 million worth of…

Oregon Senate Republicans select a new leader as more walkouts potentially loom

Posted on October 23, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Sen. Tim Knopp, a Bend Republican known for being more moderate than many of his GOP colleagues, will lead a caucus under immense pressure to boycott Salem to block Democratic priorities. A longtime lawmaker and Bend Republican will serve as the Oregon Senate Republicans’ newest leader, taking the role at a time when the caucus is deeply divided and fighting…

What’s with the time switch?

Posted on October 19, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

A short excerpt from Rep. Gomberg’s (D, HD-10) newsletter (10-19-21): Come November, Oregon will fall back to standard time as always. Why, you might be wondering, are we doing this again? Didn’t we change the law so we don’t ever have to go back to standard time? Well, we did! In 2019 I was pleased to support SB 320 which…

Undocumented workers can now receive second round of financial assistance

Posted on October 16, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Undocumented workers, who do not qualify for unemployment or stimulus checks, can apply for a second round of relief payments through the Oregon Worker Relief Fund. SALEM, Ore. — Throughout the pandemic, undocumented people have been ineligible for federal and state unemployment benefits and stimulus checks. In Oregon, the absence of that support led to the creation of the Oregon…

Republican legislator Bill Post, who moved to Nevada, resigns effective Nov. 30

Posted on October 13, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

After announcing in late September that he had moved to Nevada, Republican state Rep. Bill Post submitted his resignation Tuesday from his position as the House District 25 representative effective Nov. 30. “After further discussions with an elections attorney and talking it over with my wife, it appears that the best action I can take for my district and my…

Oregon governor race: New York Times columnist forms fundraising group

Posted on October 13, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnist and author, is the latest person to take an official step into the wide-open 2022 race for governor of Oregon. Kristof filed Tuesday to create a campaign committee. Eight Democrats, counting Kristof, and 12 Republicans have established committees that enable them to raise money for the May 17, 2022, primary election. The candidacy filing…

Former Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno files suit to challenge Dems’ congressional redistricting map

Posted on October 13, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Clarno is one of four Republican plaintiffs in a suit alleging that Democrats’ plan amounts to illegal, blatant gerrymandering. Former Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno and three other Oregon Republicans have filed a challenge to new congressional districts recently passed by state lawmakers, arguing the plan amounts to blatant partisan gerrymandering that is unconstitutional and contrary to state law….

Redistricting Gerrymandering

Posted on September 22, 2021 by dbleiler | 1 Comments

Senate Republicans Comment on Redistricting Gerrymandering 5th consecutive session with restricted public access Oregon Senate Democrats rammed through partisan gerrymandered redistricting plans that will rig elections for the next decade. The Congressional Plan, by far the most egregious, creates 5 solidly Democratic districts. This would give Democrats control of 86% of Oregon’s congressional delegation, despite Oregonians never giving Democrats 86%…

The Leader of Oregon House Republicans Suggests They Could Walk Out Over Tina Kotek’s Redistricting Maneuver

Posted on September 22, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

“I think if you’re not going to keep your deal, you’re not going to keep it. This is just who she is.” With one week left until the deadline for redrawing Oregon’s congressional districts, and adding a new, sixth district, House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) is playing partisan hardball. And her Republican counterpart is crying foul. By Sept. 27, the…

Oregon Dems void power-sharing redistricting deal with GOP

Posted on September 22, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

(AP) — The Democratic speaker of the Oregon House on Monday rescinded a deal she made with Republicans to share power as lawmakers redraw political boundaries and add an additional U.S. House seat for the state. The now defunct agreement made earlier this year had drawn national attention because Democrats, who have overwhelming majorities in the Legislature, had agreed to…

Oregon Democrats Unveil Their Redistricting Proposal, Setting Up Partisan Clash In Salem

Posted on September 19, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Following hours of testimony and accusations of gerrymandering, the state’s majority party unveiled maps it says meet “the highest legal standards.” An analysis tool suggests the plan biased. Oregon Democrats will press forward next week with a plan that would likely give their party dominance over the state’s congressional landscape, potentially dooming one facet of a special legislative session before…

Brown calls special session for Oregon redistricting

Posted on September 11, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Kate Brown says the Oregon Legislature will return to the Capitol Sept. 20 for a special session to adopt new congressional and legislative district maps. The state Constitution does not allow the governor to limit the length of a special session, but Brown on Friday asked that lawmakers act “expeditiously.” The Statesman Journal reports the…

