Category Legislature
Center of Capitol closes for earthquake upgrades until 2025
The iconic Oregon Capitol Rotunda is among the sections of the building closed through 2025 for seismic renovations. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Salem’s most iconic landmark is now largely closed to the public. The central section of the Oregon State Capitol building is off limits as…
Oregon legislators begin 2022 session with optimistic speeches, mask protests
Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, presides over the House during the opening day of the Legislature on Feb. 1, 2022. (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The Oregon Legislature started its 2022 session on Tuesday with optimistic speeches about bipartisanship and warning shots over a farmworker overtime proposal…
Brown, Democrats outline big spending plans as GOP calls for limited action in short session
The Oregon Senate chambers (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) Oregonians would be better trained for jobs, have help buying a home and have wider access to child care under legislative priorities outlined Tuesday by Gov. Kate Brown and top leaders in the Oregon Legislature. Brown’s priorities, which…
Courtney, once fearing another walkout, said 2021 session helped every corner of Oregon
Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney gavels the Oregon Senate into session Jan. 22, 2021. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) For Senate President Peter Courtney, the 2021 legislative session is best summarized by a map of Oregon covered in yellow, green and blue Post-It notes. Courtney brought the…
PHOTOS: With increased security and doors closed to the public, Oregon Legislature resumes its work
Seats in the Oregon House chamber visitor gallery are marked to enforce social distancing. Only chairs marked in green are available. Since the Capitol building is closed to the public, no one was seated in the visitor’s gallery on Jan. 21. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Oregon…
Cities and counties complain about how federal Covid cash is carved up
The Oregon State Capitol canceled a Cherry Blossom Festival scheduled in March due to COVID-19. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) [ NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing this information free as a community service. You can support dissemination by subscribing. ] Local government officials say they could do more…
Why a Marion County legislator became Oregon’s Senate Republican leader
Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton. (Courtesy/Oregon Senate Republicans). Earlier this spring, Marion County saw its political profile rise when Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, was elected to lead the Senate Republican caucus. Girod, a dentist who was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1992,…
Marion County lawmaker will lead Republicans in the state Senate
Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton. (Courtesy/Oregon Senate Republicans). NOTE: Salem Reporter is providing free access to its content related to the coronavirus as a community service. Subscriptions are vital to continue this so please sign up today. Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, is the new leader of Republicans in…
Nkenge Harmon Johnson bows out of Salem area Senate race
Senate District 10 extends into Polk County and includes west and south Salem. Tuesday’s deadline for candidates to file to run for office brought a surprise in the race for a Salem area Senate seat. Nkenge Harmon Johnson, the CEO of the Urban League of…