Podcasts about oregon legislature

The Oregon Legislature is racing toward a conclusion in the coming weeks. On this week's episode of OPB Politics Now, we’re going to bring you a special episode from our OPB colleagues and friends at The Evergreen podcast. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at what our lives are like down at the state Capitol in Salem. Usually, OPB Politics reporter Dirk Vanderhart is bringing you the news on this podcast. This week, you’re going to get a glimpse into how he finds it. Enjoy the show!

After the devastating 2020 Labor Day fires, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill that was supposed to lead to more wildfire awareness and resilience. It created a map of areas at high risk of fire. But that map led to a huge backlash from property owners. Now one of the democratic state senators who helped create the map is sponsoring a bill that would repeal it. We’ll talk to Jeff Golden, who represents the Ashland area, about why – and what should happen instead.

The North Portland peninsula, which includes the St. Johns and Cathedral Park neighborhoods, could become isolated from the rest of the city after a major earthquake. If the St. Johns Bridge and the railroad bridges on the peninsula’s eastern border fail, emergency responders could have no way into the area — and residents will have no way out. A bill in the Oregon Legislature would partially address the issue by designating funding for the city to design a seismically-safe bridge over the railroad tracks at Columbia Boulevard.     Sameer Kanal is a Portland City Councilor representing District 2, which includes North Portland. Jeff Bissonnette is the co-chair of the St. Johns-Cathedral Park Neighborhood Emergency Team. They join us to talk about how residents and the city are preparing for this potential disaster.

When Rep. Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham) was growing up with immigrant parents, the pervasive fear of deportation was integrally woven into his experience of childhood. He told KGW that even today, as an adult and a U.S. citizen, he’s always looking over his shoulder. That’s why he’s co-sponsoring SB 703, which would provide funding to nonprofits to help immigrant families that are eligible to apply for legal status to do so. On his Instagram account, he posted about the proposal’s bipartisan support, saying it indicates that “despite the federal landscape, Democrats & Republicans can still come together & work on immigration policies.” Ruiz joins us to tell us more about the bill and the impact it would have on immigrants and their families. House Republicans were either unavailable or did not respond to invitations to participate in this discussion.

Right now, there’s a lot happening in the State Capitol that will affect all Oregonians in some way. And because it’s an odd-numbered year, which means the Oregon Legislature has a session that stretches from January to June, we’re nearing the busiest time of the legislative session. This is when lawmakers have to pass a two-year budget and, of course, some other bills that are critical to keep the state running. Podcast producer, and self-described “civics nerd,” Julie Sabatier tagged along with OPB capitol reporter Dirk VanderHart for a day to see what’s going on behind the scenes of our state government.    For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Hush Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

A bill in the Oregon Legislature would make it easier for law enforcement to use drones. Senate Bill 238 passed in the state house with bipartisan votes and is now being considered in the senate. It would give law enforcement agencies more authority to use drones without a warrant. Many law enforcement officers have testified that it would make their work more efficient and more safe. Opponents of the bill have concerns about its constitutionality and the future of automated policing more broadly. Michael Abrams, the policy counsel at ACLU of Oregon, opposes the bill. Aaron Scmautz is the president of the Portland Police Association and the Oregon Coalition of Police & Sheriffs, who support the bill. We’ll hear from both sides to learn more. 

State Representative Pam Marsh and Abby McKee, President and CEO of Britt Festival, join the Exchange.

A bill in the Oregon Legislature would set up a structure for social media companies to compensate local news producers whose content is shared on those sites. SB 686 is based in part on bills in California and New Jersey, as well as a law that recently went into effect in Canada. It was meant for the largest social media companies to compensate local news media organizations whose content is shared on the platforms — thus supporting news outlets, many which have seen advertising revenues plummet. But the law has had some unintended consequences, including Meta simply deciding not to allow news to be shared at all in Canada.  Joining us to talk about the law's intentions, its unintended consequences and possible solutions is Ryan Adam, formerly the vice president of government and public relationships for the Toronto Star. He led efforts to pass the country’s Online News Act, also known as the C-18 law, and testified in Salem in April about Canada’s law.  OPB is among the news media organizations that testified in support of the Oregon bill.