Alert: Redistricting Talking Points

Posted on September 8, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Important Newsletter from Senator Kim Thatcher (9-7-21); Dear Friends, The Senate Republican Caucus staff has been working all weekend to get something together to help you testify on the proposed redistricting plans. You will find links below for talking points for the hearings for Congressional Districts 1 – 4 and the overlapping House and Senate districts. We’re hoping to have…

Sandy mayor Stan Pulliam announces run for Oregon governor in 2022

Posted on September 8, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

SANDY, Ore. – Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam on Tuesday officially announced a run for the Republican ticket in Oregon’s upcoming 2022 race for governor. Pulliam initially announced an exploratory committee into possibly joining the race earlier this year. The mayor has been a vocal critic of some of the measures Oregon put in place during the coronavirus pandemic. Pulliam urged…

Guest Column: The injustice of forced union dues

Posted on September 7, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

America’s working men and women have faced unprecedented challenges over the course of the pandemic, and on Labor Day, we shouldn’t only be remembering their dedication but redoubling our efforts to protect their individual rights in the workplace. That means there is work to do in Oregon, because it is one of the 23 states lacking a “right-to-work” law. In…

Oregon lawmakers to hear from public on redrawing congressional districts

Posted on September 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon is set to get an additional congressional seat, but right now, we don’t know where that new district will be. The legislature has to make a decision by the end of the month. KATU News spoke with Representatives Andrea Salinas (D) of Lake Oswego and Shelly Boshart Davis (R) of Albany on Saturday about how this…

Labor Day kicks off the 2022 election season in Oregon

Posted on September 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Ready or not, Oregon, the 2022 election season is here. Labor Day weekend of odd-numbered years is the traditional kickoff of serious campaign activity aimed at the ballot voters will mark in 14 months. If anything, 2021 has a running start. The busy summer needs a primer to catch up on what’s happened and what’s coming up that will have…

Oregon State troopers, firefighters suing Gov. Brown over vaccine mandate

Posted on September 4, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

SALEM, OR (KPTV) – A group of Oregon State Troopers and firefighters is suing Gov. Kate Brown over the vaccine mandate for state employees. The Fraternal Order of Police, a firefighters group in Klamath Falls, and nine Oregon State Police are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Brown and the state of Oregon are named as defendants. The lawsuit claims the…

News Release: inherent conflict of interest after Oregon Legislature releases first drafts of district maps

Posted on September 4, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT Norman Turrill (503) 807-4863 People Not Politicians highlights inherent conflict of interest after Oregon Legislature releases first drafts of district maps PORTLAND—People Not Politicians released the following statement today (Sep 3) after the Oregon House and Senate Redistricting Committees released their first legislative and congressional district map drafts. “There is no amount…

Miller: Brown’s dam-busting lawsuit is bad for clean energy

Posted on September 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Kurt Miller is executive director of Northwest RiverPartners. He argues a state lawsuit would hurt clean energy plans A few years ago, I attended a meeting where then-Secretary of State Kate Brown was the featured speaker. I didn’t know much about Brown, but I came away impressed with her knowledge on different policy issues as she took questions from the…

Oregon House Speaker Kotek announces run for governor

Posted on September 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

PORTLAND — Tina Kotek, the Speaker of the Oregon House, announced Thursday (Aug 26, ’21) she is running for governor. Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat like Kotek, cannot run for re-election in 2022 due to term limits. Kotek, a Portland lawmaker, has led the state House since 2013. “Oregonians are living through a devastating pandemic, the intensifying impacts of climate…

New Redistricting Public Hearing Schedule – All Virtual Meetings

Posted on September 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The new schedule for the September Redistricting Public Hearings can be found below. Meetings will be held virtually and organized to hear from residents of each current congressional district. Oregonians can participate by signing up for video or phone testimony, uploading written testimony, or by submitting a map for consideration by September 7. If you are unsure of which congressional district you live…

Fighting Back for Our Students

Posted on August 25, 2021 by dbleiler | 1 Comments

Building Back Basics in Education “I do a lot of public record’s requests to see what the district is doing” Jeanette Schade is becoming a national recognized name for what she is doing to restore the Oregon education system. Her journey started when she ran for Beaverton School Board, but as soon as she started campaigning against critical race theory…

