Category Government
Senate passes Measure 11 reform on slimmest of margins
Senators Floyd Prozanski and Jackie Winters embrace after Senate Bill 1008 passes. The two carried the bill on the Senate floor. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) Juveniles charged with certain violent crimes could get a second chance under a reform to Measure 11 passed by the Senate…
Portland school board member no longer helping Secretary of State
Secretary of State Bev Clarno gives a speech at her swearing in April 3. Behind her, (middle) Nike lobbyist Julia Brim-Edwards looks on. Brim-Edwards orchestrated the press event as part of her volunteer position with the office. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) Portland Public Schools board…
In search of general fund dollars, Salem City Council considers possibilities of new tax, fee
Salem City Council held a work session Monday night to discuss ideas to raise money for the city’s general fund. Councilors met with staff and members of the Sustainable Services Revenue Task Force. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Salem residents could soon find a new expense on…
Lawmakers detail gas tax credit to offset cap and trade’s impact at the pump
Oregonians pushing cap and trade rally outside of the Capitol. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) For months, the conversation around Oregon’s proposed carbon program has revolved around how it will impact industrial polluters. On Monday, a public hearing focused on mitigating anticipated gas price increases to soften…
Rights group takes Oregon officials to court to force foster care improvements
SALEM — A new class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses the state of inadequately protecting Oregon’s foster children. Ten foster children, representing the roughly 8,000 children in the state’s care, want a federal court to fix longstanding issues at the Oregon Department of Human Services. The…
Sexual discrimination complaints against city of Salem dismissed
Two complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination at the city of Salem have been dismissed by the state Bureau of Labor and Industries. Earlier this year, Permit Technician Casey Levy and Plans Examiner Deirdrie Wade complained they witnessed or were subjected to an array of…
Oregon workers could get more leave, and paid, under proposed legislation
SALEM — Expectant mothers, marijuana users and caregivers for ailing relatives could all benefit from worker protections that legislators are scrambling to write into law this year. Advocates say that state law doesn’t go far enough to protect workers in many cases, especially when they…
Governor want to tap state funds to spare Oregon schools from retirement costs
SALEM — Two elements make budgeting a painful math exercise for the Umatilla School District: employee health benefits and retirement benefits. Right now, the eastern Oregon district pays about 8 percent of its budget, or $1.2 million, to the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System. In…
Billion-dollar business tax proposed for Oregon but small firms exempted
UPDATE: This story has been updated with additional details on the tax and comment from a key business group. SALEM — Oregonians could pay less on their state income taxes but pay more for some goods and services, under a legislative proposal to raise money…