Last year the Oregon State Legislature requested that the Oregon Department of Transportation examine policies and actions that could improve quality of life through increasing housing options with easy connections to transit. This aligns with our strategic goals to address equity, address climate change, improve access to public and active transportation, and address congestion.

ODOT has completed its Oregon Transit and Housing Study identifying policies, strategies, and actions that can better link housing, including affordable housing, with transit services in the future. The study and its products are designed to inform state, regional, tribal, and local agency and transit provider staff about steps they can take to improve transit and housing outcomes in their area.

ODOT has invited people to browse the online open house. The online open house will be available until October 21st. It is designed to allow you to browse the lessons learned and products completed throughout this project on your schedule. There are no surveys or other work included. The virtual open house will allow people to explore the collected results of the case studies, survey, and the rest of the study.

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According to ODOT, the study can help guide public investment and lead to denser developments along bus, streetcar, and/or rail lines. It can help implement national and statewide emissions initiatives, such as the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities Program, to help meet climate change targets. According to ODOT, this project provides recommendations and strategies to help make Oregon a better, more affordable place to live.

While housing policy is not directly a part of ODOT’s mission, they are pursuing this Study due to the important connection between transportation and housing on the quality of life for all Oregonians, especially those traditionally underserved. The information we uncovered can help ODOT, other state agencies, public transportation providers, and regional, local, and tribal transportation and land use agencies better enable links between transit and housing of all types.

The study identified several key takeaways:

1. Transit-supportive housing is not a well-defined concept nor a focused concentration within many of the policy and guidance documents. Many state-level policies affect the provision of transit, housing, and affordable housing, but few directly address all the concepts together. A clear and consistent statewide policy position across multiple agencies could help to reach numerous statewide goals – improve housing production and affordability, reduce GHG emissions, etc. – and direct funding and investment toward these goals.
2. Coordination between state agencies and local and regional partners is key in addressing and delivering transit-supportive housing. Land use, housing, and transit, while addressed within local community comprehensive plans, are aspects of the built environment that are often planned independently by separate agencies. Greater coordination between the agencies could result in identifying opportunities for additional collaboration that may ultimately benefit Oregon communities. Delivering effective transit-supportive housing will require fostering a shared understanding of the concept and partnerships among these agencies and local jurisdictions.
3. There are opportunities to leverage recent legislative, executive, and agency actions to further transit-supportive housing policies. HB 2001 and HB 2003 focus on missing middle housing and statewide housing needs, respectively.
4. Transit-supportive housing performance measures, evaluation criteria, and guidance would benefit any transit-supportive housing policy.

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-10-08 06:57:57

Last Update: 2022-10-05 14:48:35

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

During a virtual forum with the Marion County Democratic Party, Richard Walsh, running for Senate District 11, declared his support for a $22 billion tax hike on Oregonians to create a universal health care system. This is just $6 billion less that the State of Oregon’s entire general fund for the entire 2021-2023 biennium. This is an unprecedented expansion of state government.

Senate District 11 covers parts of Marion County, including Woodburn and much of Salem. Richard Walsh is competing against Senator Kim Thatcher for Speaker Peter Courtney’s district upon his retirement.

Kim Thatcher voted against single payer government run universal health care in 2019, HB 2447, and introduced a Vaccine Passport ban and advocated against forced vaccinations and for vaccine safety while legislators were trying to exempt themselves from what they were trying to force on the public. Thatcher repeatedly sponsors various forms on protecting the unborn from inception to 20-weeks to ‘care of life’ if a child is born alive after attempted abortion. She also passed legislation that cracks down on sex offenders.

Walsh says, “I will protect and defend a woman's fundamental right to control her own body. We must protect access to the full scope of reproductive health care, including access to abortion. I will fight to preserve accessible, affordable care in Oregon.”

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Walsh says, “housing affordability must be addressed. To do this we need to address the core issues of income inequality, financing, and affordable housing inventory.” Thatcher takes another approach, “The government has layered costly regulations and permitting making it more expensive to build new homes… Oregon’s population is outpacing her supply of homes. We can loosen the crippling regulations contributing to the housing and homeless crisis. I will defend against any changes to raising caps on property taxes that drive up housing costs.”