Letter to the editor: Oregonians can stop gun lockup bill

Posted on August 25, 2021 by BJ | 3 Comments

Should Oregon’s government require you to lock up your guns in your own home? If you say no, you can — with one simple action — help keep it from doing so. Last spring, Senate Bill 554 was passed by Oregon’s Democrat-supermajority legislature and signed by Gov. Kate Brown. If enacted, the bill will require you to keep your guns…

Malheur County sheriff calls out governor, won’t enforce mandates and will challenge new ones

Posted on August 25, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Brian Wolfe, Malheur County sheriff, opposes state mandates for masks and vaccines in a letter to Gov. Kate Brown. Wolfe said individuals should look out for their own health. “It’s not the government’s job to protect our health,” he wrote. VALE – Malheur County Sheriff Brian Wolfe has written a letter rejecting Gov. Kate Brown’s mask and vaccination mandates as…

Editorial: The Legislature is eyeing your property taxes

Posted on August 24, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Heads up, homeowners. For Oregon reformers, you are next. A legislative committee is meeting this week to look at property taxes. Will you end up paying less? Or more? We don’t know exactly what ideas the committee will consider. But it’s not hard to guess, because legislators bring some ideas up repeatedly. The big one is: Reset on sale. Property…

Local Control: Sheriff to Gov. Brown: ‘The people of Columbia County want our county back’

Posted on August 23, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley has posted a letter to Gov. Kate Brown on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Facebook page stating he will not enforce the state’s latest COVID-19 health and safety requirements. The following is Pixley’s letter to Gov. Brown. “I write to you today on behalf of the citizens of Columbia County in hopes of opening a dialogue….

Gov. Brown turns blind eye against these victims

Posted on August 23, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Why is Kate Brown turning a blind eye toward human trafficking in her own state? Officials from Josephine County put her on notice about the criminal activity this week…and some of those reps were from the Governor’s own political party. Commissioner Herman Baertschiger came on my talk show yesterday to explain what police found in his county just days ago….

Oregon’s 2021 Energy Regulations Are Already Hurting Consumers

Posted on August 23, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Did you just have an order for a desktop computer or gaming system canceled by Dell? You have Oregon elected officials to thank for that. Dell recently stated that it will cancel all orders of certain energy-intensive computer systems to Oregon and five other states due to local energy regulations. For example, the below notification is displayed when shopping for…

Redistricting Opportunity

Posted on August 21, 2021 by dbleiler | 0 Comments

How Would You Draw Redistricting? Oregonians have watched from afar as the Senate and House Redistricting Committees, chaired by Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) and Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego) held meetings. Next step is public hearing around the state to begin September 8 in Bend. But, before those meeting start, Oregonians have an opportunity to show their creativity and submit their…

Curry Co. Commissioners pass resolution to not enforce state covid related mandates

Posted on August 18, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

CURRY COUNTY, Ore — Curry County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution earlier this month, stating that it would not enforce any state covid-19 related mandates. The commissioners unanimously passed the resolution during a weekly public meeting on August 4th. The order applies to any future closures of schools or businesses due to covid. In the letter to Governor Kate…

Union County sheriff publishes letter encouraging citizens to ‘stand up’ in this ‘free country’

Posted on August 18, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

LA GRANDE — Frustration. That is the theme echoing throughout Union County Sheriff Cody Bowen’s personal letter to Gov. Kate Brown regarding the recent statewide mask mandate for public schools. Bowen listed his reasons for concern and called for local control on decision making in a letter sent to Brown on Friday, Aug. 13, and posted on social media. “I…

Portlanders want to see change in form of government, elections

Posted on July 19, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland’s charter commission is moving forward after initial public comments from the community. The independent commission held a public information session last month featuring various organizations and Portland residents speaking up about what they would like to see reviewed within the charter. The two-hour meeting discussed topics such as electoral reform, possibly changing the city’s form…

WHEN THE POLICE GO AWAY, THE CRIMINALS WILL PLAY

Posted on July 19, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Portland is on its way to having more than three shootings per day. Last year amid nationwide protests, Portlanders were among some of the loudest voices shouting, “Defund the Police.” Last summer, Mayor Ted Wheeler disbanded the city’s Gun Violence Reduction team, claiming that the team excessively targeted black people. What do we have to show for it? As expected,…

Another Spotted Owl?

