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Oregon News
POLITICS
Oregon Democrat plans no vote on transportation bill as session nears its end
OPB | BY Bryce Dole
Time is running out to pass a transportation package that’s widely considered Oregon lawmakers’ top priority this legislative session.
Now, with less than two weeks to go, at least one Democrat says he plans to vote no on advancing the bill out of committee.
Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, voiced frustration over House Bill 2025 in a meeting with the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment on Tuesday.
A single no vote could imperil the nearly $2 billion transportation package’s chances, assuming Republican committee members uniformly vote against it, as they are expected to do. It needs a majority vote for it to advance out of committee and to the floor of the legislative chamber.
In an interview Wednesday morning, Meek maintained that he still plans to vote no on the plan, which calls for significant tax and fee hikes to fund Oregon’s beleaguered infrastructure system and fill budget shortfalls facing the state transportation department.
“Oregonians cannot afford to be all things to all people for these ultra-progressive Democrats’ wish list for the State of Oregon,” House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said in a statement Tuesday night. “This is out of touch for everyday Oregonians. I will support efforts to refer this outrageous tax package to the voters.”
Former lawmakers want Oregon voters to decide gas tax hike, transportation funding
Statesman Journal |By Anatasia Mason
Two former lawmakers have formed a political action committee called No Gas Hikes with the goal of asking voters whether they approve a transportation.
The political action committee has been spearheaded by former Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas. He was a co-vice chair of the 2017 transportation committee that created the last major transportation package. Boquist is identified as a co-director online, as is Lynn Findley, R-Vale, another former legislator who served on the transportation committee.
No Gas Hikes is working to gain the support that would be needed to refer HB 2025 to the voters for approval.
They would need 78,116 signatures, or 4 % of the more than 1.9 million Oregonians who voted for governor in 2022. Oregon's referendum rules state that a group has 90 days from sine die, or until late September, to gather the required signatures.
The fate of HB 2025 would then be up to voters to decide during the next general election, which would be in 2026, unless the legislature decided to change the election timeline.
Gov. Kotek throws support behind using state reserves for short-term wildfire funding
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
As the legislative session nears its end, lawmakers are still struggling to reach a consensus on funding the fight against wildfires long-term.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is now proposing a one-time, short-term solution: utilizing $161 million in interest from the state's reserve fund, commonly referred to as the "rainy day" fund, to mitigate and prevent wildfires over the next two years.
Money from the approximately $1.9 billion state reserve fund is generally reserved for correcting issues with the state budget during a recession or economic downturn.
Kotek expressed frustration with the lack of plans to fund wildfire prevention this late in the session. She said this will act as a buffer in the short term as lawmakers work on long-term solutions.
The use of state reserves received bipartisan support. Senate Minority Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, said he thinks this funding strategy will likely be thrown into other funding packages.
"The problem with all these things is that it will become an omnibus conversation, right? We won't just vote on that element, which, I do think that element alone would receive universal support," said Bonham.
Oregon's $800M plan for Major League Baseball stadium heads to governor's desk
KATU | By Barry Mangold
The Oregon House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill aimed at luring a Major League Baseball team to Portland's South waterfront, sending it to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk.
Members of both parties voted 46-6 to pass Senate Bill 110 from the House floor Tuesday. The goal of the measure is to finance an $800 million bond project for the construction of the stadium in Zidell Yards should the MLB expand to Portland.
It would be repaid through a "Jock Tax" on athletes and staff of the team, as well as visiting teams.
"There's been no discussion about transportation, no discussion about law enforcement, all the things that make people want to visit downtown Portland," said Rep. Jeffrey Helfrich. "What I don't want to see is the city of Portland to come back asking for more money from us to help fund this project."
Oregon’s most diverse county weighs rolling back DEI policies to comply with Trump administration
Oregon Live | By Austin De Dios
Oregon’s most diverse county could become the first in the Portland-metro area to rescind its diversity, equity and inclusion policies to comply with the Trump administration’s demands that governments end those efforts.
A proposal before the Washington County Board of Commissioners would overturn a 2020 resolution that required the county to support and strengthen equity and inclusion in its “programs, practices and policies.” Officials said they fear the federal government could pull over $64 million in housing assistance and grants if the guiding principles aren’t repealed.
The board was initially set to vote to repeal the ordinance Tuesday, but Harrington tabled the vote until next week after hearing little support from her fellow board members. Commissioner Nafisa Fai asked to postpone the vote Monday, saying in an email that the board should draft a new resolution that “reaffirms our progress and that complies with local, state and federal laws.”
