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Oregon News
TRANSPORTATION
Oregon transportation bill vote delayed until end of September
KGW | By Amy Xiaoshi DePaola
Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr, R-The Dalles, wished Gorsek well but called the situation “avoidable,” adding that Republicans will remain “united in rejecting this tax hike.”
Under Oregon law, a three-fifths majority is required for any legislation that raises taxes. Democrats hold exactly three-fifths in each chamber, but Republicans have largely opposed the bill, with no Senate members crossing the aisle. This makes Gorsek’s presence essential.
POLITICS
State lawmakers weigh breaking Oregon's link to the federal tax code as budget gap widens
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
The latest state revenue forecast revealed a $372.7 million deficit over the next two years before accounting for the ripple effects of H.R. 1.
According to the revenue forecast, this number would increase to $888 million once these tax cuts are fully implemented, unless legislative action is taken.
The largest revenue losses stem from the reductions in income tax on overtime pay and tips.
The cessation of taxing overtime will result in a reduction of approximately $221 million in state revenues over the next two years.
The "no tax on tips" policy is expected to result in a $77.7 million drop in state revenues during the 2025-27 biennium.
Since 1997, Oregon has operated under a "rolling reconnect" tax policy, meaning the state's tax code automatically adjusts whenever Congress changes the federal tax code.
The arrangement simplifies tax filings for Oregonians, but it also means that federal tax cuts can instantly reduce Oregon's revenues.
Oregon lawmakers will soon discuss their options for changing the state's tax code.
Sen. Mark Meek, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue, told the Oregon Capitol Chronicle that lawmakers will discuss this issue during legislative days from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
The three days are a time when legislative committees meet for informational hearings and to receive reports from various agencies and stakeholders.
KATU has reached out to Meek to confirm this information.
Lawmakers could call a special session before the end of the year to address the issue immediately, or they could wait to take action during the 2026 short session.
The governor is usually the one to call a special session, but the Legislature can call itself into session with written requests from a majority of legislators in both respective chambers.
In Oregon, crossing your party comes at a cost
OPB | By Lauren Dake
A Democrat in the Oregon Legislature recently voted against her party’s transportation package. She was bullied as a result, she said, and decided not to seek reelection.
A Republican voted in favor of the transportation tax package. He was labeled a “criminal” and a “traitor,” he said, and switched political parties.
In this era of hyper-partisanship, the fate of Reps. Annessa Hartman and Cyrus Javadi reflect the broader trend of a growing political divide permeating the country.
New legislative workgroup to support Planned Parenthood and abortion rights in Oregon
KATU | By Sarah Bagby
House Democrats announced Thursday that they will create a legislative workgroup to support abortion access in Oregon. This comes after a newly passed federal bill has Planned Parenthood scrambling to find new funding for treating its Medicaid patients.
Two Oregon lawmakers go on Israel-sponsored trip as country invades Gaza City
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
Two Oregon lawmakers are among 250 state legislators across the U.S. visiting Israel this week on a trip sponsored by the Israeli government.
Israel hosted Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis and Rep. Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point, on a trip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as the largest-ever bipartisan delegation of American lawmakers to visit. The Consulate General of Israel, calling the trip “50 States, One Israel,” is covering the lawmakers’ cost of air travel, lodging, ground transportation and meals between Sept. 13 and Sept. 18.
The visit comes as the Israeli military begins its ground invasion of Gaza City this week, pushing troops into the war-torn city after nearly two years of raids and bombardment. It also coincides with Oregon’s junior U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley introducing legislation Thursday calling for the U.S. to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
91 offensive landmark names in Oregon will be replaced. Here’s how you can help
The Oregonian | By Jamie Hale
Oregon is in the process of axing a slew of derogatory place names across the state, and the public is invited to help with the task of coming up with new monikers.
The effort was initiated by the Oregon Legislature, which earlier this year voted to speed up the process of replacing offensive place names. The organization tasked with the job is the Oregon Geographic Names Board, a volunteer committee made up of historians, geographers, engineers, retired journalists and educators, which also has members affiliated with two of Oregon’s biggest history museums: the Oregon Historical Society and the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute.
Federal lawsuit accuses Oregon Youth Authority of ignoring sexual abuse for years
KOIN 6 | By Joelle Jones
Nearly a dozen men are now suing the state of Oregon, claiming they were sexually abused as teenagers while in custody at Maclaren Youth Correctional Facility.