Former Senator Tim Knopp rejoins the podcast to discuss bill limits in the Oregon Legislature. Bryan and Reagan ask him about his bill on limits in 2001 when the introduction of legislation was similarly out of control. They also discuss the history of term limits in Oregon as Knopp shares why he support U.S. Term limits.* HB 4000 (2001)* Avalanche of bills: Oregon lawmakers file record number, spurring concern over bottlenecks* Statistics — Legislative Counsel* Tim Knopp Tapped As Oregon State Co-Chair For U.S. Term Limits Replaces State Representative Alek Skarlatos This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.crosstabs.studio

Since our last conversation with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, President Trump has enacted tariffs and mass layoffs that could significantly impact Oregon’s federal workforce and economy. The Oregon Legislature has also begun its biennial session, taking up issues around education, transportation and housing. Kotek joins us in the studio to talk about all of that and more.

On March 11 the Joint Transportation Committee of the Oregon Legislature took testimony on HB 3453, which would create a new transit authority with a mission to take over TriMet's Westside Express Service (WES) commuter line and expand it to Eugene.While I share the enthusiasm of the bill's sponsors for passenger rail, the history of WES shows that a market for commuter rail does not exist.WES was originally projected to cost $65 million and open in 2000. It actually cost $161.2 million and opened in 2009. TriMet predicted that opening-year ridership would average 2,500 average daily boardings. Actual ridership averaged 1,140.Daily ridership peaked in 2014 at 1,964 daily boardings, then dropped in each successive year. During 2024 WES averaged just 477 boardings per day.Since each rider typically takes two daily train trips, that means WES only has about 240 actual customers.With such little ridership, public subsidies are costly. Last year the operating cost per boarding ride on WES averaged $103, far in excess of the standard TriMet fare of $2.80.There is no business case for expanding commuter rail. In fact, taxpayers would be better off if we canceled WES, sold the train cars, and moved the few customers back to buses.

But will it be a home run? The Portland Diamond Project has so far struck out on its years-long efforts to bring Major League Baseball to Portland. But now they've got a new site on the South Waterfront, fresh energy from city leaders and a pitch to the Oregon Legislature, not to mention swoon-y renderings of a new stadium along the Willamette. Sports columnist Bill Oram and ECONorthwest economist Mike Wilkerson join Beat Check with The Oregonian to make sense of the numbers behind the proposal, the unknowns (who is behind that ownership group?) and what comes next. Wilkerson, a consultant to the Portland Diamond Project, says building a new stadium downtown could be a game-changer for Portland, the city that he recently and regretfully said was on the verge of a “doom loop” thanks to downward trends in population growth, the commercial real estate market and more. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear Oram and Wilkerson make it very clear where their own personal baseball allegiances land. Related coverage: Is a picture worth almost a billion dollars?OHSU responds to South Waterfront ballpark proposalEconomist warns of Portland ‘doom loop' Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you listen to podcasts to get new episodes each week. You can support local journalism by becoming a subscriber to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Explore more of our podcasts and sign up to get newsletters for the latest news and top stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oregon lawmakers are once again debating how best to allocate education funding to improve attendance, graduation rates, test scores and other key metrics of success. Meanwhile, parents and educators are pushing to remove restrictions on the amount of money school districts can receive for students with special needs. Lawmakers are also considering a bill that nearly passed last year that would block schools from removing certain books from libraries and classrooms.  Natalie Pate is OPB’s K-12 education reporter. She joins us to talk about all of those efforts and more.