Posted on July 19, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Prepare for more crack-downs on logging… Oregon approves petition to reclassify marbled murrelet as endangered The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved Friday, July 10, a petition filed by five conservation groups to give marbled murrelets more protection by reclassifying them from threatened to endangered under the state’s Endangered Species Act. The 4-3 decision comes two years after an Oregon…

Dems blast Dems for arrogant and suicidal moves as 2022 redistricting starts

Posted on July 18, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

A pandemic political deal and feuding Democrats have made for a noisy start to the makeover of Oregon’s congressional maps in time for the 2022 election. What was supposed to be a solo slam dunk has turned into a three-way high speed slam dance. Not just Democrats vs. Republicans, but Democrats vs. Democrats. “It’s just inexplicable and arrogant,” U.S. Rep….

Recall effort against Sen. Findley gets official signal to collect signatures

Posted on July 17, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

A recall effort against Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, has been officially approved to begin circulating petitions, the Secretary of State said Thursday. The Findley recall was approved to circulate petitions on July 7. Proponents now have until 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 13, to submit at least 8,289 valid signatures. “Each petition signer must be an active registered voter in…

Next Kim Thatcher discusses vaccine verification, Mike Nearman and more

Posted on July 17, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

State Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keiser, felt that there were flashes of good policy making at the recently concluded Oregon legislative session. But the Wilsonville representative, who is a member of the minority party, wished bipartisanship had been more prevalent. “That’s my favorite part of legislating,” she said. “I wish it would happen more often.” Thatcher brought forward a few notable…

Findley and Owens discuss the legislative session

Posted on July 14, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

As the legislative session wrapped up, state Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, and Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane, held a virtual town hall and had a lot to discuss. One of the items at the top of the list for both lawmakers was the drought. Findley said one of the most significant “side effects” of drought are the wildfires. He touted wil…

Gov’t shows they don’t need your vote

Posted on July 13, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

You might be under the impression that we live in a country governed by the people’s representatives. Think again. More than 20 percent of Oregon’s House reps were APPOINTED to their positions by elites in government. Yes, they had to run for RE-election to their spots. But the power of incumbency is such that once you’re in, anyone running against…

Oregon Lawmakers Finally Found a Way to Halt Carbon Emissions—and Not a Moment Too Soon

Posted on July 8, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The bill requires the state’s electrical grid to rely on renewable energy. [One would think this would put an instant stop to removing the RENEWABLE ENERGY hydroelectric dams in Klamath River, but is that even mentioned? No, of course not.] On the first of three days of 110-degree temperatures that shattered records and killed at least 107 people in Oregon,…

Governor Kate Brown Directs State Agencies to Conserve Water in Drought

Posted on July 8, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Gov Brown, who’s backing the removal of four Klamath Dams, now issues an executive order for most state agencies to conserve water due to drought conditions. How long before she issues one like this for everyone else in Oregon? ***** SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order Wednesday directing [most] state agencies to stop watering…

Call Governor to stop 17% tax hike

Posted on July 7, 2021 by BJ | 3 Comments

SB 139 the controversial 17% small business tax hike has faced bipartisan opposition as seven Democrat lawmakers voted against it and all Republican lawmakers voted against it helping to make the tax one of the most unpopular bills of the 2021 Legislature. If SB 139 passes, Oregon would be among the few places in America with the audacity to raise…

Marquis: Don’t change rules on prison inmate voting rights

Posted on July 6, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

This last, painful session of the Oregon Legislature was difficult for many reasons. The building was utterly off limits to everyone but legislators and their staff, meaning there was no ability to “lobby” legislators or staff, and the actual hearings were remote, meaning there was none of the usual interchange, conversation and rarely even any questions. The result has been…

2ND AMENDMENT PETITION TO REPEAL SB 554

Posted on July 6, 2021 by BJ | 4 Comments

I hear it everywhere I go. People approach me and express their frustration with Oregon’s political direction. Then they ask me, “What can I do?” This year the Oregon Legislature passed SB 554 — yet another gun control bill. I could go into all the details of what this bill does, but to sum it up, SB 554 erodes your…

Talk to the Mask

Posted on July 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

In the year plus of going around the merry-go-round about masks with this, that, and the other experts weighing in, some conclude Occam’s Razor applies appropriately to the mask question. The simplest explanation may be the most accurate explanation. Mask boxes and packages made in Communist Party China warn consumers masks are not for viruses. Some directly read “…not for…

