Category Government
People who can’t pay traffic fines lose their license and get stuck in poverty. Legislation seeks to change that.
The House Judiciary Committee hears testimony on a bill that would end the practice of suspending people’s licenses because of unpaid fines. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) Angela Donley sat in front of a legislative panel on Wednesday and told the story of why her mother driver’s…
Legislators consider throttling back ambition to fix wildfire issues in short session
Ed Keith (left), Deschutes County forester; Phil Henderson, Deschutes County commissioner; and Nick Lelack, Deschutes County community development coordinator, share concerns about a wildfire bill in a Feb. 5 hearing. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM – Drastically improving the way Oregon fights wildfire could be…
After struggling with a stubborn homelessness problem, Salem sees relief in housing legislation
Tents line the boulevard next to The ARCHES Project in downtown, where homeless residents have congregated before the city’s camping ban. SOURCE: (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) House Speaker Tina Kotek wants to ease the state’s housing and homelessness problems with $120 million to enforce fair housing…
Hundreds to descend on Capitol in demonstration against cap and trade bill
Timber Unity supporters and other opponents rally against House Bill 2020 on June 27. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) SALEM – Activists from across Oregon will gather in Salem Thursday as they attempt to break a world record for the largest truck convoy while also aiming to…
Oregonians tell lawmakers what they really think about cap and trade
SALEM — A hay farmer, a high school student and a physicist each strode up to a modest hearing room table Tuesday evening to give lawmakers a piece of their mind. That table was their stage for two minutes, their platform to tell policymakers to…
Judge rejects Sen. Brian Boquist’s public records lawsuit
Sen. Brian Boquist reflects on his political and military careers at his Dallas farm. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) Senate President Peter Courtney and legislative employees didn’t improperly withhold public records requested by state Sen. Brian Boquist, a Marion County Circuit Court judge has determined. The judge’s…
Elections division says Oregon’s electoral process is secure
U.S. Attorney Billy Williams addresses the media regarding cyber and disinformation threats to the security of Oregon’s electoral process during a press conference at the Oregon Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 4. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) The state’s top elections official wants voters to know Oregon is…
The race for state treasurer draws its first Republican candidate
Jeff Gudman, Republican candidate for state treasurer. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) Jeff Gudman wants a rematch. The 2016 Republican candidate for Oregon State Treasurer filed Monday, Feb. 3, to become the party’s candidate again in the May primary and challenge incumbent Tobias Read in the…
Quiet start to legislative session, but tensions simmer just below surface
Cap and trade architect Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, explains how he’s attempted to craft his legislation to overcome Republican opposition. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM — A contentious proposal to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions dominated political chatter in the weeks before the 2020…