Oregon House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Kotek urging the immediate review of all commutations granted by former Oregon Governor, Kate Brown. This letter comes just one week after U.S. Representatives Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Bentz (OR-02) made a similar request.

House Republican lawmakers stated their appreciation for Governor Kotek’s action in ending the commutation of Jesse Lee Calhoun who is now a person of interest in the killing of at least four women in the Portland Metro area – but stated it is not enough.

“The unprecedented commutations undertaken by Governor Brown bypassed many of the existing safeguards that are in place for our current parole and probation system,” the lawmakers wrote. “House Republicans encourage you to do the right thing for Oregonians and give these commutations the due diligence they should have received in the first place.”

House Republicans concluded the letter by calling on Governor Kotek to follow through on the promises she made when taking office.

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“This is a great opportunity for you to show leadership and the integrity of the office you have often stated you want to bring to your administration,” wrote the lawmakers.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-03 06:52:46

Last Update: 2023-08-01 14:59:30

Governor Tina Kotek issued Executive Order 23-12 on May 23, 2023, which “establishes a goal of ensuring that every elementary teacher in an Oregon educator preparation program is provided with explicit, research-aligned instruction on how to teach all students to read and write, including students with disabilities and students who are emerging bilingual.”

The Order goes on to appoint an Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council to develop recommendations to strengthen standards that the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) uses to approve elementary educator preparation programs and license elementary educators. The order reads more like a legislative task force setting out the development of standards for literacy instruction and an action plan for implementation with timelines for implementation, at which time the council ceases. This termination deadline makes it a task force versus a permanent council.

Further, the order includes instruction for students with disabilities and students who are emerging bilingual. However, the 20-member council lacks experts in school psychology to provide the analysis needed for students that are challenged, or what stimulates the mind at certain age levels to advance reading and writing development. This is different from the outward approach of how to teach that literacy experts bring.

Perhaps the council wouldn’t have been needed if experts in mind development had been heard when Common Core was adopted. For instance, what if cursive writing had not been eliminated from the curriculum? Learning to write in cursive directly impacts cognitive development, as it trains the brain to learn functional specialization that integrates both sensation, movement control, and thinking.

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The Governor announced council members, including teachers, principals, representatives from education preparation programs, early literacy experts, and bipartisan appointments from the Oregon House and Senate:

• Ronda Fritz and Susan Gardner will serve as co-chairs. The full council roster is listed below. Executive: Governor Kotek or her designee
• Senators (appointed by Senate President Rob Wagner): Michael Dembrow (D-Portland) and Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook)
• Representatives (appointed by House Speaker Dan Rayfield): Ben Bowman (D-Tigard) and Boomer Wright (R-Coos Bay)
• Public Educator Preparation Program Representatives: Ronda Fritz (Eastern Oregon University) and Susan Gardner (Oregon State University)
• Private Educator Preparation Program Representative: Katie Danielson (University of Portland)
• Early Literacy Experts: Julie Esparza Brown (Portland State University), Anita Archer, and Mikkaka Overstreet (Education Northwest)
• Licensed Teacher Representatives: Shahnaz Sahnow (Literacy Specialist - Corvallis School District) and Julie Ragan (Lebanon Community Unit School District)
• Elementary Principal Small District Representative: Heidi Brown (Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District)
• Elementary Principal Large District Representative: Jennifer Whitten (Beaverton School District)
• Tribal Representative: Valerie Switzler (Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs)
• Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) Director: Anthony Rosilez
• Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) Director: Ben Cannon
• Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Director: Dr. Charlene Williams (interim)
• Educator Advancement Council (EAC) Director: Sara Spencer (interim)

The TSPC will use the Council's recommendations, which must align with the Oregon Department of Education’s (ODE) Early Literacy Framework for kindergarten through fifth grade, to adopt new rules next year. The Council must also develop recommendations to revise elementary educator licensing requirements and develop an implementation plan and timeline to ensure that the educator preparation program faculty have what they need to be able to operationalize the new standards.

Along with the formation of the Council, Governor Kotek worked with Rep. Jason Kropf (D-Bend) during the 2023 legislative session to develop House Bill 3198, which increases funding for early literacy to improve how Oregon schools and community groups teach kids to read and write.

