POLITICS

Oregon lawmakers looking to make child care more affordable, available

Preschool students play in a Salem-Keizer classroom (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) As Portland resident Jasmine Casanova-Dean spoke to legislators at a hearing about child care last week, her 67-year-old grandmother watched her 2-year-old daughter in another room.  Casanova-Dean can only afford professional child care two days a week, so every other[Read More…]

What Salem’s legislators want from the 2022 session

Oregon Capitol Rotunda (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Salem, you may have some new faces representing you in the state legislature this year. With several retirements and resignations over the past year, and the expulsion of Rep. Mike Nearman, Marion and Polk counties have three newly appointed state representatives, including Salem City[Read More…]

PHOTOS: How Oregon representatives decorate their desks

A desk in the Oregon House of Representatives ahead of the 2022 Legislative session (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) A flying pig, a gnome, baby Yoda, and a large bottle of pain medication are among the items found on desks in the Oregon House of Representatives. The sixty representatives all have the exact same[Read More…]

Rep. Christine Drazan will resign from Oregon House to run for governor

State Rep. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, speaks during a legislative special session on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Canby Republican Christine Drazan announced Friday that she will resign from the state House, becoming the latest candidate for governor to leave the Legislature to campaign.  Drazan’s last day will[Read More…]

Commissioners choose St. Paul resident Jessica George to fill House District 25 vacancy

Jessica George (left) and Scott Guptill respond to questions from county commissioners on Friday, Dec. 10 (Joey Cappelletti/Keizertimes) County commissioners from Marion, Yamhill and Washington counties voted Friday afternoon to appoint Jessica George as the next state representative for House District 25. George will replace Bill Post, who resigned in October after seven[Read More…]