Former Sen Dennis Linthicum interview: a wild idea! https://mailchi.mp/electdennis/a_wild_idea_2025-02-11-10000?e=ec7181c588 What do you want Oregon legislature to do that impacts you? Whacky Dem bill removes all leaded fuels from Portland International Raceway only: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2738 SCOTUS has to immediately put a stop to radical liberal Fed judges stopping Trump's clear constitutional authority: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2738 Dems turn to activist judges to stop Trump: https://thefederalist.com/2025/02/11/ousted-from-power-by-voters-dems-turn-to-activist-judges-to-defy-trump/ Former Navy SEAL and Congressman Eli Crane drafts impeachment articles against Fed judge stopping Trump and DOGE: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/breaking-rep-eli-crane-drafts-articles-impeachment-against/ Another lib Fed judge rules Trump can't fire a Biden holdover lawyer in his WH: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/corrupt-obama-judge-amy-berman-jackson-rules-favor/    

State Sen. Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) returns to the Oregon Legislature this session after about a decade away. He lost his reelection bid in a close race in 2014. He replaces former Republican Sen. Brian Boquist who was unable to return to the legislature after the 2023 GOP walkout.  Funding a transportation package is a key issue for lawmakers this year. Starr worked on a bipartisan transportation effort in 2009 and serves as a co-vice chair of the joint committee on transportation during the current session. He joins us to share more on his priorities. 

Bryan and Reagan discuss Bryan's appearance at the Portland City Club (you should listen to that too), Congresswoman Hoyle leaving DOGE Caucus, how Oregon should approach federal cuts, Oregon House Republican press conference, and the rudderless ship that is the Oregon Legislature. Finally, Reagan is driven from the capitol by a fire drill.* Capitol gossip column: or.lady.whistledown@tutamail.com* Oregon House Republicans press conference* A Look Back on the 2024 Election - Portland City Club* Rep. Hoyle bails on DOGE* Federal government defunds Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon* DEI program in Bend dismantled amid Trump's federal unwinding of diversity initiatives This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.crosstabs.studio

Disability Rights Oregon filed a motion last week, asking a federal judge to hold Oregon in contempt of court for failing to admit aid and assist cases within seven days. At the same time, a number of bills have been introduced in the Oregon Legislature surrounding mental health. Chris Bouneff is the executive director of the Oregon chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He joins us to share improvements he hopes the state will make during the Legislative session.

Kitty Piercy has served in the Oregon Legislature, as Eugene Mayor, and on many Boards. She speaks with Oregon Grapevine host, Barbara Dellenback, about her life as an activist and collaborator and leader. They discuss current events and past challenges.

In 2019, the Oregon Legislature created the Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District to manage levees and pump stations in Multnomah County. Last month, voters elected new board members to help guide infrastructure updates to the century-old flood system. As extreme weather events become more common, catastrophic flooding is a growing concern. We check in on the work of the district and learn more about disaster preparedness from Jim Middaugh, the executive director of the district and Kayla Drozd Calkins, a newly elected district board member.

Project Turnkey began as a way to house people who lost their homes in the 2020 wildfires and to provide a COVID-safe alternative to congregate shelters. The Oregon Legislature provided funding for communities to purchase underused buildings, typically motels and hotels, and turn them into shelter spaces where residents could stay for months at a time and engage in support services. A recent report from Portland State University’s Homeless Research & Action Collaborative found that several measures of a residents’ quality of life, such as their ability to get enough rest, access food and make progress toward their goals, improved after their stay at a Turnkey site. However, it also found that more than half of residents returned to either unsheltered homelessness or an emergency shelter after their stay. Anna Rockhill, a research associate professor at PSU, led the report. She joins us with more details on the Turnkey model and the role it can play in addressing Oregon’s homelessness crisis.

The Oregon Legislature has mandated that large utilities deliver 100% emissions-free electricity by 2040. Since coal and natural gas account for more than 45% of Oregon's electricity generation, replacing those fuels with emission-free alternatives will be difficult. Moreover, the closer Oregon gets to 100% reduction, the more expensive it will get. This challenge stems from the fact that the two preferred power sources – industrial-scale wind and solar – are weather dependent. This will require over-building, plus batteries and back-up power supplies. Estimates suggest that achieving the final 1% of decarbonization in the Northwest may require expenditure of between $100 billion and $170 billion. As Oregon adds more wind and solar facilities, the effect of decreasing marginal returns becomes stronger. Each additional unit of reduction produces progressively smaller environmental benefits relative to cost. In simpler terms, it costs more to receive less. If we ever hit 99% reduction, the cost of the final 1% will escalate dramatically, offering minimal benefit at a towering expense. Given the lack of a cost-effective solution and the uncertainty of its necessity, the commitment to achieving 100% reduction is questionable. Fully eliminating emissions may not justify the steep payment. Instead of blindly pursuing decarbonization polices, Oregon should promote an adaptable, feasible approach to electricity generation before committing to a costly 100% reduction path for carbon dioxide emissions.