Walsh wants to address rising costs by cracking down on price gouging in areas where Oregonians are struggling to keep up with rising costs. He says, “We all deserve housing, health care, and transportation that’s affordable, and I am ready to tackle this problem by prioritizing the needs of our working families.”

Thatcher has consistently voted and advocated against reducing greenhouse emissions 100% below baseline, the electric vehicle agenda and the $5.3 billion transportation infrastructure raising gas taxes and allowing tolling in HB 3055 and HB 2021. She also did not support SB 390, requiring 100% of electricity to be generated utilizing renewable and carbon-free energy.

Walsh supports SB 554 as common-sense gun safety measures to prevent gun violence like safe storage and capacity limits. He says it “allows us to protect our children and keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of those who don’t need them, while still preserving core constitutional rights for responsible gun owners.”

Thatcher was vocal against SB 554 calling it a trap. “SB 554 will set up numerous potential “felony traps” all over the state for those with Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHL).” Thatcher’s survey responses: https://bit.ly/OAA2022-KimThatcher


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-10-08 06:17:48

Last Update: 2022-10-05 11:08:55

The Burns Paiute Tribe, a federally-recognized Indian tribe, signed an agreement with the State of Oregon and ODFW to continue support and cooperation to protect and enhance fish and wildlife, cultural resources, and habitat connectivity.

"This agreement affirms the role of the Burns Paiute Tribe in both exercising and management of aboriginal rights that were never extinguished," said Burns Paiute Chairperson Diane Teeman."We value our partnership with the state in co-management of fish and wildlife and this Agreement is an important step in further developing that partnership." Governor Kate Brown, Chairperson Diane Teeman and ODFW Director Curt Melcher signed the agreement on Oct. 3 at the Tribal-State Summit in Florence.

"The people of the Burns Paiute Tribe have been stewards of these lands and First Foods like salmon and steelhead since time immemorial, and it is critical that our governments work hand-and-hand to protect and maintain Oregon's fish and wildlife," said Governor Kate Brown.

"I'd like to thank the Burns Paiute Tribe and Chairperson Diane Teeman, as well as ODFW and Director Melcher, for making this important agreement possible, which is essential for this critical work to move forward in a collaborative way, using the combined expertise and knowledge of Tribal and State experts," Brown added.

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The agreement memorializes ongoing cooperative efforts between BPT and ODFW. These efforts include ceremonial hunting opportunities, a ceremonial and cultural Chinook fishery on the Malheur River, and a collaborative effort to address vehicle-caused wildlife mortality from Highway 20 in the Malheur River Canyon.

"At ODFW, we understand and appreciate the importance of fish and wildlife to the Burns Paiute Tribe," said Director Melcher. "It gives me great pleasure to sign this agreement recognizing our shared interests and outlining our future commitments to the fish and wildlife resources of the state," he added.

In addition, the agreement establishes a framework for future collaboration work on salmon and steelhead restoration efforts in the Malheur River Basin. The framework includes cooperative efforts to restore habitat, in addition to conducting baseline assessments including pathogen assessments that will be needed for any future reintroduction efforts.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-10-07 18:20:14

Last Update: 2022-10-07 18:44:56

The Statesman Journal is reporting that Democrat candidate for state House District 21 R.J. Navarro knowingly hired a registered sex offender, convicted of sexually abusing a child younger than 14, on his campaign.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-10-07 11:10:42

Last Update: 2022-10-12 13:37:56

The Oregon Supreme Court has denied Review of the Oregon Court of Appeals decision in regard to the challenge by crime victims and District Attorneys as to the Governor’s exercise of clemency powers outside the process specified by law.