Travel Oregon Officials Just Gave Its Well-Paid CEO a New Deal in Retirement but Won’t Give the Public the Details
Willamette Week | By James Neff
Shortly after Travel Oregon’s CEO announced his retirement, the commission that oversees the agency voted to keep him on for a year to help pick his successor and approved a new employment package. But the state agency is now unwilling to share with the public the details of his offer letter.
It’s a significant omission because CEO Todd Davidson earns one of the largest salaries among Oregon officials—in 2024, his base salary was $365,574, or $477,264 in total compensation. But it also matters because Travel Oregon’s unwillingness to share the details of the package appears to violate state law.
A Travel Oregon communications director denied the Oregon Journalism Project’s request for the offer letter, saying that the letter commissioners voted on June 10 was not an “official” public record until signed by Davidson and the board. Later she provided another reason for denial: It was “not a complete record yet.”
Oregon lawmakers consider strengthening National Guard oversight
KOIN | By Michela Bourgeois
Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill aiming to strengthen the state’s oversight of the Oregon National Guard amid “increasing instances of federal overreach,” when deploying the military, Oregon House Democrats announced Tuesday.
In April, Representatives Paul Evans (D-Monmouth), Dacia Grayber (D-SW Portland) and Willy Chotzen (D-SE Portland), introduced House Bill 3954, which would create limits on when and how the National Guard can be mobilized for federal service.
GOP Lawmakers Applaud ODFW Commission Decision
KQEN
A group of Oregon Republican lawmakers are applauding a decision by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to keep the Umpqua River open.
On Tuesday, Senators Dick Anderson of Lincoln City and David Brock Smith of Port Orford, along with representatives Boomer Wright of Reedsport and Virgle Osborne of Roseburg issued a joint statement in response to the commission’s decision made on Friday.
The lawmakers said, “We appreciate the commission’s decision to keep the Umpqua River open this season. The Umpqua River is a vital economic resource to the many communities it serves. We also want to thank Commissioner Boice, on behalf of the whole Douglas County Commission, for taking the time to travel to Pendleton to make the case to keep the Umpqua River open”. The statement continued, “This does not reflect the fact that federal forest management has lost its way when it comes to managing their forests in our state. Riparian areas devastated by wildfires must be managed and replanted to assist in cooling water temperatures keeping invasive species from coming up stream”
Oregon Legislature passes bill aimed at protecting Beaver State's namesake
Statesman Journal | By Zach Urness
House Bill 3932 passed the Senate 17-11 after previously passing the House 35-18, mostly on party lines.
The bill's advocates touted the industrious rodent's ability to filter toxins, recharge groundwater, and generate habitat for fish and wildlife in their natural course of building dams and canals in river systems.
The bill prohibits trapping or removing beavers from public lands where the waterways have been officially classified as “impaired” — having problems like too much sediment, low oxygen or water temperature that’s too high.
Watchdog group questions Kotek’s commitment to women prisoners in Oregon, quits state panel
Oregon Live | Noelle Crombie
An organization focused on prisoner welfare withdrew Tuesday from a panel that advises the Oregon Department of Corrections on reforming its women’s prison, claiming the governor is “indifferent” to improving the lives of women prisoners.
Julia Yoshimoto, an attorney with the Oregon Justice Resource Center, called out the sluggish process to carry out a range of recommendations at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. About 900 women are incarcerated at the Wilsonville prison.
The Oregon Justice Resource Center has long been sharply critical of the Department of Corrections for prison conditions and treatment of the people it houses.
ENVIRONMENT
Carbon-neutral public retirement plan closer to becoming law in Oregon
Oregon Live | By Alex Baumhardt
Oregon would guarantee the state’s $101 billion public pension fund is fully carbon neutral within the next 25 years under a bill one step from becoming law.
House Bill 2081, a bill to codify Oregon State Treasury’s 2023 “Net-Zero” plan into law, passed the Oregon Senate on Monday in an 18-10 vote with Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, joining Democrats to vote for it.
The plan requires the Treasury to reduce its overall PERS, or Public Employees Retirement System, investments that emit harmful substances by 60% by 2035 and to get the portfolio to “net-zero” emissions by 2050.
House Bill 2081 made it through the Oregon House on May 1 in a 36-18 vote with the support of two Republicans — state Reps. Cyrus Javadi, R-Tillamook, and Greg Smith, R-Heppner.
The Net Zero plan would end new investments in private equity funds that intend to put money primarily into fossil fuels, and triple from $2 billion to $6 billion “climate positive” investments in private equity and real assets. It would also ensure at least 40% of public investments are held in enterprises that reduce greenhouse emissions or have plans to transition toward net-zero emissions by 2035.
