Priorities: Celebrating Black Drag? T-Bone Steaks?
With just a maximum of nine calendar days left in the 2025 Legislative Session, budgets are finally starting to be executed—but major questions still hang in the balance.
This week’s headlines were dominated not by wildfire funding or transportation negotiations, but by Black drag performers opening a House Floor session ahead of House Resolution 3 to honor Black drag in Oregon—an event that’s been widely criticized by conservative outlets across the nation as a symptom of Oregon's upside-down values and legislative unseriousness. And while celebrations of Oregon fixtures have long been a tradition in the Capitol, the steady stream of themed resolutions—from steaks to vegetables to drag—has diluted the meaning of the practice to the point of near absurdity. It’s fair to ask whether this is really the best use of lawmakers’ time—or taxpayers’ money.
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But we’re focusing on the real issues. Funding packages for the Department of Education and Housing and Community Services are out the door, but transportation and wildfire dollars remain unresolved as negotiations continue to drag on. Despite record-high state revenues, Democratic leadership continues to frame the budgeting woes as a “revenue crisis.” The truth? Oregon doesn't have a revenue problem—we have a spending problem. And Oregonians are being asked to foot the bill for it.
Meanwhile, several high-stakes bills are still in limbo. The massive gun control omnibus, SB 243 C, is still lurching through the process in one of the budget subcommittees. And SB 926 B—the only bill left alive that would hold negligent utility providers like Pacific Power accountable for wildfire liabilities—is still stalled in the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
To top it off, harvest showed up early this year, so the juggle with farming and legislating has been even more of a challenge, but also a nice escape from the craziness of Salem to my happy place.
With adjournment looming and time running out, these final days will determine whether the Legislature can deliver on a budget—or if we'll be back for a special session down the road.
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HB 2271 - Provides a one-time unemployment insurance tax credit in 2025 for employers with a tax rate of 2% or higher.
HB 2803 - Increases certain fees charged by the Water Resources Department (OWRD) for water right transactions and dam safety.
HB 3962 - Gives local governments greater flexibility to invest in essential services, while preserving a dedicated funding stream to support Oregon’s tourism economy
SB 110 - Increases the cap on state-backed baseball tax revenue grants from $150 million to $800 million to help finance a proposed $2 billion Major League Baseball stadium in Portland.
SB 243 B - Anti-gun bill omnibus. Bans bump stocks, imposes mandatory 72-hour waiting period, and allows local governments to create gun free zones in certain public buildings.
SB 1177 - Attempt to take the kicker and use those funds for wildfire response.
SB 1196 - Grants localities recreational immunity, which keeps our outdoor recreation spaces open.
This week we'd like to honor Linn County fire crews that have already been deployed twice this wildfire season and demonstrating their skill, bravery, and commitment in protecting Oregonians all across the state!
Taskforce 17 was the first to mobilize, responding to the Rowena Fire in Wasco County. Crews from Lebanon, Brownsville, Harrisburg, Albany, and Sweet Home fire agencies joined forces to defend homes and land in the fire’s path. In a touching moment, the team also rescued an orphaned deer suffering from minor burns. Taskforce 17 has since returned home safely.
More recently, Taskforce 13—made up of crews from Linn and Benton Counties—deployed to the fast-growing Alder Springs Fire in Central Oregon. Firefighters from Lebanon, Philomath, Corvallis, and Scio are currently on the front lines working to contain the blaze.
We’re incredibly grateful to all the responders on these deployments. Keep up the incredible work, and stay safe out there!
Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov
Brownsville's Pioneer Breakfast this Weekend
Kick off Pioneer Picnic weekend with the Annual Pioneer Breakfast at Pioneer Park, hosted by the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce! Enjoy a hot, hometown-style breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee, and orange juice for just $8 for adults and $5 for kids. Breakfast will be served tomorrow, (Saturday) from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and Sunday from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. Proceeds support community events throughout the year—so come hungry and help fuel the festivities!
 Donations Needed for Sharing Hands Food Bank
Halsey City Hall is collecting canned, boxed, and dry goods throughout June to support Sharing Hands Food Bank in Brownsville, which serves over 175 Central Linn families each month! Donations can be dropped off at City Hall (lower level of the Community Center) or at Sharing Hands on Wednesdays and Fridays between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Most-needed items include peanut butter, jelly, tuna, condiments, summer BBQ items, soups, crackers, sugar, and pork and beans—please ensure items are not expired.
Learn more at www.sharinghands.org or call Debra at 541-466-3003.
