Category State
From state to local: how government puts lobbyists to work
(Tiffaney O’Dell and Molly Filler of Pamplin Media Group) SALEM — Lobbying is largely synonymous with interest groups, but every year, government agencies big and small spend money to amplify their interests at the Capitol. Yet lobbyists for the city or county you live in…
Popular vote bill passes Senate, but not before discussion was derailed by Linthicum
A debate about national elections reform on the Senate floor was hijacked Tuesday when Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, brought up the political treatment of slaves in the 1700s. After senators James Manning, D-Eugene, and Lew Frederick, D-Portland, talked about the historical disenfranchisement black people…
Nike lobbyist and PPS official who disputed state audit now aids Secretary of State Clarno
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) A Portland Public Schools…
Business group takes aim at PERS benefits, with Kulongoski’s help
SALEM — Current and future public employees wouldn’t have as generous a retirement under initiative petitions being pushed by business interests in yet another effort to reform the state’s notoriously complex and expensive retirement system. The effort has attracted two big names in Oregon politics…
Backed by an ACLU report, bipartisan lawmakers push for district attorneys to publish policy guidelines
The House Judiciary Committee (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon has found that at least 40 percent of the state’s district attorneys don’t have written policies to guide their core work. These policies could outline whether to charge teenagers accused of…
Clarno takes ceremonial oath of office
Secretary of State Bev Clarno said she is honored by the appointment as she was ceremonially sworn in to office. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) Scores of family, friends, lawmakers and journalists packed into the Governor’s ceremonial office to watch Oregon’s newest Secretary of State, Bev…
Bridge district bill runs into opposition
Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, talks with the state House Rules Committee about his bill that would allow the creation of a special bridge district in the mid-Willamette Valley. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) The prospect of a new governing body empowered to build bridges drew more opposition…
Secretary of State executive staff asked to resign Monday morning
(Secretary of State Bev Clarno) The top three executives of the Secretary of State’s Office were asked to resign Monday morning, and have vacated their positions. Leslie Cummings, acting secretary of state, Deb Royal, chief of staff and communications director, and Steve Elizinga, governmental and…
State manager on leave from $110,000 job earlier resisted conclusion in infant’s death
A state child welfare manager put on leave last month for an undisclosed issue once tried to shield her office from criticism following an investigation into a 2-month-old’s death. The ensuing wrongful death lawsuit in the 2016 death portrays the Dallas field office of the…