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.
Aug
11
Oregon Legislature Completes Act I of Rebalancing the State Budget
Since the early days of the pandemic, legislators knew they would be called into special session to recalibrate the state budget.
2 min read
Jun
26
Oregon Lawmakers Convene in First Pandemic Special Session
The special session was also a political trial run to test the ability of the parties to work together.
2 min read
May
20
State Economists Forecast $2.7 Billion Budget Shortfall
The economists described the outlook as a “sea change” compared to recent forecasts, which predicted a slackening in economic activity but continued growth.
3 min read
Mar
18
Lawmakers Begin Preparing Oregon’s Response to Coronavirus
Oregon lawmakers are preparing to enter into a special session to aide the state’s response to the outbreak.
2 min read
Mar
06
Leadership Pulls the Ripcord, Adjourns Session
It is too soon to tell which side will bear the responsibility for the legislature failing to complete the session.
2 min read
Feb
28
Clock is Ticking for the Session
Only nine days remain in the legislative session and it may as well be the beginning or, perhaps, the end. The legislature has only enacted three measures for the session, holding hundreds of others hostage in the standoff over the cap-and-trade politics. Lawmakers have been on a collision course for
2 min read
Feb
21
Legislature Moves the Goal Post on Cap-and-Trade
The goal post on the cap-and-trade legislation was moved again and leadership has been maneuvering to clear the way for the politics to play out.
1 min read
Feb
14
New Frontlines Emerge for Session Politics
Taxes typically play an outsized role in these short sessions as politicians ready for the campaign cycle but these debates have largely stayed above the fray.
2 min read
Feb
07
Lawmakers at Loggerheads Over Session Trajectory
The threat of another walkout overshadow the regular course of business in the legislature and, perhaps temporarily, shifted the balance of power in the building.
1 min read
Jan
20
Legislature Again Sets Its Sights on Carbon
Lawmakers convened in Salem this week for the introduction of committee measures in advance of the session.
