Category Government
BOLI execs struggle to explain last-minute act on major Oregon pay law
SALEM – Oregon senators put state labor regulators in the hot seat Wednesday over why they waited 18 months to finalize rules for Oregon’s landmark pay equity law, which takes force Jan. 1. Lawmakers summoned officials with the state Bureau of Labor and Industries, known…
Oregon Senate president tags Boquist with cease and desist for hostile conduct
SALEM — Senate President Peter Courtney has directed a Republican state senator to “cease and desist” intimidating communications with other senators and legislative employees. Courtney made the demand to state Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, in a Nov. 15 letter obtained by the Oregon Capital Bureau…
Union bargains 14 percent pay increase for rural workers in government-subsidized childcare
After years of bargaining, childcare providers working in rural Oregon will get double-digit pay raises in the new year. The union representing them, Service Employees International Union Local 503, said the rural workers will see a 14 percent wage increase, on top of a 5…
Auditors hope opioid findings will light fire under Oregon legislators
SALEM — Oregon is collecting valuable information about opioid prescribers and their patients but state law hamstrings using the system to confront drug abuse, state auditors said Tuesday. Oregon, like all other states, collects information on prescriptions for controlled substances like Oxycodone and Percocet. But…
Oregon labor commissioner rushes employers to digest new pay rules
Workers across Oregon could receive pay raises under the state’s unique pay equity law that goes into force Jan. 1, but state officials have been late directing employers how to obey. Oregon lawmakers in May 2017 passed one of the most comprehensive pay equity laws…
Audit finds Oregon keeps vital opioid information under wraps
SALEM — Oregon is collecting valuable information about opioid prescribers and their patients but state law hamstrings using the system to confront drug abuse, state auditors said Tuesday. Oregon, like all other states, collects information on prescriptions for controlled substances like Oxycodone and Percocet. But…
Salem moves to dismantle, replace commission overseeing federal dollars
Salem City Hall (Salem Reporter files) The city of Salem is moving to shut down a commission tasked with earmarking millions of federal dollars after it unraveled amid potential conflicts of interest. The Salem City Council Monday night agreed with a staff recommendation to dissolve…
Neighbors prevail over Costco after years-long push for south Salem project
City planner Aaron Panko speaks at Salem City Council Monday night. Public testimony lasted nearly three hours in the debate over whether to approve a shopping center in South Salem. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Determined Salem neighbors fought the $100 billion company Costco to a standstill…
Courtney hopes to temper politics in Oregon’s Legislature
Senate President Peter Courtney seeks political civility in the approaching session of the Oregon Legislature. (Portland Tribune/Jaime Valdez) SALEM — Peter Courtney is worried. His party is in power. He’s been nominated yet again for Senate president. In Gov. Kate Brown, he’s working with an…