News Alerts :: Page 2 :: Oregon Citizens Lobby

An End to Statewide Concealed Carry

Posted on March 22, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Imagine a government so out of control that it stops at nothing to provide extended rights to criminals while removing the basic rights of law abiding American citizens. You don’t have to imagine because this is already happening on a local and national level. House Representative Brian Clem (D-Salem), Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland), and other career politicians are doing everything…

OSHA Proposes Permanent Rules on COVID-19 in all Workplaces

Posted on March 18, 2021 by dbleiler | 3 Comments

Division accepting comments through April 2 on replacement of temporary rule Salem, OR — Seeking to extend protections for workers against the coronavirus disease, Oregon OSHA is proposing a permanent rule that largely maintains – with some improvements – the risk-reducing measures required by the current temporary emergency rule. It would replace the temporary rule, which expires on May 4. The…

Kate Brown Wants Her Political Appointment Confirmed by Senate

Posted on March 18, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon’s Governor Kate Brown has announced that she has submitted a list of state board and commission appointments to the Oregon Senate for confirmation. Among those Kate Brown has selected, one choice seems to stand out as a curious selection for the Governor’s Child Foster Care Advisory Commission. It seems that Kate Brown has nominated a highly partisan Democrat operative…

Children’s Service Districts

Posted on March 5, 2021 by dbleiler | 0 Comments

Children’s Service Districts Adding more taxing districts could lead to compression Senators Chuck Riley (D-Hillsboro) and Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) are chief sponsors of SB 299 that authorizes the creation of children’s service districts. The bill provides authority to levy permanent property taxes and other taxes, and allows anyone to challenge a levy claiming it exceeds the education property tax…

Wakesports In Danger on Willamette

Posted on March 5, 2021 by dbleiler | 1 Comments

Wakesports In Danger for Oregon Summer Some watercraft may be banned Newberg Pool Congested Zone of the Willamette River has long been a contentious issue between property owners and boaters. The 20 river miles has some of the most unique boating regulations in the state due to it popularity in the summer and shoreline development. From 2010 to 2019 the…

Bill raises alcohol taxes 3000%

Posted on February 25, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Sipping a glass of wine and drinking a beer could cost a lot more in Oregon under a proposed bill that would increase alcohol taxes by as much as 3,000 percent to pay for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs. Reps. Tawna Sanchez (D-Portland) and Rachel Prusak (D-Tualatin/West Linn) sponsored House Bill 3296 to boost the wholesale tax on beer…

Politicians push 3 timber taxes on already hurting rural Oregon

Posted on February 24, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

“Fate of Oregon’s timber industry hangs in the balance. Struggling to adapt while the coronavirus and wildfires remain a threat, the industry says a path to a recovery is uncertain.” Washington Post 9-28-20 The Washington Post headline reveals how serious our timber communities are in. It is serious. The 2021 Legislature, House Ag & Natural Resource Committee is considering three…

Bill could allow formation of new homeless shelter beds across Oregon

Posted on February 24, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Hundreds of emergency shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness could pop up across Oregon in the next year if the State Legislature approves a bill to remove cumbersome zoning rules and demand that cities approve new facility proposals. House Bill 2006 would remove a tangle of land-use approvals and paperwork typically needed to open a shelter, which advocates say currently…

Chipping Away at Property Tax Reform

Posted on February 24, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

As one of the few states without a general sales tax, Oregon depends heavily on property tax for revenue. Real property is taxed based on its value — know as ad valorem taxes. As real estate prices spiked in the 1990s — along with taxes — citizens began to become resentful of the tax windfall enjoyed by their governments. In…

Elections Bills Stack the Deck

Posted on February 17, 2021 by BJ | 4 Comments

Recently, US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and US Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) sponsored legislation for national mail in voting. Oregon was the first to have that system and is held up by the Democrats as the model system. Most County Clerks are proud of Oregon elections believing controls in place are working reasonably well. One has to wonder then why…

Reviewing Measure 11: Advocates seek reform, prosecutors argue it works fine

Posted on February 16, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon’s landmark mandatory sentencing law, Measure 11, is about to go under scrutiny by state legislators this week. Advocates of criminal justice reform have four bills that would change the way those convicted of serious crimes are sentenced. The first of those bills, House Bill 2002, has a public hearing scheduled in the House Committee of Judiciary on Tuesday. But Oregon’s District…