In 2007, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2620. The law mandates any major infrastructure project over $5 million, or any renovation which exceeds 50% of the current building's value, to devote 1.5% of its entire budget to “Green Energy Technology” (GET). Since 2014, more than 50 of these statewide projects have been for schools, where solar panels are overwhelmingly the GET of choice. Reports submitted to the Oregon Department of Energy show that two-thirds of school projects are outfitted with solar panels that will not break even on their investment for the next 50 years. The industry-accepted break-even limit is 25 years, assuming they last that long before requiring replacement. A project cannot be excused from the 1.5% rule simply because the GET is not cost-effective. School districts that expressed concerns over this, including McMinnville and LaGrande, were allowed to defer costly GET installations to future construction projects. However, that postpones the expenditure. The Board of Portland Public Schools plans to spend more than $22 million on solar arrays at rebuilds of Cleveland, Jefferson, and Ida B. Wells high schools; and none of them will pay for themselves. If taxpayers knew about these investments, it's unlikely they would approve. The Oregon Legislature should either repeal the 1.5% GET mandate or allow project sponsors the freedom to opt-out if projects are too expensive.

* Guest: Dr. Scott Bradley, Founder and Chairman of the Constitution Commemoration Foundation and the author of the book and DVD/CD lecture series To Preserve the Nation. In the Tradition of the Founding Fathers - FreedomsRisingSun.com * Happy Memorial Day! - Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the US military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. * Harrison Butker Commencement Address 2024 Benedictine College! * Shame! Libertarians Skip Over Trump and RFK Jr. for Chase Oliver - In his acceptance speech, Mr. Oliver, 38 — who has described himself as "armed and gay" — Pledged to unify the party along its common principles and to expand its reach. * Oregon Movement to Join 'Greater Idaho' Picks up Steam - Leah Barkoukis, TownHall.com * Crook County, Oregon, residents voted last week to pass a “Greater Idaho” measure that would support starting negotiations to secede from the liberal state. - With 53% support, it is now the 13th county in the state to approve such a measure. * “The Greater Idaho movement seeks to move the border between Oregon and Idaho to include 14 full eastern Oregon counties and 3 partial ones. In addition to the 13 counties who have passed Greater Idaho measures, in 2023 the Idaho House passed a memorial inviting the Oregon Legislature to begin border talks. * Moving the border would require approval in Oregon and Idaho state legislatures as well as U.S. Congress.

Recorded at the NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit in Phoenix, AZ, this week's special episode features Oregon State Representative and recently elected majority leader Ben Bowman. He recaps Oregon's uniquely short legislative session, shares what the rest of the country can learn from the state's approaches to housing and addiction, and highlights the importance of campaign finance reforms. Ryan and Bowman also talk about his professional journey, his early engagement in public service through student government, and how he aims to foster bipartisan relationships in his new role. Tune in to hear his advice for other young, LGBTQ+ leaders who are interested in getting involved in public service but are afraid their voices won't be heard.      • [01:51] Ben Bowman highlights the recent Oregon Legislature short session and his appointment as majority leader. • [03:18] The key housing issues that were discussed and possible changes on the horizon. • [05:35] Assessing the Oregon housing market and in particular, affordability. • [06:51] How Oregon aims to curb its addiction crisis, and a brief look at California's plans. • [13:11] Our guest walks us through his state's campaign finance reforms. • [15:03] Ben's professional journey and why he joined public service at such a young age. • [19:15] His advice to minorities who want to get into public service but are too afraid to do so. • [21:11] How he views his new role as majority leader, and how he plans to get the job done. • [24:13] The bipartisan relationships he'd like to foster as majority leader. • [26:14] Oregon in 2034, as projected by Ben.  