Lawyers demand release of Oregon wildland firefighter arrested by ICE
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
Lawyers for an Oregon wildland firefighter arrested by federal agents while on the job last month are going to federal court to demand his immediate release, arguing that his detention was an abuse of power.
Multnomah County Seeks Next Preschool for All Director
Willamette Week | By Joanna Hou
The role opens as the county’s handling of its former director’s conflict of interest still leaves unanswered questions.
‘Another sanctuary politician’: Trump officials blast Portland mayor after city claims ICE violated land-use agreement
The Oregonian | By Fedor Zarkhin
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security blasted Portland Mayor Keith Wilson on Friday, two days after he said immigration officials violated an agreement with the city that allows them to operate a facility near downtown.
Oregon, other states win court order halting Trump administration's demand for SNAP recipient data
KGW | By Jamie Parfitt
Oregon and 21 other states succeeded Friday in winning a court order halting the Trump administration from seizing information on recipients of federal food assistance distributed by the states.
Oregon county official accused of calling women colleagues ‘stripper’ and ‘spinster’
The Oregonian | By Zane Sparling
Lane County Chair David Loveall is under fire for allegations that he has harassed people in the workplace.
Loveall is accused of likening the leader of an unnamed agency that partners with Lane County to a “stripper” on a pole and calling a former county attorney a “spinster.”
EDUCATION
An Oregon school district will use weapon detectors in its middle schools
The Oregonian | By Julia Silverman
The Salem-Keizer School District will install weapons detection systems in all 12 of its middle schools, a year after the district became the first in the state to place the technology in all of its high schools.
USDA resurrects popular farm-to-school program. Oregon group says it doesn’t make up for other federal cuts
OPB | By Alejandro Figueroa
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is resurrecting a program that brought millions of dollars to Oregon nonprofits, Tribes and school districts. But schools are still starting the academic year with less federal support for programs that used to bring fresh local foods to cafeterias.
DRUGS & HOMELESSNESS
MultCo leaders disappointed with deflection center results, 1 year later
KOIN 6 | By Elise Haas
One year after Multnomah County opened its first deflection center, commissioners are expressing disappointment at the results.
Major homeless services operator in Portland faces loss of funding, money mismanagement in other cities
The Oregonian | By Lillian Mongeau Hughes
Urban Alchemy, a nonprofit homeless service provider that operates at least four city-funded village-style shelters in Portland along with a new outdoor day center, is facing problems in two other cities.
ECONOMY
Oregon added jobs in August. Why is unemployment still higher than national average?
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Oregon's unemployment climbed again in August despite the addition of thousands of jobs.
In August, the Oregon Employment Department announced the unemployment rate in the state was the highest it has been in four years.
Regional & National News
WA will replace Planned Parenthood’s lost Medicaid funding with state dollars
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Jake Goldstein-Street, Jerry Cornfield
Washington state will backfill lost Medicaid dollars for Planned Parenthood after a court ruling last week.
At the same time, advocates continue to push for restored funding for abortion access that lawmakers cut in Washington’s new state budget.
Following Kirk's assassination, Republicans sour on direction of the country, new AP-NORC poll finds
Associated Press
Republicans’ outlook on the direction of the country has soured dramatically, according to a new AP-NORC poll that was conducted shortly after last week's assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Biden offered health insurance access to DACA immigrants. Trump took it away.
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shalina Chatlani
A new Trump administration rule bars immigrants living in the United States under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) from buying health insurance from Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
The change, announced in June, took effect at the beginning of this month. It reverses a policy change enacted by the Biden administration for last November’s annual enrollment period.
DACA, which President Barack Obama established in 2012, applies to certain immigrants who are here illegally but were brought to the U.S. as children. The program was enacted to protect them from deportation and allows them to work for renewable two-year periods. To be eligible, an immigrant must have come to the U.S. at age 15 or younger before June 15, 2007. DACA participants also must be high school graduates, high school students or veterans of the U.S. military.
CDC panel opts against requiring COVID shot prescription, but wants greater emphasis on its risks
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Maya Homan
The top vaccine advisory committee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Friday to change long-standing recommendations around COVID-19 vaccine access for children and adults, though a proposal to require prescriptions for all individuals seeking the shot narrowly failed.
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