The Oregon Wizard of Oz

Posted on July 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Businesses always had the power… Some Oregon businesses remained open throughout 2020-2021 by taking their rights of due process without taking OSHA or Oregon governor Kate “The Wizard of Oz” Brown to court. Throughout Brown’s many television appearance edicts that violated the Oregon emergency law, ORS 401.165(5), she acted as though Oregonians would obey her words. Some Oregon businesses kept…

Dirty Voter Rolls

Posted on July 4, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Janice Dysinger, President of Oregonians for Fair Elections, is a member of the newly formed Clean Voter Rolls Petition Committee that has filed Referendum 302 which would veto HB 2681, introduced by Representative Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis). Their website, CleanVoterRolls.com, provides a printable petition and explains why a referendum is needed: Oregon voter rolls will become dirty and bloated if we…

From the editor’s desk: Ballot initiative would have grave implications

Posted on July 4, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

It’s not on the ballot yet, and wouldn’t be until next November (2022). But if the current Initiative Petition 13 gets to voters and passes in 2022, it would radically change how animals can be handled statewide — and ruin many livelihoods in the process. However, in reading the text, it needs to be looked at as one thing and…

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon introduces bill to protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence

Posted on July 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D) has joined with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to introduce a bill intended to protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence. The bill is partly named after Nicolette Elias, a 46-year-old Portland woman fatally shot by her ex- husband Ian Martin Elias in her Southwest Portland home in 2014. A court had granted her restraining orders…

DONOR PRIVACY RULING DEFENDS AGAINST OREGON POLITICAL HARASSMENT

Posted on July 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Donor privacy began during the 1950s when government tried to force the NAACP to disclose its donors so they could be harassed. The US Supreme Court defended them then, and the US Supreme Court defends them again today in Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta. The NAACP along with other liberal liberal and conservative groups (ACLU, PBS Reno, CATO, US Chamber, etc.)…

Out-of-state lawmakers come to Oregon, criticize Portland’s handling of violence

Posted on July 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Two U.S. lawmakers called out local leaders for not doing enough to stop the violence in Portland. U.S. Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Southwest Washington, and John Katko, R-New York, held a joint news conference Thursday to highlight the rising crime in the Portland area. They say defunding the police is a big part of the problem. “When you take money…

Public Hearings on Redistricting coming in September

Posted on July 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

On Wednesday, June 16, the Senate and House Redistricting Committees held their final meetings of the 2021 regular legislative session. The committee chairs and staff discussed the work of the committees during session as well as plans for the committees once the final U.S. Census data arrives in August. To watch a recording of the hearing follow this link. Tentative…

Laws prevent statewide fireworks bans in Oregon

Posted on July 1, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Governors in both Oregon and Washington do not have the power to ban fireworks for the entire state, so it’s left up to city and county agencies. With tinder-dry conditions in the Pacific Northwest, many Oregon and Washington fire agencies have temporarily banned the use of fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The patchwork bans have left some…

Sampling of what the legislators did in the 2021 Session.

Posted on June 30, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Excerpt from Rep. Fahey’s (D-HD-14) 6-29-21 newsletter on the some of the bills that passed and failed in the 2020-21 session: Housing and Shelter P Shelter siting and funding (HB 2004, HB 2006, HB 5042) Breaking down barriers to siting homeless shelters; funding for navigation centers and Project Turnkey. P Affordable housing siting (SB 8, HB 2008) Breaking down barriers…

U.S. Sen. Merkley Announces Affordable Housing Bill

Posted on June 30, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Affordable housing would increase across Oregon and the nation, under a bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley Tuesday (6-29-21). Named the Affordable HOME Act, it would lower housing costs, reduce chronic homelessness, address discriminatory housing policies, and support emergency housing, if enacted. The bill would provide assistance to renters and homeowners by investing in programs geared toward bridging gaps…

Lawmakers Gamble with Education

Posted on June 29, 2021 by dbleiler | 2 Comments

[Oregonians for Liberty in Education] Oregon’s Education Gamble: Lawmakers Say Students No Longer Need Essential Skills Over the last year, Oregonians have been learning lots about what lawmakers believe is “essential.” Essential workers. Essential services. Essential travel. We have been told that pandemic-related changes are “not forever–just for now.” But 2020 school shutdowns and “Reimagine Oregon” agendas influencing lawmakers have…