With lawmakers in Salem having wrapped up their work, we take a look at a couple of legislative developments that perhaps you have not heard about, but which could make a big difference in the economic well-being of many Oregonians.We begin the show by discussing legislation that better protects Oregonians from unfair debt collection practices. Chris Coughlin, Policy Director at Oregon Consumer Justice, talks about the just-enacted Family Financial Protection Act.In the latter half of the show, Candice Vickers, Executive Director of Family Forward Oregon, discusses an effort to get the legislature to put sufficient resources into a vital state child care program, Employment Related Day Care.

A lack of funding and the passage of Measure 110 dealt a double whammy to Oregon drug courts. Even as fentanyl became a scourge, one of the best tools to help addicts largely faded away. Programs in Deschutes, Benton, Polk and Multnomah counties shut down in recent months or years and others have been hit with funding problems. But in this short legislative session, the Oregon Legislature voted to increase funding to $37 million this two-year budget cycle, an increase of almost 50%. Legislators also recriminalized drug possession, voting to creates a new misdemeanor for people caught with small amounts of illicit drugs. That might send more people into drug courts tailored to lesser offenders. Reporter Aimee Green took a deep dive into the history of drug courts in Oregon, how they work and how people have benefited from them. She talked to policymakers, recovering addicts and judges. Green joined Editor Therese Bottomly to talk about her article (Bottomly's sister is a Multnomah County judge). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few people in Portland know more about our city's bicycle parking policy than Chris Smith. In this conversation he shares a brief history of the issue and then explains why recent efforts by leaders in both Portland and Salem have rolled back recent bike parking code requirements. In this episode, you'll learn about the development of Portland's bike parking requirements from the inside, and we also talk about Oregon Governor Tina Kotek's big housing bills that passed just this week by the Oregon Legislature. One of them, Senate Bill 1537, included a relatively unknown provision that gives cities the ability to adjust their bike parking requirements to spur housing production.Links:Chris Smith personal website Developers say bike parking rules are biggest reason for housing delays - BikePortland, 3/15/23Bike parking versus housing debate presents a false choice - BikePortland op-ed by Chris Smith, 8/9/23Planning Commission votes to roll back bike parking code to spur new housing - BikePortland , 11/15/23 Wonk Night zeroes in on bike parking code update - BikePortland, 9/25/18Wonk Night kickstarts effort to reform Portland's bike parking code - BikePortland, 10/31/13

In a pivotal development, the Oregon Legislature is pondering a bill to recriminalize substances previously legalized under Measure 110. This legislation, once celebrated for its innovative approach to decriminalizing substance possession and emphasizing treatment over jail time, has been scrutinized due to an increase in overdoses and related arrests. Advocates for and against the bill present a nuanced debate over the success of decriminalization versus the necessity for stricter regulations. Supporters argue the measure's adverse outcomes necessitate a reevaluation, while detractors warn against undoing progress in treatment and rehabilitation efforts. This heated debate mirrors wider discussions on substance policy and its societal implications, awaiting decisive legislative action in Oregon. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darien-dunstan3/message

March 4, 2024   Hour 3:  Fresno Police announced Friday that they arrested a suspect wanted for a recent shooting in southeast Fresno during a smoke shop compliance check.  A bill recriminalizing the possession of small amounts of drugs was passed by the Oregon Legislature as governments struggle to respond to the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history.  KMJ's Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson  Weekdays 2-6PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X  Listen to past episodes at kmjnow.com  Subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Music    Contact See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 4, 2024   Hour 3:  Fresno Police announced Friday that they arrested a suspect wanted for a recent shooting in southeast Fresno during a smoke shop compliance check.  A bill recriminalizing the possession of small amounts of drugs was passed by the Oregon Legislature as governments struggle to respond to the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history.  KMJ's Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson  Weekdays 2-6PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X  Listen to past episodes at kmjnow.com  Subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Music    Contact See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 22, the Joint Committee on Transportation of the Oregon Legislature unanimously approved SB 1572, which would appropriate $250,000 to ODOT to study the feasibility of extending TriMet's Westside Express Service (WES) train from Wilsonville to Salem. The committee did this despite the fact that average daily ridership on WES was down to 370 in January. With so few riders, the average operations cost per ride was $118. By comparison, the average operations cost per ride for TriMet's frequent bus service in January was $6.68, and $9.35 for light rail. WES opened in 2009 and runs from Beaverton to Wilsonville. Service is limited to weekdays, and only during peak hours. Trains arrive every 45 minutes. The peak year for WES ridership was 2014, when it averaged 2,010 boardings in January. Since then, ridership has dropped by 82%. SB 1572 now sits in the Legislative Ways and Means Committee, awaiting approval of the $250,000 budget request. We don't need a 10-month study to decide that extending commuter rail to Salem is a poor use of taxpayer funds. Lawmakers should let the bill die a quiet death. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