Bill to Require More Schoolchildren to Be Vaccinated for Childhood Diseases Called Off Mid-Pandemic

Posted on February 16, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Two years ago, Democrat lawmakers killed a bill to end Oregon’s philosophical exemption to school vaccination requirements, as part of a compromise to end a Republican walkout. This year, a similar bill, Senate Bill 254, is dying before debate gets going. “Oregon is at a critical moment with the implementation of vaccinations for COVID-19, and we have determined this does not make it possible…

Oregon lawmakers consider allowing prisoners to vote

Posted on February 12, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon would become the third state in the nation to allow prisoners to vote under two bills before the Legislature this year. In proposals that would put the state in the vanguard of a renewed debate over enfranchisement and inequity in the criminal justice system, House Bill 2366 and Senate Bill 571 would restore voting rights to the roughly 12,600…

Governor stacks the Council without Senate approval

Posted on February 11, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

SB 286 began hearings this week in the Oregon Legislature. “Environmental justice” is being defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Governor Brown’s request for SB 286 is nothing short of continuing her control…

Southern Oregon lawmaker introduces bill that would bar Governor Brown from shutting down businesses during COVID-19

Posted on February 10, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Representative David Brock Smith‘s district covers parts of Curry, Coos, Douglas, and Josephine counties. House Bill 3177, the “Covid Business Equity Act,” would explicitly limit the Governor’s power to impose restrictions on restaurants, bars, gyms, and other fitness establishments — unless those restrictions apply to all businesses broadly. Rep. Brock Smith highlighted the job losses in the hospitality sector as…

OCL ZOOM TRAINING

Posted on February 9, 2021 by dbleiler | 0 Comments

OCL Zoom Training, Feb. 13 at 1pm Participate in Western Liberty Network’s FREE Zoom training session on Feb. 13th @ 1pm when Bill Dewey of the Oregon Citizens Lobby will teach you about how you can track legislation in Salem and have an impact upon the process! Oregon Citizens’ Lobby (OCL) is one of the leading vehicles for limited-government activists…

HB 3088 legalizes prostitution in Oregon

Posted on February 8, 2021 by BJ | 2 Comments

Oregon State Representative Rob Nosse (Democrat, HD-42) has introduced a bill to legalize prostitution. HB 3088 reads “Repeals crimes of prostitution, commercial sexual solicitation and promoting prostitution.”. It defines prostitution as “engagement by a person in sexual conduct or sexual contact with another person in return for a fee.” NY Post writer states the cost of legalizing prostitution,“Nevada has a…

Problems of HB 2238, Gov. taking private property during emergencies

Posted on February 6, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

As Oregonians continue to cope with the many negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, some forward-looking people are beginning to examine how the state of Oregon might better respond to future emergencies. One of those people is Rep. Marty Wilde of Central Lane and Linn Counties who has introduced in the Oregon Legislature a bill presumably intended to facilitate timely…

Residential Care Scheduling Rules Proposed

Posted on February 5, 2021 by BJ | 1 Comments

Just when you thought your grandparents in residential care facilities will get the best care, in steps Senators Deb Patterson (D-Salem), Sara Gelser (D_Albany) and James Manning Jr. (D-Eugene) joining forces to introduce SB 714 that removes that individualized care and establishes a minimum staffing ratio for residential care facilities and facilities with memory care endorsements. ORS 443.432 (1) was…

Bill Proposes to Shield Drivers’ Licenses

Posted on February 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Ganging up on employers, Senators Deb Patterson (D-Salem) and Sara Gelser (D-Albany) introduced SB 569. Their idea of fair employment practices is to make it unlawful for an employer to require an employee or prospective employee to possess or present a valid driver’s license as a condition of employment or continuation of employment. It’s a short bill with a big…

Kate Brown Announces More Staffing Additions

Posted on February 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Governor Kate Brown has announced several staffing changes, including the appointment of See Eun (pronounced “she-in”) Kim as executive appointments director, effective February 9. In this role, she will engage with a variety of stakeholder groups across the state to identify qualified candidates to serve on Oregon’s more than 250 boards and commissions, while balancing their needs and goals with…