Kevin Mannix, attorney for the victims and District Attorneys, commented as follows on the denial of the Review:

“This is a sad day for crime victims and prosecutors in Oregon. The Oregon Supreme Court has let stand a decision by the Court of Appeals that the Governor is not bound to follow the clemency process set by law, which requires input from District Attorneys and an opportunity for victims to be heard before a clemency decision is made. Instead, the Governor can follow whatever process she wants and can ignore input from victims and District Attorneys if she wishes. The Court also allows the Governor to give the Parole Board authority to shorten sentences where the law does not give such authority.

“Because all of this involves an interpretation of Oregon law, no further appeal can be taken. Instead, I will go to the Legislature to seek a specific law which makes it clear that the Governor cannot set up her own clemency procedures and ignore the statutes. I will also seek a referral to the voters of a constitutional amendment which specifies that victims and District Attorneys must be allowed to be heard in the clemency process. I will go one step further and seek a constitutional amendment which provides that no Governor can use the clemency power to shorten felony prison sentences except when such clemency is approved by a majority vote of the Oregon Senate. This is one way we can restrict the abuse of the clemency process which we have witnessed in Oregon.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-10-07 10:25:20

Last Update: 2022-10-07 14:03:26

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Incumbent Deb Patterson had a rocky start in Senate District 10, barely defeating Denyc Boles, the incumbent, in a recount in 2020. Patterson previously lost to Jackie Winters. Now she faces Representative Raquel Moore-Green after the redistricting put her in Senate District 10. The voters in parts of Marion and Polk counties have two candidates with voting records to give a clear indication on how they stand.

Moore-Green is a small business owner and served her community as a member of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Business Alliance, Union Gospel Mission, and the Salem Police Foundation to name a few. Her goal is to bring balance to the senate and ensure legislation that will improve educational standards, support law enforcement, and reduce the tax and regulation burdens placed on our businesses. She is running for the Republican and Libertarian parties.

Deb Patterson earned a master's degree in music, and in health administration from Washington University School of Medicine, and a master's degree and doctorate from Eden Theological Seminary. Her experience includes working as a healthcare administrator and executive director, and the executive director of Northwest Parish Ministries. She has served as a member of the Salem Rotary Club, Healthcare for All Oregon, and SEIU 503. She is running for the Democrat and Independent parties.

Moore-Green believes in accountability, and wants to ensure that future Governors will not have the ability to exclude the legislature’s active participation during states of emergency. Oregon has forced legislative fiscal accountability by passing the tax kicker, which refunds excess forecasted funds to taxpayers. Moore-Green voted not to lower the kicker by rewriting prior budgets to reduce the amount of the kicker. Patterson voted to reduce the kicker, voting for SB 846.

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Moore-Green believes public safety means funding of law enforcement and supporting services to address mental health issues, alcohol abuse and drug addiction, as well as provide job skill training. She voted against HB 3265 restricting law enforcement and courts from inquiring about immigration status, and voted against SB 554, that locks up firearms to make them inaccessible.

Patterson supports common sense gun safety laws like universal background checks and safe storage voting for SB 554, which makes it virtually impossible to defend yourself from murderers and criminals. She also voted to restrict law enforcement and courts from asking about immigration status.

Moore-Green says, “Our students deserve to compete nationally, but Oregon’s recent lower graduation standards fail to equip them for the real world. We need comprehensive education that’s rigorous, transparent, and inclusive of parental input.” She voted against eliminating the essential skills test for a high school diploma (SB 744), and voted against HB 2166 enacting a social emotional learning framework establishing an early childhood suspension prevention program.

Patterson says, “I know that we must do more to give our children a head start, to support strong community schools that respect and reflect the diversity of Oregon and to make college and vocational training more accessible for everyone.” She voted in support of eliminating the essential skills test for a high school diploma (SB 744), and voted for HB 2166 enacting a social emotional learning framework establishing an early childhood suspension prevention program.

Moore-Green wants greater access to patient care and wants to see local county initiatives promoting healthy diets, exercise and lifestyle choices. She voted against HB 3057, vaccine mandates for attending school, work or travel. She says she values life and voted to require ‘care of life’ if a child is born alive after attempted abortion.