Governor Kotek said, “I am grateful that these issue experts have come forward to support our students and educators. My executive order was structured to bring together leaders with a wide range of perspectives with the common goal of better supporting children’s ability to read and write. I look forward to working with the Council on enhancing our literacy preparation standards.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-08-02 12:34:45

Last Update: 2023-08-01 15:49:54

It has now been announced that the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman (Blue Mountains) National Forests have initiated the process to revise the Land Management Plans (Forest Plans), which provide the overall strategic management direction and guidance for the Blue Mountains National Forests. The US Forest Service says that revising these Forest Plans represents a commitment to managing productive and sustainable forests for the American people.

A recent publication in the Federal Register initiates the assessment phase, which is the first phase of the Forest Plan Revision process under the 2012 Planning Rule.

The purpose of the assessment phase is to gather existing relevant information on Forest conditions and trends and use this information to rapidly evaluate the sustainability of existing ecological, economic, and social conditions and trends within the context of the broader landscape.

The evaluation will result in a document (referred to as the assessment) that will be the foundation for the Forest Service’s work on developing the revised Forest Plans. In addition, as required by the 2012 Planning Rule, Forest Service staff are developing a preliminary proposed list for Species of Conservation Concern (SCC) and inventories for Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers.

The Forest Service says that they are eager to hear input on Tribal, individual, and community values. Public involvement will help the Forest Service gain local knowledge about existing forest conditions and understand concerns about community or resource impacts from proposed changes in the revised Forest Plans.

The Forest Service will provide recurring opportunities during the assessment phase for the public to learn about the Forest Plan Revision process, ask questions and provide feedback. Currently the public is invited to participate through the following opportunities:

• Open Houses: These will be unstructured information sessions designed to offer an opportunity for the public to learn about the revision process and assessment phase through conversations and informational materials, provide one-on-one discussion between participants and Forest Service staff, and venues for the public to submit comments.



• Commenting Maps: These maps are available in hardcopy at each Forest Service office and digitally on the new Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision interactive story map website. Input provided will help inform management needs that will guide the Forest Plan Revision process by providing context around places of importance, landscape benefits, and inform the need for change within the planning process.



• Public Engagement Survey: The Forest Service is seeking input on future public engagement opportunities for the agency to consider throughout the Forest Plan Revision process. Visit the website to provide feedback to the team.



• Contact the Team: The Forest Service welcomes questions, comments, and feedback at any time. Blank comment forms are available at each Forest Service office and on the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision website. In addition, the public can send an email to the team directly.

Additional engagement opportunities may be added and will be announced at that time and posted on the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision website. The website also includes information regarding the overall Forest Plan Revision process, including opportunities for engagement throughout each phase.

A draft of the assessment, proposed SCC list, Wilderness inventories and Wild and Scenic River inventories will be shared for public input prior to moving forward to the next phase of the process, which is plan development.

Once complete, the assessment is used to help identify the need to change the existing plan, and to inform the development of plan components and other content.

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The Blue Mountains National Forests include approximately 5.5 million acres of National Forest System lands in northeast Oregon and southeast Washington. The Blue Mountains National Forests are operating under Forest Plans that were signed in the 1990s. Multiple uses provided by the National Forests (including livestock grazing, timber harvest, forest recreation, tourism, and subsistence activities) are all important to economic and social life in the Blue Mountains area. Revising the Forest Plans will provide an updated framework to guide forest management that considers current science and local economic, social, and environmental conditions.

The Forest Service previously attempted to revise the Blue Mountains Forest Plans with a planning effort that spanned 15 years. Ultimately, the Forest Service withdrew the Blue Mountains Revised Forest Plans and Final Environmental Impact Statement in March 2019, before the plans were finalized and implemented.

Afterward, Forest Service leadership from the Pacific Northwest Regional Office and the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests met with local elected leaders to better understand concerns and identify opportunities to approach forest planning and management in a new way.

Apparently, the participants seemed to recognize the need to identify common ground and work together at a larger scale, which included working with other government entities within and surrounding the Blue Mountains geographic area that were most impacted by the Forest Plans. The various government entities within and surrounding the Blue Mountains geographic area officially came together and formed the Blues Intergovernmental Council (BIC) in November 2019.

The BIC developed desired conditions for Forest Service consideration on several key issues in the withdrawn Blue Mountains Forest Plans, including livestock grazing, fisheries, hydrology, forest health, access, and socioeconomics. The BIC-endorsed desired conditions were provided to the Forest Service as recommendations and will serve as a baseline to be further informed during the assessment phase by public engagement, as well as Tribal and agency consultation, throughout the plan revision process. Where feasible, the Forest Service says it will also use relevant analyses from the withdrawn revised plans.