Oregon lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill that would create some of the strictest limits in the nation on corporate ownership of primary care and specialty medical clinics. The bill has passed the House already, and senators on the health care committee voted Tuesday to pass it on to the full Senate for consideration. Some of the bill’s toughest provisions would not apply to hospitals, health systems, and nursing homes, which are already largely exempt from Oregon’s restrictions on the corporate practice of medicine. We hear more details from OPB health reporter Amelia Templeton.

It's hard to escape the fentanyl problem in Oregon. The use of fentanyl is evident on the streets of Portland and provides added fuel to Oregon's homelessness crisis. The decriminalization of the drug and others is at the heart of a debate in the Oregon Legislature over Measure 110. The Oregonian/OregonLive recently published two in-depth articles that came at the fentanyl crisis through vastly different lenses. Education reporter Julia Silverman profiled a mother's attempt to see help for her teenage son, who had suffered three overdoses before he died on fentanyl poisoning. Oregon's medical autonomy laws prevented her from forcing him in to treatment. Zane Sparling headed out to Ontario, where the rural town was confronting an addiction and homelessness crisis exacerbated by Oregon's more lenient laws on drug use than neighboring Idaho's. The small city was seeing many of the same problems as Oregon's largest, Portland, hundreds of miles away. Editor Therese Bottomly speaks with Silverman and Sparling about their reporting and possible solutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Full-text: The 35-day session of the Oregon Legislature opened last week, and a hearing was held on the Governor's top priority, Senate Bill 1537. Her goal is to increase the supply of housing. Unfortunately, this goal is undercut by Oregon's Urban Growth Boundaries, which are designed to limit urban growth. Under SB 1537, cities will be allowed to add tiny amounts of new land inside the boundary, but only if the proposed development meets stringent criteria. In the Portland region, new neighborhoods will have to have at least 17 housing units per acre. That means most residents will be living in apartments. The majority of Oregonians aspire to live in single family homes with a yard. Providing a housing solution that most people don't want is not a solution. There is no policy reason for density mandates. Oregon is 98% open space and 2% developed. More than half the state is owned by the federal government, and those lands will remain open space. There is plenty of room for the kind of low-density housing that most people prefer. Oregon's Urban Growth Boundaries have essentially created land cartels run by the government. The effect of any cartel is to make commodities both scarce and expensive. That certainly describes Oregon housing, and SB 1537 doesn't solve the problem. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

The Oregon Legislature's 2024 session is underway, and even though lawmakers' work is constitutionally limited to just 35 days, they plan to take on some of the state's biggest issues. On this week's episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, state government reporter Carlos Fuentes runs down lawmakers' top priorities and how a state Supreme Court ruling could affect the dynamic in Salem. Plus, public safety reporter Noelle Crombie on lawmakers' proposals to roll back parts of Measure 110, the drug decriminalization law approved by voters in 2020. (Crombie recently appeared on Beat Check to discuss Measure 110 and policymakers' trip to Portugal, whose drug laws in part inspired the Oregon measure.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Golden on Oregon's upcoming 2024 legislative short session.