ECONOMY
Ski resorts scramble after major insurer leaves Oregon
Oregon Live | By Matthew Kish
The insurer for some of Oregon’s largest ski resorts is leaving the state, saying it’s become too costly to do business here because of how state law handles liability when skiers suffer injuries.
The departure comes in the middle of a pitched battle over the state law. Resorts and insurers are pushing for waivers of liability, which skiers often sign before hitting the slopes, to carry more weight in fending off lawsuits.
Eric Morgan, who manages claims for Safehold, told lawmakers in written testimony last week the company insures ski resorts in 37 states. Oregon, he said, is “an extreme outlier” that accounts for 20% of its nationwide losses up to $1 million and 50% of its losses between $1 million and $10 million.
Morgan’s testimony came in support of Senate Bill 1196, a bill that would make liability waivers more enforceable, a solution, backers say, to the problem of rising insurance costs, but one that critics say would undermine the legal rights of Oregonians who get injured doing everything from skiing to swimming at the local pool.
Intel plans to lay off 15% to 20% of worldwide factory workers
KGW News
Intel with its research and development hub in Hillsboro is laying off workers yet again to try and stay afloat. Just last year, Intel cut 15,000 workers including 300 in Oregon.
Senator Daniel Bonham says he’s concerned to learn about how the cuts will impact Oregonians and scared that skilled workers will now leave the state.
Intel to lay off thousands of factory workers
KGW News
Oregon’s minority leader in the Senate Daniel Bonham says the sweeping cuts mean state and local governments could lose a lot of taxpayer income. Bonham says Oregon needs to stay aggressive and reduce regulations for businesses. “Driving people to the unemployment line where are they going to go go? We’re not attracting new investment startup companies are not coming to Oregon. So, I think that we’re going to see a lot of talent leave our state which is scary.”
NATURAL RESOURCES & WILDFIRE
Another fire burns through central Oregon, forcing evacuations, state park closure
Oregon Live | By Jamie Hale
Another wildfire is burning through central Oregon, forcing residential evacuations as well as another evacuation of a state park campground.
The Alder Springs fire, which had grown to 2,500 acres Tuesday, was sparked Monday afternoon on the Crooked River National Grasslands, where it rapidly spread, the Oregon State Fire Marshal reported.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for the nearby residential areas, including the Crooked River Ranch, according to Central Oregon Fire Information. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office also issued evacuation orders for the fire.
Researchers survey Oregon forests for insect damage and drought effects
KATU | By Bobber Corser
The Oregon Department of Forestry and the USDA Forest Service will conduct low-level flights in June to monitor forest health.
This survey, which began in the 1940s and paused only during the 2020 pandemic, is the longest continuous annual survey of its kind in the United States.
Buhl noted that the survey has revealed a trend of increasing tree deaths due to drought stress, which makes trees susceptible to beetle attacks. "Trees that are most stressed are those that are less drought-tolerant or have spread into fringe habitat and don’t have time to adapt to the rapidly changing conditions," she said. "Beetles might be the immediate cause of a tree’s death but the underlying cause is often drought."
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
2 arrested for throwing rock at federal officer, defacing Portland ICE facility
KGW News | By Alex Jensen
Two people were arrested Tuesday night outside the the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland.
There have been multiple arrests outside the facility recently, including two men who have been federally charged with assaulting a federal officer. Those arrests occurred Saturday after Portland police declared a riot outside the facility. Over the last week-and-a-half, police have arrested about a dozen people during protests at the facility. Some of the people who have been arrested are accused of setting a fire, assaulting a police officer and placing obstructions around the building.
‘It was scary’: Residents near Portland ICE building frustrated with recent protests
KOIN | Ariel Salk
“The weekend protests were very peaceful. It is fabulous. But when it gets out of hand, people cause damage to other people and property. It’s just so counterproductive,” said one neighbor who wanted to be anonymous.
National News
Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for kids, a setback for transgender rights
Associated Press | By Mark Sherman
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, a stunning setback to transgender rights.
The justices’ 6-3 decision in a case from Tennessee effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump’s Republican administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee’s.
Trump on strike of Iranian nuclear site: ‘I may do it. I may not do it.’
Politico | By Jake Taylor
President Donald Trump on Wednesday floated an American strike on Iranian nuclear sites as Israel and Iran enter their sixth day of conflict.
“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “I mean nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
Trump has publicly grappled with whether the United States should join Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
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