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Patterson says, “I support access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare…I opposed legislation that infringed on one’s right to choose and will continue to stand up for reproductive rights for everyone.” Except when it comes to mandating vaccines, she voted for HB 3057 mandating vaccination for attending school, work or travel. She also voted against requiring ‘care of life’ if a child is born alive after attempted abortion.

Patterson supported legislation to bring Oregon to 100% clean energy by 2040 voting for HB 2021 that has no structure to insure adequate power. “We can build a clean energy economy that protects our environment and invests in our workers and our economy and we must start now,” Patterson said. She also voted for HB 2290, to spend taxpayer dollars installing public electric vehicle charging stations, and HB 2165 establishing a rebate program for electric vehicles.

Moore-Green says “we must protect our small/private farms, fisheries, and dairies from continued regulation. They are excellent stewards of their resources – providing jobs, food, and services for nearly 4 million Oregonians.” She voted against bills intending to convert to electric vehicles, and voted against reducing emissions 100% below baseline emissions by 2040, with no structure to insure adequate power.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-10-07 06:17:13

Last Update: 2022-10-05 10:57:27

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Kevin Mannix is a practicing business law attorney representing small businesses, churches, private schools, and non-profit agencies. He served as a state legislator for 10 years. He became Oregon’s leading crime victim advocate, authoring Measure 11 and Measure 73 in 2010. which formed mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes. He has successfully stood up to a government run wild, including fighting Governor Brown's punishing mandates and successfully defeating the largest tax increase in Oregon history. He also backs law enforcement, fully funding police, and restoring the criminal justice system with prevention, accountability and rehabilitation.

Challenger Ramiro Navarro went from taking the United States oath at 18, to an Army Veteran, worked as a Veteran’s Representative at Chemeketa Community College and Project ABLE supporting veterans with mental health services, to a business owner of Oregon’s Finest Automotive, and now running for Senate District 21. He says “I will legislate not from a position of authority, but as a person who knows the issues impacting the most vulnerable in our community.” He currently serves on the Cherriots Board advocating for public transportation, and recently spoke during a virtual forum with the Marion County Democratic Party where he expressed a top priority will be to eliminate gas cars to clear the way for electric cars. He says, “I’ve advocated for investing in cleaner public transit to support the mobility of low-income Oregonians and protect our environment.”

Navarro says, “We need to make major investments in affordable housing to support working families and take transformative steps to make healthcare more affordable. Focusing on these policies will help everyone by stimulating our economy.” He showed his passion in the Marion County Democratic Party meeting using strong language to show his support for universal health care and to raise taxes to fund it.

Mannix says, “the homelessness problem is actually a symptom of the failure to address a number of issues. The state needs to develop a comprehensive backstop system for counties, cities, non-governmental organizations, and churches to be able to better address homelessness issues. He proposes strengthening the capability to require drug-addicted and alcohol-addicted persons to enter treatment facilities, staffing and training for facilities, work programs for homeless, and research what’s working across the nation.

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Mannix has dedicated much of his life to promoting school choice and parental rights in our kids’ education. Mannix founded Blanchet Catholic School in Salem and will fight to stop the one-size-fits all policies putting a barrier between parents and curriculum in the classroom. He sees a need to expand school choice, provide a voucher program for parents of children with disabilities, a tax credit for businesses sponsoring scholarships, and grants to help private schools expand their capabilities in certain academic areas.

Navarro sees a “need to prioritize child care so working families can get a leg up and build a better life for their children.” His focus is on more funding for education and head start programs so our children have the support they need to thrive.

Mannix wants to keep taxes low making Oregon more affordable for working families. He says, “We need a comprehensive review of Oregon’s tax system so as to enhance business development and employment growth, while lowering taxes and fees for working Oregonians.” He proposes removing the Oregon death tax and the CAP system, establish caps on income taxes, and clarifying exemptions from personal property taxes.

Navarro says he will always protect your bodily autonomy, your right to medical privacy and ability to access an abortion. He says that is why he is the only candidate endorsed by Planned Parenthood and Pro Choice Oregon.