 138th Pioneer Picnic this Weekend in Brownsville
Brownsville invites everyone to take part in a beloved tradition—Pioneer Picnic Weekend 2025! This four-day celebration is packed with hometown charm, creativity, and community spirit. From colorful parades and live entertainment to art displays and classic competitions, there’s something for all ages to enjoy. Whether you're a longtime local or first-time visitor, Pioneer Picnic offers the perfect chance to gather, celebrate, and make lasting memories.
For the full list of events and times, click here!
Halsey Spring Clean-Up Day Tomorrow
Halsey’s Spring Cleanup is a great opportunity for residents to dispose of large or unusual items that aren’t included in regular garbage service! Items should be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow. For details on what can and cannot be accepted, visit the city’s website or call Sweet Home Sanitation at (541) 367-2535
 Jim Bean Safety Fair Tomorrow in Sweet Home
The Sweet Home community is invited to attend tomorrow's annual Jim Bean Safety Fair at Sankey Park, a family-friendly event focused on fun and safety!
Activities will include a bike rodeo, safety education booths, free bike registration, and raffles. The event will also feature the kickoff of the Sweet Home Library’s Summer Reading Program—a great way to get kids excited about reading all summer long!
Don’t miss this exciting day filled with learning, prizes, and community connection.
 Tour Lebanon's Ralston Park Rose Garden Tomorrow
Join the community for a day of color and charm at the Ralston Park Rose Garden Tour in Lebanon tomorrow, June 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.!
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through beautifully maintained gardens and explore a variety of local vendors set up throughout the park. From handmade goods to garden-themed treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Celebrate the beauty of summer in full bloom!
 Sweet Home's Community Yard Sale Returns
Get ready to shop, sell, and explore during the Sweet Home Community Yard Sale series! For three Saturdays this summer, local residents will host yard sales across town, and a public map with participating addresses will make it easy to plan your route. Tomorrow is the kickoff!
Maps will be posted on the city’s website and social media the Thursday before each sale, with printed copies available starting Friday.
Want to be included? Submit your address using the online form: HERE
Deadline: Addresses must be submitted by Wednesday prior to each sale date to appear on the map.
Don’t miss this fun, community-wide event — there’s treasure waiting around every corner in Sweet Home!
 Summer Skate Thursdays in Lebanon
Beat the summer heat and roll into River Center every Thursday starting June 19th for a cool time on wheels! With three skate sessions—Youth Roll (17 & under) from 4–6PM, Family Skate (all ages) from 6:15–8:15PM, and Adult Skate (18+) from 8:30–10:30PM—there’s something for everyone! Pre-orders get a free sticker of their choice, and all free passes and 10-passes are accepted. Don’t forget: a new waiver is required (they now expire every three months), so be sure to scan the QR code posted outside, have your name visible on your phone, and get ready for a smooth check-in. Want to stay longer? Add the next session for just $5.
Full details and pre-orders at www.nwskateland.com.
 Nighttime Ramp Closures Near Halsey
Nighttime ramp closures are scheduled along I-5 in the coming weeks. Exit 216 ramps will be closed nightly from this Sunday, June 22nd to June 27th, and Exit 209 ramps will be closed nightly from July 7th to July 11th. Only one ramp will be closed at a time, and all ramps will remain open during the day. Drivers can use nearby exits to detour as needed. For more details, visit Halsey City News or the ODOT project page.
 Harrisburg Announces Sister City Relationship
This morning, Harrisburg marked a historic moment with an international Zoom ceremony formalizing its new Sister City relationship with Bréal-sous-Montfort, France. The event featured remarks from the U.S. Consul in France and members of Bréal’s City Council, highlighting the significance of the bond forged between the two communities. At the heart of the relationship is the story of 1st Lieutenant Russell Quinn, a young Harrisburg pilot who was shot down over Bréal on June 13, 1944, during World War II.
The Sister City connection honors Quinn’s sacrifice and the lifelong efforts of Jean-Paul Favier, a Bréal resident who witnessed the crash as a child and later dedicated decades to tracing the stories of fallen American airmen. Favier was named an Honorary Citizen of Harrisburg during the ceremony, underscoring the shared commitment to remembrance and friendship across generations and borders!
 
Final Call to Oppose Detroit Dam Drawdown
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has extended the public comment period for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on the Willamette Valley System to tomorrow, June 21st!
The SEIS will study two new federal requirements:
If implemented, these policies will have devastating consequences to our water from Detroit to Salem, so it is imperative that Oregonians speak out after the devastation that happened at Green Peter and Lookout Point Dams.
Email: willamette.eis@usace.army.mil
Mail:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Attn: CENWP-PME-E / Willamette EIS
P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946
 
It’s starting to feel a lot like…the last week of school. The Capitol halls are buzzing with end-of-session energy—equal parts urgency and “senioritis.” There is a ton of very serious work happening in the building, especially with the marathon floor sessions, but of course the games of bingo among legislators and other office shenanigans persist. When your boss has to vote on bills all day after swathing on the farm all night, you have to keep her from the ledge somehow.
