Oregon Citizens Lobby

Watch Out; Predictions for the 2024 Short Session

Posted on January 31, 2024 by BJ | 0 Comments

Excerpts from Rep. Scharf’s newsletter on 1-31-24… Measure 110 Plan: The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response released a framework on Jan. 23rd in respond to soaring overdose deaths and widespread open-air drug use on Oregon streets. However, it fell short of delivering on what voters are saying in every poll – Recriminalize drugs. (Willamette Week). The Democrat…

House Republicans introduce bill to end Measure 110

Posted on January 25, 2024 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon House Republican lawmakers on Thursday (Jan 11, 2024) released details of a proposal that would end Measure 110 by mandating misdemeanor penalties for drug possession and treatment to avoid jail. House Republicans want to make possession of small amounts of fentanyl, heroin and meth a class A misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in jail, a fine of…

2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW

Posted on January 24, 2024 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon’s 2024 legislative session will begin Monday, Feb. 5 and is scheduled to adjourn Sunday, March. 10. At 35 days, such short sessions are designed to handle emergencies and to rebalance state budgets, which are adopted during longer sessions that occur during odd-numbered years. Short sessions are not well suited to manage complex policy bills. What can Oregonians and businesses…

Kotek submits only 1 bill? (proof her listening tour was a sham)

Posted on January 19, 2024 by BJ | 0 Comments

The Taxpayers Association of Oregon found this interesting statement in Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s press release this week: “Governor Tina Kotek announced details of her 2024 legislative housing production proposal today. The provisions in Senate Bill 1537 (Legislative Concept 19) are based on months of broad stakeholder engagement and is the only bill she is introducing this year.” That is…

TAX ALERT! LAWMAKERS DRAFT STATEWIDE PROPERTY TAX BILL.

Posted on January 17, 2024 by BJ | 5 Comments

Why won’t they leave us alone! In preparation for the February Special Legislative Session, a draft bill has been introduced (LC 22) which would create a statewide property tax! It would allow politicians to set the property tax rates instead of the presumably existing system of letting local county voters and local neighborhoods decide. Who better to decide your property…

Contact the Secretary of State

Posted on November 11, 2023 by BJ | 0 Comments

From Rep. Ed Diehl’s (R, HD17) newsletter… Fighting for Your Right to Free Speech Friends, Our 1st Amendment Rights are being threatened in the State of Oregon. Oregon legislators from both the House and the Senate joined with me on a letter to the Oregon Secretary of State demanding an immediate halt to the implementation of a contract with a UK-based,…

OREGON GUN CONTROL BILLS

Posted on March 4, 2023 by Donna | 0 Comments

GOVERNOR, AG LAYOUT 5 GUN CONTROL BILLS By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum teamed up with gun control political activist group Moms Demand Action yesterday to announce a big agenda of gun control bills and projects. The gun control agenda includes: – HB 2005: Banning the sale of self-made firearms…

Oregon to tackle universal healthcare

Posted on December 16, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

The chair of a legislative task force presented a plan to a panel of Oregon lawmakers Thursday (12/8/22) at the state Capitol that would fundamentally change health care insurance in Oregon and create a public system that would provide coverage for every person in the state. Dr. Bruce Goldberg told the members of the Senate Interim Committee on Health Care…

LAWMAKERS LAY GROUND FOR INCOME TAX INCREASE

Posted on December 16, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

Last week a draft bill has been introduced in the Legislative Revenue Committee and it deals with Oregon income taxes. The draft bill (LC 1581) is very simple, it requires the State Capitol Revenue Office to study Oregon’s income tax and make recommendations to lawmakers. Here are 4 reasons why you should concerned. #1. Legislative studies are the first step…

Will Oregon follow California, Washington in banning gas powered car sales?

Posted on September 7, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced last week that the state would join California in phasing out new gas and diesel car sales by 2035. This has many people talking and wondering if Oregon will be next. Seventeen other states, including Oregon, are now considering following California and Washington’s lead and requiring all new cars, pickups and…

New Rules for Bad Bill

Posted on August 30, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

Newsletter from Sen. Kim Thatcher, SD13, 8-30-22: Dear Friends, HD 3291, passed in the 2021 Session making it even more possible to manipulate our elections. According to HB 3291, ballots postmarked the day of the election and received no later than a week afterward will be counted. Now, there is notice of a rulemaking public hearing to create the Rules that…

‘Large scale changes’ not expected for updated Oregon wildfire risk map

Posted on August 7, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

The Oregon Department of Forestry has taken down its latest version of its Wildfire Risk Map after receiving backlash from nearly 2,000 Oregonians. Many of the complaints surrounded a concern that the map would cause insurance rates to increase for those in higher risk areas. Sunriver resident Bill Worden said he’s done everything he can on his property to lower…