Lawmakers try to sneak in a backdoor tax on business

Posted on February 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

SB 137-1 would disconnect Oregon from the tax relief savings passed by the Federal CARES Act last year resulting in tax increases for Oregon’s businesses. By disconnecting Oregon tax tax code on narrowly targeted areas surrounding the new CARES Act, Oregon disconnects from the tax savings the CARES act provides. Oregon needs these tax savings because Oregon has been hit…

Oregon legislators consider tear gas ban against protest crowds

Posted on February 5, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Tear gas, pepper spray and impact munitions have been deployed by police for months against protesters in Portland, Oregon, enveloping neighborhoods and even a school yard in clouds of stinging, choking chemical agents. Now, Oregon state Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Portland-area Democrat, is seeking to ban their use against crowds in one of the most sweeping measures in the country…

Alternative Schooling Under Fire

Posted on February 4, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

As Governor Browns makes noises about opening public schools, parents continue to be discouraged and are looking for alternative education options. Representative Marty Wilde (D-Eugene) wants to limit their options. He has sponsored HB 2195 prohibiting student from enrolling in virtual public charter school located in school district in which the student is not a resident if student’s resident school…

Lawmakers might be laying ground work for Oregon sales tax

Posted on February 4, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon State Representative Nancy Nathanson has introduced three bills asking the State of Oregon to do a study on taxes. One the key goals is to find taxes that are “stable” which is one of the most common words associated when past Oregon lawmakers have discussed a sales tax. Politicians want to be like California which have major property, income…

For Sen. Floyd Prozanski, Giving Oregon Prisoners the Right to Vote Is About Letting Go of a Search for Vengeance

Posted on February 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Rep. Janelle Bynum sees a practical benefit for the cities where the inmates are from. BILL OF THE WEEK: Senate Bill 571 WHAT IT WILL DO: Senate Bill 571 seeks to change Oregon law so that incarcerated people can vote “in the county of the qualified elector’s last voluntary residence.” The bill also states that people who are incarcerated shall have…

Oregon bill sets requirements for corporate board diversity

Posted on February 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

A bill has been introduced in the Oregon Legislature that would require a certain number of board seats of publicly traded companies, with principal offices in Oregon, be filled with women and people from underrepresented communities. It’s similar to bills passed in California. The first was in 2018 that required a minimum number of women on public company boards, the…

Redistricting Battles Begin in Legislature

Posted on February 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Delay in census data is causing a crunch. As the federal government census data appears to be behind schedule, throwing a wrench into conversations surrounding redistricting, Republican members of the House and Senate redistricting committees are strongly advocating for a transparent and nonpartisan approach to redistricting. Republicans are asking Democratic leaders to honor the spirit and intent of the law…

Bill Probes Alternatives for Closing Prison

Posted on February 3, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The negative economic impact to these communities will be extremely challenging Governor Brown has taken steps to close three Oregon correctional facilities over the next two years: Mill Creek in Salem Shutter Creek in North Bend Warner Creek in Lakeview. According to State Representative E. Werner Reschke, the negative economic impact to these communities will be extremely challenging. Representative Reschke…

Council Members Named for Measure 110

Posted on February 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The Oregon Health Authority has announced the appointment of 21 members to serve on a new Oversight and Accountability Council (OAC) to oversee the implementation of Measure 110, the Drug Treatment and Recovery Act. “Out of nearly 200 applicants, we found 21 experienced individuals who truly represent the diverse populations who will benefit the most from the passing of this…

Commissioners appoint Kennemer to Senate District 20

Posted on February 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Previously, Bill Kennemer served in the Oregon House of Representatives and on the Clackamas County Commission. Former Oregon House District 39 Representative Bill Kennemer has been appointed to fill the State Senate District 20 seat vacated by Alan Olsen. Kennemer, R-Canby, was unanimously appointed to the position during a joint session with commissioners from Clackamas and Marion counties held via…

Government raises outpace all others in pandemic

Posted on February 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The Oregon Employment Department reports that the largest gain in median wage during the pandemic was the local government sector at $3.23 hour gain. Compare that to three otehr (sic) industries (transportation, utilities, warehouse) which saw a 20-cent gain. The other services industry average gain was $3.19 per hour and the information industry average gain was $3.15 per hour. For…

”Environmental Justice” Bill Being Considered by Oregon Legislature

Posted on February 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Update: HB 2475 passed the House 36-20 and will now be considered by the Senate. —————– HB 2475 is sponsored by Democrat Karin Power (HD-41) Oregon House Bill 2475 may soon force on public utilities another set of social criteria to consider when setting energy price rates. The bill reportedly will: Authorize Public Utility Commission to consider differential energy burden…