CONTROVERSIAL TIMBER TAX, FARM OVERTIME BILLS DIE

Posted on June 29, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Two of the Oregon Legislative Session’s most contentious bills died in Committee as the Oregon Capitol closed their 2021 Session this weekend. Farm overtime: House Bill 2358 would have required Ag employers to pay farm workers overtime if they worked more than 40 hours in a week. This bill received many long hearings and headlines during the year but failed to…

Interim, Redistricting and Capitol Seismic Upgrades

Posted on June 28, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

From Rep. Rick Lewis’s (R, HD-18) 6-26-21 newsletter: In the interim, between now and the next session there is a great deal of work to do. Legislators have been asked to reserve the week of September 20 for a possible special session on redistricting. Redistricting is the process of redrawing legislative and congressional district lines following the decennial U.S. Census. The…

BILL PASSES LIMITING TOOLS POLICE CAN USE IN RIOT

Posted on June 28, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Among the final bills to pass in the final hours of the 2021 Session was HB 2928-B which restricts what law enforcement can use during a riot. The summary reads, “Regulates use of chemical incapacitants, kinetic impact projectiles, and sound devices by law enforcement. Prohibits the use of chemical incapacitants and kinetic impact projectiles for purposes of crowd control unless use of force…

‘Sine Die’: The highlights of Oregon’s historic 2021 legislative session

Posted on June 27, 2021 by BJ | 3 Comments

The Oregon Legislature wrapped up Saturday, (6-26-21) marking the end of an eventful session that included high profile legislation, a resignation and the first expulsion of a legislator in state history. The session, which began Jan. 21 after a two-day delay from concerns about possible attacks from right-wing extremists, saw lawmakers take up bills addressing pandemic relief, wildfire relief, police…

Lawmakers pass bill to make illegal immigrants eligible for Medicaid

Posted on June 27, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

Oregon’s State Senate on Saturday (6-26-21) passed a bill that would make illegal immigrants in the state eligible for Medicaid-funded medical services — sending the legislation to Democratic Gov. Kate Brown for signature. The bill, HB 335, expands eligibility to adults who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid-funded state medical assistance program but are excluded due to their immigration status. It passed…

GOV. BROWN EMERGENCY POWERS EXTENDED UNTIL DEC. 2021

Posted on June 27, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

Gov. Kate Brown recently announced plans to finally reopen Oregon on June 30, including rolling back mask mandates and social distancing measures. However, kids will still be wearing masks in school. This change to the COVID-19 statewide measures does not mean an end to Gov. Brown’s emergency powers. In her latest executive order, Gov. Brown is rolling back some COVID-19 restrictions, but…

Pandemic restrictions will be lifted statewide by Wednesday, 6-30-21

Posted on June 26, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon will lift pandemic limits in place for over a year no later than next week, Gov. Kate Brown said Friday. “When Oregon reaches 70% or by Wednesday, June 30, we will lift the safety programs we have relied on and open our economy,” Brown said . When the deadline passes or the goal is met, the county-by-county risk level…

Oregon Legislature set to adjourn without refunding $300 million in taxes generated by stimulus checks

Posted on June 26, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregonians won’t get a refund on $300 million in personal income taxes generated by federal stimulus payments, as the Legislature is set to conclude its 2021 regular session on Friday or early Saturday without addressing the issue. Early in the session, both Democrats and Republicans had expressed support for resolving the thorny situation and returning the money to roughly 900,000 Oregon…

Timber tax bill is finally dead

Posted on June 26, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Good News! The House’s radical rewrite of the timber tax (HB 2379) died in conference committee. The base timber tax, which funds programs in the Dept of Forestry and at the OSU forestry school has been repealed because of the House’s insistence. President Courtney explained the mess on the Senate floor. The timber tax was part of a plan to…

Bill aims to make public service more viable for low-and-moderate income Oregonians

Posted on June 25, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon lawmakers have approved a bill that’s meant to make state boards and commissions more racially and economically representative of the state’s population. House Bill 2992 would significantly bump up the per diem paid to people with modest incomes who serve on about 250 public panels. The members of these bodies are appointed by the governor and help advise and carry out…

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