Owner and founder of Western Insights Media and the corresponding affiliation with the That Western Life culture, Katie Schrock is passionate about promoting the Western industries that are becoming more and more popular in today's mainstream media. Katie's background comes from direct reporting in the Oregon Legislature on ranching, agriculture, water & land use issues, and livestock depredation issues throughout the Pacific Northwest. When she's not busy managing or marketing her diverse portfolio of large western-based events with her company, you can find her, working out, reading, hanging with her dogs, raising and processing her own beef and poultry, barrel racing, horseback riding, and raising her first set of sprint horse babies for the track. Follow Katie: @ktschr0ck or @thatwesternlife Thank you to Ag Chicks Sponsors: Strayhorn: Use code AGCHICKS at checkout ⁠https://www.strayhorn.com⁠ ------------------------------------------------ Merch: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.agchicks.net/shop⁠⁠ ⁠ ------------------------------------------------ Find Ally: Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://agchicks.net⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/agchicks⁠⁠ ⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/agchicks⁠⁠ ⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ @AGCHICKS --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/agchicks/support

This is our first episode of 2024, and I can't think of a better guest to start the year off with than State Representative David Gomberg.Representative Gomberg represents House district 10, which encompassess Lincoln County, as well as parts of western Benton and Lane counties, and happens to be my State Representative.Among many other positions, he serves as co-vice chair of the powerful Ways and Means budgeting committee and co-chair of the subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development, and is the Chair of the bipartisan Coastal Caucus.Before we get started, if you want to learn more about the Oregon Legislature, how it works, how to meaningfully engage, how to contact your representatives, and more, oregonlegislature.gov is a pretty great resource for a government run website.  There are also links to resources and tutorials in our show notes below.You can also email me, michael@coastrange.org, with questions, comments, or suggestions about this episode, or anything else.Show Notes:David Gomberg Legislative Webpage https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberghttps://www.oregonlegislature.gov/https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023I1#Support the showPlease Donate to Help us Keep This Show Free!

At the beginning of the year, test exam fees for anyone seeking a social worker license were temporarily waived with funds allocated by the Oregon Legislature. The Oregon Health Authority told KLCC this was meant to address the number of social workers who left the industry during the pandemic and increased demand. The funds have also allowed fees for some license renewals and new applications to be waived as well.  But with technology, communication and backlog issues facing the Oregon Board of Licensing and Social Work, some applicants have been waiting months to get their license to practice in the state. Currently, the board estimates that process and approval time for a license can take upwards of three months. Nathan Smith is a licensed clinical social worker who waited five months for his application to be approved. He joins us to share his experience. Lou Savage is the interim director of the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers, the state agency that processes and approves social worker licenses. He also joins us to share what the demand has been like the past few years, why wait times are so long and what the agency is doing to address delays.

Full-text: During the 2023 session, the Oregon Legislature passed Cascade Policy Institute's bill to ease state-level restrictions on taking the GED. Governor Kotek signed HB 3068 into law August 1. General Educational Development (GED) tests are standardized exams that measure proficiency in science, mathematics, social studies, and language arts. When passed, the GED provides certification that the test-taker meets high school graduate-level academic skills. Higher scores demonstrate college readiness, and even higher scores can qualify students for college credit. Oregon previously required that a person be 18 years or older to take the GED. The state permitted people as young as 16 to sit for the GED only in limited circumstances, such as if they already had dropped out of high school, were married or emancipated minors, or were in juvenile detention. HB 3068 removes these restrictions. Cascade's bill allows 11th and 12th graders (with parents' permission) to graduate early by passing the GED. Importantly, students won't have to drop out of high school to take the GED. Earning a GED while still enrolled in school provides students with a low-risk option to graduate early and move on to higher education or employment. With bipartisan sponsorship and support, Cascade Policy Institute's GED bill will make a meaningful difference to many students looking for a way to move forward more quickly toward college or a career. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

On July 1, workers in one region of Oregon achieved what once seemed an inspired goal. The minimum wage in the Portland metro area — not in the rest of the state — crossed the $15 an hour level. But this milestone arrived more than a decade after workers across the country began demanding a $15 an hour minimum wage.In this episode, we examine how much actual progress Oregon's minimum wage workers made since the legislature established a new minimum wage law seven years ago.We finish with a brief discussion on a big win for Oregon's most vulnerable children: the legislature's decision to establish the Oregon Kids' Credit, a new state child tax credit.