Mannix believes he can represent minorities from spending many years of his childhood in Latin America living in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama while his father served in the Foreign Service. While in Latin America, Kevin attended private Spanish immersion schools and is fluent in Spanish. He serves as President of the Salem Catholic Schools Foundation and founded Blanchet Catholic School serving on the Board. He says, “I believe that life begins at conception and public policy should be designed to support life. I am endorsed by Oregon Right to Life.”

The two are challenged by Michael Morrow running for the Libertarian Party. His responses to the OAA questionnaire places him as a moderate candidate.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-10-06 08:16:35

Last Update: 2022-10-05 10:05:03

At the direction of the Oregon Legislature, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality have produced a report analyzing existing incentives available to support the transition to Zero Emission Vehicles for Medium- and Heavy-Duty transportation fleets. The agencies were further directed to research incentives offered in other states and to provide recommendations on expanding or creating incentives to support Oregon businesses in the transition. This report includes analyses on incentives for both vehicles and electric charging or other fuel infrastructure

Two listening sessions were held to provide space for comments and feedback from stakeholders on the MHD ZEV incentive Report. May 31 and September 27, 2022.

In 2021, Governor Kate Brown stated that Oregon has experienced more extreme weather events, chronic heat and drought, flooding and more intense wildfires as a result of climate change. The Governor also acknowledged and supported Oregon’s efforts on addressing climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Oregon Global Warming Commission, state-wide emissions must be reduced by over 50 percent to meet Oregon’s 2035 GHG reduction goal.

Political experts have noted a pattern of politicians setting high goals in the future -- when they may no longer expect to be in office -- and then failing to meet them.

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The report, entitled Incentives to Support the Transition to Zero Emissions for Medium-and Heavy-duty Sectors in Oregon identifies the significant bottleneck to advancement of these initiatives: Electric Charging Infrastructure. Zero emission vehicle adoption for Medium- and Heavy-Duty is only possible if the infrastructure needed to charge or refuel electric vehicles exists. This is a key barrier to both battery and fuel cell electric vehicle adoption, particularly in the medium- and heavy-duty sectors.

According to Atlas Public Policy, the U.S. will need between $100 billion and $166 billion in charging infrastructure investment this decade to support 100% electric truck sales by 2040. There are many types of medium- and heavy-duty battery electric vehicles, and each vehicle type will have different charging needs based on vehicle size, usage schedule and application. The primary EV chargers utilized in the Medium- and Heavy-Duty sector are Level 2 chargers and Direct Current Fast Chargers.

According to the report, many stakeholders brought up the issue that for some sectors, specifically non-road and long haul vehicles, technology does not exist right now for them to adopt ZEV vehicles. Whether the vehicles are not made for the application, the load, or the range it will limit who the early adaptor sectors and use cases are for incentives.

Comments on the draft report are due Oct. 10 at noon. The report is due by Dec. 1, 2022.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-10-06 06:50:51

Last Update: 2022-10-05 12:55:53

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality today issued its largest penalty to date against Thompson Technical Services, of Lincoln City, for selling nearly $2 million in fraudulent credits through DEQ's Clean Fuels Program. The $2,723,895 penalty surpasses the $2.1 million enforcement action last year against Herbert Malarkey Roofing for air quality violations.

The action against Thompson Technical Services, which goes by TTS Charging, came after DEQ discovered the company had illegitimately claimed 16,089 in Clean Fuel Program credits for operating three electric vehicle charging stations in Sheridan. TTS then sold most of those credits to Elbow River Marketing for nearly $1.8 million.

At the time the company claimed and sold the credits, the three charging stations had not been installed and had not dispensed any electricity to vehicles.

"This is an egregious violation of a program that is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change," said Leah Feldon, interim director of DEQ. "The Clean Fuels Program has been highly successful, but selling fraudulent credits seriously undermines the program's environmental benefits. This penalty is intended to encourage the violator to return legitimate credits to the market and should serve as a deterrent to anyone considering similar fraudulent behavior."

