Category Government
Senate, House go dark as 2020 session shuts down in burst of acrimony
House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney speak to reporters on Thursday in the Capitol as they closed down the Legislature over missing Republicans. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM — In an extraordinary move, Democratic legislators on Thursday effectively ended the contentious and…
Oregon Democrats end “failed short session” following Republican boycott
Oregon State Capitol, Legislature (Salem Reporter/file) SALEM — In an extraordinary move, Democratic legislators on Thursday effectively ended the contentious and gridlocked 2020 Legislature, killing key legislation and taking with it the hotly debated climate change legislation that Republicans fought. “This is a failed short…
As stalled legislative session nears its end, Democrats rebuff Republican offer
Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, discusses the 2020 legislative session with reporters. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) SALEM — Democrats scoffed Thursday morning at a Republican offer to end the stalemate at the Capitol by returning on Sunday, the last day of the 2020 legislative session.…
The only two Republican legislators in the Capitol say their voters want them to stick around
State Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, was the only one of 12 Republican senators to show up for a floor session of the Oregon Senate. The other 11 senators boycotted the session over fierce opposition to pending climate change legislation. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM —…
Gov. Kate Brown is worried about rural hospitals, protective equipment and money as the state responds to the coronavirus
Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday wrote federal authorities, asking for money and equipment to deal with cornavirus. (Oregon Capital Bureau) Oregon could face a shortage of equipment used to protect health care providers from the coronavirus and rural hospitals could find themselves short-staffed as the…
After initial stumble, Oregon prepares to ramp up testing of possible coronavirus cases
Staffers work together at the Oregon Health Authority’s Agency Operations Center in response to Coronavirus cases occurring in the state.(Jonathan House/Pamplin Media Group) PORTLAND — The state of Oregon is prepared for a rapid increase in testing for COVID-19 should federal authorities, rattled by a…
A normally bustling Capitol takes on new routines in absence of Republicans
School kids gather in the rotunda of the Capitol on Monday, March 2. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM — School kids still visited, their eyes drifting up toward the larger-than-life murals of settlers and farmers. A smattering of lobbyists could be seen chatting in the…
AGENDA: State Forest Board to hear about environmental collaborations, Marbled Murrelet, future legislation and others
(Courtesy Michael Richardson/Wikimedia Commons) The Oregon Board of Forestry will get an update on a new environmental initiative, approve future legislative proposals and update forest work plans at its upcoming meeting in Salem on Wednesday, March 4. The board is a seven-member panel appointed by…
Legislature’s top lawyer says missing Republicans likely aren’t immune from subpoenas to return
The Oregon State Capitol. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) UPDATE: This story has been updated to include late developments regarding a new legal opinion. SALEM — The Oregon Constitution likely doesn’t protect House Republicans from subpoenas issued by their Democratic colleagues to force their return to the…