By reinitiating plan revision, the Forest Service says they aim to develop durable Forest Plans that balance the ecological needs of the landscape with the economic and social needs of the communities that depend on them. The Forest Service states that having a framework that incorporates local knowledge and input is an integral part of this process and the public’s input will help ensure sustainability of the Forests well into the future.

Additional information about the Forest Plan Revision process, documents, and the story map is available on the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision website.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-02 10:57:35

Last Update: 2023-08-02 11:34:54

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden issued a press release regarding introduction of a forest restoration bill cosponsored with U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., John Duarte, R-Calif., and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash. The bipartisan legislation would improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, sequester more carbon, and boost rural economies by supporting innovative timber products, such as mass timber.

The Timber Innovation For Building Rural Communities Act would:

• Require the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in consultation with Tribes, State Foresters, and private sector partners, to establish a platform for measuring, monitoring, verifying and reporting data about the carbon impacts from forest management and wood products.
• Reduce the match requirement for the existing Wood Innovation Grant Program and direct that priority be given to proposed projects in communities with higher-than-average unemployment, that recognize or enhance carbon reduction strategies in building design, or report on the resilience and economic benefits of the proposal.
• Establish the Wood Building Accelerator Grant Program to fund programs that support the critical elements of designing and building with wood, including traditional wood products, mass timber and other advanced wood products.
• Establish the Rural Infrastructure and Building Pilot Program to fund pilot programs that demonstrate the use of innovative wood products in the construction and renovation of rural infrastructure and building projects, such as affordable, modular housing.

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The bill introduction comes days after the U.S. Agriculture Department released the Resources Planning Act Assessment report making an alarming disclosure. The report projects that annual carbon sequestration by U.S. forests will decrease, with total above ground carbon leveling off by 2070. To date, the Forest Service’s greenhouse gas bulletin shows that nine western states are now net emitters of carbon due to disturbances, including wildfire, insect infestation and disease, and the aging of forests, which is reducing their carbon-absorbing capabilities.

The U.S. Forest Service reports that in the past two-months there have been 197 human-caused fires in the Pacific Northwest, a 150 percent increase over last year. The cause of four fires are still under investigation.

Wyden said. “Oregon’s cutting-edge leadership in wood products innovations strengthens rural economies by generating fresh job opportunities, all while paying for restoration work that’s key to creating healthier, more fire-resistant forests statewide, and adding timely tools in the climate crisis battle. The Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act would build much-needed federal support for that triple crown of economic, firefighting and environmental goals. And I’ll fight hard to get this legislation passed into law.”

As air quality is threatened, homes in danger and the economy suffering, where is Oregon on fire prevention?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-08-01 12:04:02

Last Update: 2023-08-01 12:44:03

US Represenatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Cliff Bentz (OR-02) have urged Governor Tina Kotek to review every conditional commutation granted by her predecessor, Governor Kate Brown. The letter comes after investigators linked four suspicious deaths from earlier this year to one person of interest, and reports indicate that this individual was released from prison early after being granted conditional clemency by Brown.

“In light of these recent events, we write with deep concern for Oregonians’ safety. It is no secret that the Portland area has already been experiencing a severe and dangerous crime crisis in recent years. 2021 and 2022 were the deadliest years in Portland’s history, with both years soaring past the previous homicide record set in 1987,” the lawmakers wrote.

As Portland’s homicide rate soared, Brown proceeded with granting some form of clemency to over 1,000 inmates -- more than all Oregon governors in the last 50 years combined. The person of interest in the serial killer case is believed to be one of those inmates, who has an extensive criminal record. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office has referred to the individual as a “prolific thief and career criminal.”

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“Despite this extensive and troubling record, and despite the Portland area facing an unprecedented onslaught of crime, Governor Brown proceeded with granting this person a conditional commutation without any other public input or feedback,” the lawmakers continued. “Understandably, this situation has left many Oregonians deeply concerned about the hundreds of clemencies granted by Governor Brown. As we work to decrease crime and restore safety for Oregonians, we urge you to review every single conditional commutation granted by Governor Brown to ensure no one is a victim of the former governor’s reckless leniency. Additionally, we would like to work with you to determine a clear and transparent clemency procedure to ensure Oregonians have a say in the process.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-01 12:02:57

Last Update: 2023-08-01 14:51:09

Pursuant to Article V, section 15b, of the Oregon Constitution, Governor Tina Kotek provided notice to the Legislature that she is considering vetoes of a handful of policy bills and budget items from the 2023 legislative session.