One of the interesting parts of this week (if you're a nerd like me) was the scaffolding that appeared around the famed 22-feet tall Pioneer that stands atop the Capitol.
Crews from EverGreene Architectural Arts—experts in restoring national treasures—have arrived from Brooklyn, New York to give him a partial re-gilding, freshening up the 23-karat gold leaf on his head, shoulders, and a few other weather-worn spots. This marks the fifth time the Gold Man’s gotten the gold treatment since 1938, and the project should wrap up by the end of July. This should hopefully be just in time for the planned completion of the multi-year construction of the Capitol's undergone. We really can't wait for the Capitol to be fully open again!
- Conner
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The Departure of Oregon Companies Speaks to a Bigger Problem for the State
Willamette Week | Oregon Journalism Project
And you have Oregon ranked fifth in the nation for total tax burden. As ECOnorthwest’s Michael Wilkerson told the Oregon Legislature in April, the ongoing migration of high-income households out of Multnomah County alone has produced, year after year, “over $1 billion in income loss.” That’s the equivalent of a cool one thousand millionaires departing annually, leaving someone else to fund the Oregon Symphony and Preschool for All...
Protest at Portland ICE facility declared ‘riot’ as feds clash with demonstrators
The Oregonian
A chaotic daytime scene broke out Saturday as crowds of protesters, many in black clothing, clashed with federal officers at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Portland’s South Waterfront. Police declared the demonstration a riot. Federal officers clad in tactical gear deployed smoke, tear gas, flash grenades and other projectiles as some in the restive crowd of several hundred demonstrators hurled water bottles and fireworks in return.
56 homes burned in Rowena fire, containment operations continue
The Oregonian
Firefighters continued to make progress Saturday night on containing and mopping up the Rowena fire in the Columbia River Gorge, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal. As of Sunday morning, the fire had burned 56 homes and 91 other structures, including sheds, barns and shops, according to the Wasco County Sheriff’s office. No lives have been lost.
In new proposal, 60% of kicker would go to wildfire, rest to Oregonians making less than $95k
Oregon Capital Chronicle
Redirecting the money would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in each chamber, meaning at least two Senate Republicans and four House Republicans would need to approve along with all legislative Democrats. But getting Republican support is easier said than done, and some are accusing House Democrats of delaying a vote to repeal the state’s unpopular Wildfire Hazard Map as a bargaining chip in negotiations over redirecting the kicker for wildfire funding.
2 Oregon Democrats balk at transportation bill as session nears its end
OPB
Now, with less than two weeks to go, at least two Democrats say they aren’t ready to vote yes and advance the bill out of committee. Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, voiced concern over House Bill 2025 in a meeting with the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment on Tuesday. “I am frustrated to the highest level,” Meek, a committee member, said. “And you can expect a no vote out of me right now.”
Drag queen performance celebrating Democratic resolution on Oregon House floor draws backlash: ‘Political theater’
New York Post
Two drag queens sashayed onto the floor of the Oregon House of Representatives and delivered an awkward, over-the-top performance for lawmakers Wednesday morning — with one Republican official decrying the charade as pure “political theater.”
The bizarre fiasco erupted on the chamber floor in honor of a Democratic resolution recognizing “the artistry of black drag performers” in the Beaver State, Rep. Travis E. Nelson told The Post.
Serve as an Honorary Page!
Last call for the session! It isn’t just adults who can be engaged with their Oregon Legislature, there are opportunities for kids as well, and the Honorary Page Program is one of those ways!
The Page Program runs from February to June in odd-numbered years and in February and early March in even-numbered years, otherwise known as a "short session." Students between the ages of 12 and 17 must apply for this unique program where they will spend a day engaged in a living history and civics lesson.
As an Honorary Page, the applicant will participate in an official swearing-in ceremony, administered by the House Sergeant at Arms, an event often considered the highlight of the day, in order to be allowed onto the chamber floor. Further events include a classroom session where details of the Legislative process are discussed, performing courier services for the Chief Clerk's Office, working on the House chamber floor with the Legislators during a daily session, visiting each applicant's Representative's office, observing Committee meetings, a personal tour of the capitol building itself, and participation in any special events or activities at the capitol as they occur.
Click here for more information, or to apply for your student to join us on the House Floor!
 
HB 2025: Over a Billion in New Taxes!
Get Ready for Tax Increases!
Sine Die Declared Imminent!
A Mixed Bag of Justice for Wildfire Victims
Wildfire Victims Finally Receive a Hearing!
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