The Road to Gun Registration

Posted on February 1, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Democrats seek to ban unregistered guns with hefty fines. In the Oregon Senate, Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene) and Senator James Manning Jr. (D-Eugene) are chief sponsors for SB 396, a bill which “punishes manufacturing, importing, offering for sale or transferring undetectable firearm.” If passed, this bill will decimate the part of the firearm industry that manufactures and sells undocumented receivers…

Oregon lawmaker won’t pursue bill on governor taking land in emergencies

Posted on February 1, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Eugene Democrat says foes misunderstood effort to stop ‘disaster profiteering’ A one-page bill quietly introduced at the start of the Oregon Legislature has raised some eyebrows around the state, as it would add language to existing law, stating the governor would have the authority to seize “any real or personal property” after an emergency is declared. The summary atop House…

SB 550 hides government employees from the public

Posted on February 1, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Senate Bill 550 would block government employees from the public records and replace them with ID#s. This would make it harder to find out who is working for our government agencies and what their positions are. The Bend Bulletin Editorial Board stated, “A bill in the Oregon Senate could essentially blind Oregonians to who works in government…To make widespread secrecy…

Oregon legislative panel starts hearing policing bills

Posted on January 30, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Five lawmakers on a House subcommittee will focus on Oregon’s policing practices and the people who carry them out. They have already started public hearings on more than a dozen bills, some of them overlapping, that propose various changes to Oregon laws in the aftermath of last year’s death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer…

2021 Oregon Legislature: Priorities, uncertainties

Posted on January 29, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The 2021 Oregon Legislature is under way at the capitol building in Salem, but this session is far from normal. It is marked by pandemic related issues and restrictions and a $1.7 billion budget shortfall. By far, the top issue is the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Sen. Betsy Johnson. “We have heard both pro and con about the vaccine,” Johnson…

Oregon legislators will consider ‘right to repair’ law

Posted on January 28, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Electronics manufacturers like Apple and Samsung control the tools and parts needed to make fixes. Critics say that makes it harder, more expensive – and sometimes impossible – to perform even straightforward repairs. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) AP If your watch battery dies there are scores of shops that will quickly swap it out for a new one –…

Extended Producer Responsibility

Posted on January 27, 2021 by dbleiler | 0 Comments

Extended Producer Responsibility Who’s Responsible for the Old Mattress? The folktale, The Princes and the Pea, possibly based on a true story, involved a stack of 20 mattresses and a pea placed in the bottom mattress as a test for the Princes. The author joked that the pea was placed in the Royal Museum, but what of all those mattresses? Chief…

HB 2348 Bans Bacon in Hospitals, Nursing Homes…

Posted on January 27, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Among over 3000 bills introduced, the Oregon Legislatures appears to want to ban bacon from hospitals. House Bill 2348, introduced by Representative Wilde (D- Eugene), requires hospitals, long-term facilities, and prisons in Oregon to make plant-based meals available, with a provision that bans bacon, sausages and other processed meats. A hospital is often a place where people spend their last…

California surprise re-open! …leaving Oregon in last two lockdown states

Posted on January 26, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

In a surprise move, California Governor, Gavin Newsom, has begun re-opening California after a re-call effort has nearly gained enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Governor Newsom says it is about the data but he is hiding the data: “State officials said the decision to lift the stay-at-home order came amid improving trends in California’s rate of infections,…

Special Legislative Session 8:00 AM Wednesday June 24, 2020

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Comm | 0 Comments

Governor Kate Brown Calls Special Session to Improve Police Accountability and Address the COVID-19 Pandemic Press release: HERE

Select Bills Passed in the 2019 Legislative Session

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Comm

With all the uproar over a few of the worst bills, here is a list of 29 bills we thought should not escape notice during the last legislative session!

END OF SESSION TOWNHALLS

Posted on July 3, 2019 by BJ

ALERT – SAVING OREGON IS ONGOING! The battle against Cap and Trade, gun control, forced vaccinations, increases taxes and fees, and many other bills is not over. They are only suspended to February 2020. We must keep the pressure on at Townhalls to make sure Legislators know we will continue to fight for our state. Some Legislators have a notion…

Support OCL – FOR the People, BY the People

Join the Team!

Recent Comments