The Clean Fuels Program, which has been in place since 2016, provides incentives to companies that develop transportation fuels with lower carbon intensity, such as electricity or biofuels. The incentives come in the form of credits that can be sold to other companies as a way to comply with state rules requiring reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Each credit is equal to 1 ton of reduced emissions. To date, the program has helped reduce emissions by 7.6 million tons and has displaced nearly 1.5 billion gallons of fossil fuels with cleaner ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, electricity and renewable forms of natural gas and propane.

On June 10, TTS used the Oregon Fuels Reporting System to falsely claim it had dispensed 14.9 million kilowatt hours of electricity from the three non-working charging stations during the first three months of 2022. The false reporting generated 16,089 credits in the reporting system. On June 27, TTS transferred most of the credits to Elbow River Marketing. The total sales price of the credits was $1,788,000.

DEQ's order:

• Revokes TTS's account with Oregon Fuels Reporting System and invalidates the 89 illegitimate credits remaining in the TTS account.
• Requires TTS to purchase legitimate credits to replace the 16,000 credits transferred to Elbow River.
• Assesses a total civil penalty of $2.7 million, of which $1.8 million represents the economic benefit gained by selling illegitimate credits. The remainder of the fine is punitive for violating the rules of the Clean Fuels Program.

If TTS complies with the order and purchases credits to offset the illegitimate ones, DEQ will reduce the size of the penalty accordingly. TTS has 20 days to request a hearing to appeal the penalty.

"This enforcement action demonstrates DEQ's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the Clean Fuels Program and our willingness to act swiftly when anyone violates the program's rules," Feldon said.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-10-06 06:17:48

Last Update: 2022-10-05 10:06:29

Fox News is reporting that Oregon State Senator Jeff Golden (D-Ashland) repeatedly used the word "n-----" in a book he wrote.

Senator Golden published "Watermelon Summer" in 1971 about his experience spending a summer on a Georgia sharecropper farm.

Golden is currently running for re-election against Republican Medford Mayor Randy Sparacino.

Golden uses the word "n-----" several times in the book:

• "The Featherfield people are not as politicized as the Muslims, but that may make little or no difference to a white community that perceives the threat of a whole county of uppity n-----s." "And, of course, the only things lower than uppity n-----s are n------lovers."
• "It’s a minor act of defiance to demonstrate that the good-n----- requirement of a skullcap haircut is a thing of the past,"
• Golden wrote about a "barroom brawl involving a n------ lovin’ white" in town.
• "The Smithville police follow us most of the time we’re returning from town, and charged up here immediately last night when they heard about a barroom brawl involving a n-----lovin’ white in Americus."

Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate and former Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek has been endorsed by Senator Golden. The Northwest Observer has reached out to her campaign for a comment, but has not yet received a reply.

"Jeff Golden's words are despicable and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms," said Republican State Leadership Committee Spokesman Zach Kraft. "Jeff Golden owes voters a serious apology and every Democrat candidate for state Senate should condemn Jeff Golden's shameful behavior.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-10-05 14:48:35

Last Update: 2022-10-05 15:41:32

The Oregon Employment Department is proposing changes to its Oregon Administrative Rules. They have filed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with the Secretary of State to amend OARs 471-030-0017 and 471-030-0053, and promulgate 471-030-0320. They say that these rule changes are necessary to extend the provisions of SB 172 from the 2021 Legislative Session.

SB 172 had an operative date of June 23, 2021. It allowed recipients to deduct all or part of unemployment insurance benefit overpayments against future weekly benefits within five years following final decision for overpayments that were the claimant's fault, but not because of willful misrepresentation by the claimant.

471-030-0017 defines when wages are reportable to the Oregon Employment Department for unemployment insurance. This proposed rule will change reporting requirements for individuals receiving back pay while claiming unemployment insurance benefits. Before SB 172, a worker could not report wages from previous weeks. SB 172 allows a claimant to report retroactive pay when it is paid to them, unless it is awarded after a shutdown due to a lapse in federal funding. In that case, the payment must be allocated equally to the weeks of the shutdown.

