Category State
Attorney hired by Legislature suggests Boquist not be allowed in Capitol
Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, discusses the walkout in his office. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) UPDATE: A link to the investigator’s report has been added to this report. Legislative leaders were advised this week to ban Sen. Brian Boquist from the Capitol over his threatening language, but…
As Oregon Legislature nears end, campaign reform might be close
As the Oregon Legislature prepares to resume, the fate of campaign finance reform in Portland, Multnomah and statewide may rest on whether a constitutional amendment is approved before the Legislature shuts down. Activists have urged Democratic leaders to deliver on months of discussions of changing…
Republican senators to provide a quorum
Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, was frustrated Friday as reporters peppered him with questions about the walkout and negotiations. Courtney declined to answer them. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) Enough Oregon Republican senators will return to the Capitol for the chamber to do business Saturday. The…
Truckers, loggers and activists take over a nearly empty Capitol in protest
About 1,000 people gathered in front of the State Capitol Building’s step Thursday morning to rally in protest of HB 2020. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) SALEM — Loggers, truckers, farmers and right-wing activists filled the void created by an exodus of lawmakers and lobbyists from the…
Sen. Bentz: State police have been called off
Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario. SALEM — At least one Senate Republican has returned to Oregon. Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, confirmed Thursday afternoon that he had returned home. The state police had been called off, he said. Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton declined to comment…
Cap and trade opponents rumble into Salem for rally
An attendee of a rally that opposed cap and trade in Oregon stands near one of many tractors that drove to the Capitol on Thursday. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) SALEM — Through speeches and blaring horns, opponents to Oregon’s cap-and-trade proposal made their views clear to…
Senate Republicans continue walkout as negotiations dwindle
The Oregon Senate chambers remain nearly empty this week as a quorum has not convened. SALEM — A week after they left Salem to protest a sweeping Democratic proposal to address climate change, Republican senators are finding other reasons not to return. The cap-and-trade plan…
Emotions run high after climate bill is declared dead
Gov. Kate Brown speaks to climate activists rallying outside of the Capitol on Tuesday after the Senate President announced their landmark climate legislation was dead. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM — Seven minutes. That’s all it took for Senate President Peter Courtney to thrust the…
Rep. Boles appointed to Sen. Winters’ seat
(State of Oregon) Rep. Denyc Boles, R-Salem, will soon switch chambers at the state capitol after she was named on Tuesday to take the Senate seat vacated by Jackie Winters. Commissioners from Marion and Polk counties named Boles, on her second stint as a state…