Apr
28
Batten Down The Hatches
Legislature wrangles over social policy and budget politics as it heads down the session's home stretch.
5 min read
The Takeaway
The Takeaway is a weekly session publication making sense of Oregon politics and policy. Every Friday while the legislature is in session, we publish a review of the week’s prominent topics and controversies. Our readers span from politicians and corporate executives to journalists and every day political junkies.
Apr
21
Budget, Social Politics Shape Session
We are beginning to see the spotlight focus on the state's budget and social policy battles likely to drive the politics in the Capitol.
3 min read
Apr
14
Abortion & Gun Control Take Center Stage
The political landscape in Oregon is shifting towards controversial issues such as gun control and abortion rights, with Republicans resorting to stall tactics
3 min read
Apr
07
Lawmakers to Begin Marathon Floor Sessions
Tuesday marked the completion of the legislature's first deadline of the session, requiring a measure to move out of its original policy committee or falter for the session.
4 min read
Mar
31
Legislative Deadline Shapes Session's Focus
In past years, the presiding officers regularly scheduled extended floor sessions in the evenings and weekends to work through the third reading list. A new bargaining chip has emerged this session—Fridays.
4 min read
Mar
24
Ways & Means Co-Chairs Release Framework Budget
For many lawmakers, they are only familiar with excess revenues and debates over where to spend it. Now, however, state resources are coming back down to earth, requiring the legislature to slim its spending.
3 min read
Mar
17
Legislative Crossroads: Kumbaya or Kumbaygone?
The collegiality between the parties has been a pleasant change of pace from previous sessions, where the parties started on a collision course.
3 min read
Mar
10
Well, It's Groundhog Day in the Legislature, Again
With new members and leadership, Oregon lawmakers are reviving a series of proposals that came up short in previous sessions, including campaign finance limits and self-serve gas, suggesting lawmakers believe they have a better chance of success this time around.
3 min read
Feb
24
Freak Snowstorm Brings the Capitol to a Halt
Despite only meeting for three days this week, the legislature still covered a lot of ground on housing, semiconductors, and the trajectory of tax and fiscal politics.
5 min read
Feb
17
Housing, Semiconductors & (Just About) Everything Else
Housing and semiconductors are unequivocally the talk of the town. Still, the legislature cannot sit idly waiting for those issues to get out of the way.
4 min read