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The Employment Department also proposing a new administrative rule, 471-030-0320. This rule addresses the percentage of future weekly benefits that may be offset according to Oregon Revised Statute 657.215, 657.310, and 657.315. It clarifies that when a decision is issued under ORS 657.306, the five-year time limit called for in SB 172 begins immediately following the week that the decision establishing an overpayment became final. The percentage of future weekly benefits offset will be determined based on whether the overpayment recovery would go against "equity and good conscience" as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

Lastly, they are proposing AOR 471-030-0053 be permanently amended to make it consistent with the amended ORS 657.317. Currently, a waiver is defined as a temporary, renewable hardship deferral. Under SB 172, a waiver removes all responsibility for repayment for eligible individuals.

These proposed changes may have a fiscal and economic impact to employers, including reimbursing employers and those who pay into the Oregon Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. This may include small businesses, state agencies, and units of local government.


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2022-10-05 09:41:43

Last Update: 2022-10-05 10:54:29

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Valerie Draper Woldeit is challenging the veteran legislator Sara Gelser Blouin for Senate District 8, which covers northwestern Linn County and northeastern Benton County, centered around Albany and Corvallis.

Draper Woldeit has been a school teacher since 1980 and seen firsthand the short comings of Oregon’s education system. She says, “politicians continually lower standards and then make excuses for the failing government school system. Government keeps pushing extreme agendas in the classroom, pushing mandates and closures.” She wants to get schools back to the basics to prepare students for the real world.

Gelser Blouin’s idea for improving the high school graduation rate is to “empower youth to direct their own services and protecting their right to speak publicly about their own experiences.” Her voting record supports lowering the high school diploma standards due to inequities and disparities. Gelser Blouin carried HB 2023 for a floor vote in 2019 that required all curriculum content include instruction on history, contributions and perspective of minorities including refugees, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.

In 2018, Gelser Blouin also proposed an amendment to SB 1540 that would have lowered the sexual consent age to 12 allowing 13-year-olds to engage in legal sexual activity with adults. Her education focus seems to be on minorities, eliminating discriminatory barriers particularly for Black, Indigenous and students of color, immigrants and gender identity students.

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Gelser Blouin wants to expand access to life-saving mental health treatment. She has trouble walking the talk. She was accused in 2020 for treating her chief of staff harshly for taking leave for mental health reasons. That occurred after she led the charge against the Republican Senators walking-out, and she refused to show up for floor votes, claiming she felt in danger, until another Senator was removed for saying threats against the State Police if they had been deployed during the walk out. Gelser Blouin said, “the situation shows that the Legislature had learned little from a sexual harassment suit she had brought the prior year.”

Gelser Blouin has a narrow focus platform discussing every issue from the point of tackling longstanding disparities for BIPOC communities in health care and stopping any efforts to roll back equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community. She opposes any effort to restrict women’s access to abortion.

Draper Woldeit believes Oregon has failed at nearly every level at honoring the dignity of life. “Every life has value, regardless of age. I will be a strong advocate for our most vulnerable, from the unborn, to foster youth, and the elderly.” She wants to go to Salem to be a check and balance on government power and overreach so shut downs and mandates never happen again.

Gelser Blouin’s stance on the economy is to continue to pass legislation to reduce carbon emissions, invest in communities impacted by the effects of climate change, and make transportation investments and policies that reduce reliance on fossil fuels. She voted to allow tolling, and supports the right of workers to organize and collectively bargain.

Draper Woldeit pledges to be a strong supporter of law enforcement and thinks Oregon can do better to provide a safe and prosperous place to live, curb inflation and stop government from constantly raising taxes with nothing to show for it. She believes in reviving our culture of constitutional rights and liberties. She says, “it’s time to change course by reforming taxes and cutting red tape to make our beautiful state more affordable and unleash Oregon jobs...so every Oregonian has the opportunity to realize their full potential.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-10-05 09:16:15

Last Update: 2022-10-05 16:20:17