Full-text: Two years ago, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2021, which requires Oregon's investor-owned electric utilities to phase out fossil fuels by 2040, producing all electricity from renewables—mostly wind and solar. But renewables have a problem: Wind and solar are notoriously unreliable. They must always depend on on-demand “dispatchable” resources, which in Oregon means natural gas and hydro. New hydro is nearly impossible to build, and with other dispatchables outlawed, Oregon could find itself without electricity when it's really needed. PacifiCorp, one of Oregon's two investor-owned electric utilities, admits that it likely will be unable to meet customer needs without the invention of new technologies by 2030. Without such technologies, Oregon utilities will have two options: apply for exemptions to HB 2021's requirements, or buy electricity from other states. If other states don't pursue similar policies, Oregon essentially would be paying a premium to shift the blame for its emissions onto its neighbors. It still would be reliant on other states' on-demand fossil-powered generation, but would get to claim a “100% renewable” grid. If other states do adopt similar requirements, they will face the same reliability issues as Oregon and be unable to offer help. Oregon shouldn't be betting its energy future on technology that doesn't exist, and it shouldn't be forcing premiums on ratepayers to shift around blame. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

On a special bonus episode, OPB political reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake review the accomplishments of the 2023 Oregon Legislature and which priorities lawmakers didn't achieve.

On this episode, former Governor of Oregon and ER Doctor John Kitzhaber joins Nate to discuss the shortcomings of the medical system in the United States. With health outcomes below average compared to other developed nations and healthcare spending at nearly 20% of GDP, creating medical systems that are less costly while also keeping people healthier is critical to the well-being of the country and its citizens. Dr. Kitzhaber's hands-on experience working in medicine and systemic perspective as a policymaker gives him a unique perspective on healthcare resource allocation, the effectiveness of medicine, and the real world effects of how we incentivize medical care. Can we extend our time horizons by making long-term investments in the most effective preventative care? How do we take care of more people with fewer resources available? Most of all, can we come together to think critically about how we can create a system that prioritizes holistic health, based in community and accessible to everyone? About John Kitzhaber John Kitzhaber has more than 40 years of experience in health care and health policy in both public and private sectors. He practiced as an emergency room physician for 15 years; served 14 years in the Oregon Legislature, and served three terms as Governor of the State of Oregon. Kitzhaber is the author of the groundbreaking Oregon Health Plan, through which hundreds of thousands of low- and moderate-income Oregon families gain access to health care. During his third term as Governor, Kitzhaber was the chief architect of Oregon's Coordinated Care Organizations, the first effort in the country created on a statewide basis to meet the Triple Aim—better health, better quality, lower cost—with a focus on community and population health. To watch this video episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Z4cjl77rj78  Show Notes & Links to Learn More: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/70-john-kitzhaber 

The Oregon Legislature is considering House Bill 2990 to fund the creation of community-designed and operated emergency centers known as community resilience hubs, . Oregon Rep. Pam Marsh of Ashland is a sponsor of the bill and Oregon Just Transition Alliance is a supporter.

Oregon Sen. Prozanski of Eugene checks in to talk about guns and efforts to further regulate them.

“We should have the right to repair our stuff,” says Oregon Senator Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro). In an op-ed in the Portland Tribune, she made the case for Senate Bill 542, known as the Right to Repair bill. She says too often, when a device breaks the only option is to get a new one or take it back to the manufacturer or authorized repair technicians. Either option can be expensive and consumers should have the ability to do the repairs themselves, Sollman said. And to do that they need access to spare parts, repair documentation like the schematics and manuals, diagnostic software, and special tools. The Right to Repair bill was voted out of the Energy and Environment committee this week, which Sollman chairs. She joins us to tell us more about what the bill would do and the impact it could have for consumers.

Six-week-long drunken party was thrown by the notoriously rascally Jonathan Bourne Jr. to keep the state Legislature from convening, so it couldn't elect John H. Mitchell to the U.S. Senate. It worked — well, sort of. (Salem, Marion County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1201e-bourne-40-day-party-stopped-legislature.html)

On this week's show, OPB reporters Alex Zielinski and Lauren Dake talk about the 2023 Oregon legislature session and Mayor Ted Wheeler's decision to fire a top aide -- and former mayor -- Sam Adams.