DEQ Clean Fuels Program Expansion Rulemaking

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Donna | 1 Comments

DEQ invites public input on proposed permanent rule amendments and new Oregon Administrative Rules. The policy objective of the Clean Fuels Program Expansion 2022 Rulemaking is to expand the program’s carbon intensity reduction requirements beyond the currently adopted 10 percent reduction in average carbon intensity by 2025. The new long-term targets will create certainty for investment in and deployment of…

Oregon Tribal Student Grant program seeks to improve access to higher education

Posted on June 20, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

A new grant program aims to help members of the Oregon’s nine federally recognized Native American tribes with the cost of attending college next academic year. The Oregon Tribal Student Grant program will cover attendance costs, beyond what federal and state financial aid cover, at eligible colleges or universities in the state. Students can use the money for tuition, and…

Pacific Power 14.16% rate increase proposal

Posted on May 24, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

(Exert from Rep. David Gomberg (D, HD10) newsletter, dated 5-23-22) The Oregon Public Utility Commission is hosting a virtual public comment hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 24. The event provides Pacific Power customers an opportunity to speak directly to the commissioners about the utility’s proposed increase to electricity rates. Pacific Power is asking for an increase in its general…

Democrat Lawmakers Quit Because They Didn’t Get Their Way

Posted on March 2, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

Three members of the legislature in Oregon announced this week they’re quitting . [The three state representatives, Karin Power, Rachel Prusak, and Anna Williams]. The reason they give is telling. They say it’s a full time job with part time pay. This kind of whining makes me sick. The average Oregonian makes 55-thousand a year. State lawmakers make 33-thousand, plus…

Bill that would require higher OT for Oregon farmworkers lives another day

Posted on February 15, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

A proposal to require higher overtime wages for Oregon farmworkers will remain in play for the rest of the 2022 legislative session. The House Business and Labor Committee has voted 7-4 to refer House Bill 4002 to the House Revenue Committee, which isn’t subject to legislative deadlines that cull proposed legislation. “I will continue to advocate for its passage because…

Bill would require most businesses to accept cold, hard cash

Posted on February 14, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

Most businesses in Oregon would be required to accept cash as payment under a bill being considered in Salem. Senate Bill 1565 would mean that stores would have to take cash or coins. Supporters say doing so is a matter of fairness for people who don’t use traditional banking, either by choice or because they can’t get an account. “Some…

Rep. Reschke: Review of legislature’s first week

Posted on February 6, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

New Speaker of the House For the first time in 9 years, Oregon’s House of Representatives has a new Speaker of the House: Representative Dan Rayfield of Corvallis. How Speaker Rayfield will differ from the previous Speaker is yet to be seen. Bills I introduced two bills on the opening day of session: • HJR 201 – Ending the Governor’s…

Rep. Reschke bills: Stop endless emergencies. End medical discrimination.

Posted on January 29, 2022 by BJ | 2 Comments

State Representative Reschke announced he will introduce two bills for the 2022 short legislative session, which begins in Salem on February 1st. End the State of Emergency HJR 201 is a resolution, that upon passage, would immediately terminate the Governor’s state of emergency declaration that first began March 2020. The resolution does not require the Governor’s signature to take effect,…

Sex Work Decriminalization Campaign Withdraws Petition

Posted on January 26, 2022 by BJ | 1 Comments

An advocacy group seeking to decriminalize sex work through a ballot initiative withdrew its petition Jan. 21. “We are fully committed to decriminalizing and destigmatizing sex work in Oregon,” Anne Marie Bäckstöm, political director of the Sex Worker Rights campaign, tells WW. “We withdrew Initiative Petition 42 to take a chance and tweak and improve the policy. We have never…

Oregon sales tax to pay for $750 monthly checks to poor

Posted on January 26, 2022 by BJ | 2 Comments

The bills to be debated during the 35-day Oregon Special Session have been introduced this week. House Bill 4079, sponsored by State Representative Brad Witt would create a sales tax in order to give debit cards to lower income people loaded with $750 monthly payments. The sales tax would hit electronic goods, computers, cell-phones, certain vehicles and certain clothing of…

Sen. Linthicum: Oregon saw nation’s 4th largest charter school increase

Posted on January 25, 2022 by BJ | 0 Comments

Sen. Linthicum Observes School Choice Week By Introducing Legislation to Expand Educational Opportunity SALEM, Ore. – Today marks the beginning of National School Choice Week. The week is dedicated to the stories of students and families who have found the best school for them. Research shows that students in states with more educational opportunities perform better on key educational attainment…

Supporters of ranked choice voting file petitions to implement it statewide

Posted on January 25, 2022 by BJ | 1 Comments

Supporters of a voting method that allows people to rank candidates in order of preference want to give Oregonians the chance to use the method in statewide elections. It’s called “ranked choice voting.” In Oregon, it’s been used on a limited basis in Benton County. It’s used statewide in Maine and in some American cities. Supporters of the method in…

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 | 2 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 Donna | 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 Donna | 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 Donna | 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…

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