"My commitment to Oregonians is that I will dig into the details and ask hard questions to make sure our state government is delivering results," Governor Kotek said. "Over the last month, my team and I have been thoroughly reviewing every bill, agency budget, and appropriation. While I understand and support the intent behind several of the items I am considering vetoing, I am weighing concerns about implementation and budget prioritization."

Policy Bills

• HB 2079: Requires the Legislative Revenue Officer to study potentially implementing a tax credit and direct grant program to encourage preservation of historic property. Reason for possible objection: The Governor believes studies such as this can and should be done without statutory direction.
• HB 2763: Creates the State Public Bank Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding the establishment of a state public bank. Reason for possible objection: While the Governor supports exploring the creation of a state bank, this bill has several logistical challenges, including directing the Oregon Business Development Department, which already manages over 80 programs, to manage a new task force, establish an RFP process, and finalize a substantive report on an abbreviated timeline.
• SB 1095 (line-item veto of emergency clause): Adjusts membership of certain boards and commissions whose governing body membership is based on congressional districts now that Oregon has a sixth congressional district. Reason for possible objection: Removing the emergency clause will allow for the additional time needed to recruit and vet additional members to the impacted boards and commissions.

Line-Item Budget Vetoes

• SB 5506, Section 32: $100,000 to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission for a study on the advantages and disadvantages of decriminalizing prostitution. Reason for possible objection: While there is value to this study, particularly as it relates to understanding disproportionate impacts on communities of color, the Governor believes it can and should be privately funded.
• SB 5506, Section 74: $250,000 to the Department of Administrative Services for distribution to Cherriots in order to collaborate with state agencies and other entities to study the feasibility of developing a rail streetcar system in the City of Salem. Reason for possible objection: The Governor does not believe this study is a top priority for the state at this time.
• SB 5506, Section 300: $500,000 to the Oregon Health and Science University School of Public Health to perform a public health study on the effects of current laws and policies on people in the sex trade in the state of Oregon. Reason for possible objection: While there is value to this study, particularly as it relates to understanding disproportionate impacts on communities of color, the Governor believes it can and should be privately funded.
• SB 5506, Section 312: $1 million to the Department of Administrative Services for distribution to the Willamette Career Academy to fund regional career and technical education programs provided by the Willamette Career Academy. Reason for possible objection: The Governor supports career and technical education programs, but technically the funding should be distributed through a local school district or education service district.

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-31 15:33:31

Last Update: 2023-07-31 15:04:00

Representative Ben Bowman (D-Tualatan) proudly participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony of Yulon Motors, a Taiwanese company, and QPO Energy, a battery and energy storage company to be based in Tualatin, Oregon. The Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (essentially the Taiwanese Consulate) invited state and local leaders, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and executives from Yulon Motors and QPO Energy to attend the signing.

Yulon has purchased a 49.5% stake in QPO Energy and is the company’s partner in launching the Tualatin factory. The factory will build battery packs and modules for utility-scale energy storage systems and homeowners. The Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes utilities and homeowners to buy energy storage systems made in the United States. These incentives have created an opportunity on which Yulon and QPO are hoping to capitalize.

Bowman states, “QPO has partnered with Yulon to relocate part of their battery manufacturing from China to Tualatin. The factory will employ up to 400 people and shows that Oregon is benefiting from the post-pandemic supply chain reshuffling away from China.”

This may be moving a part of the manufacturing out of China, but it doesn’t make it American owned. Yulon was founded by Shanghai-born entrepreneur Yen Tjing-ling in 1953 when Taiwan was trying to establish its own automotive industry after World War II, and started out by making car components. Today, Yen’s son is chairman and Yulon is a major Taiwanese carmaker, repair service and distributor. It’s top institutional shareholders with only 5% are Vanguard Group, Inc., Norges Bank Investment Management, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, and BlackRock Fund Advisors.

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Yulon manufactures and markets Luxgen-brand vehicles, and operates dealerships for Nissan via a joint venture in Taiwan and China. It also distributes Mitsubishi vehicles through affiliate China Motor. The latest release is Luxgen7, a six seat MPV turbocharged 2.2-litre petrol engine with the bells and whistles of a 360-surveillance camera – night vision and a lane departure warning system. The company also plans to launch a Model C battery-powered SUV under it upmarket Luxgen brand this year followed by the Model E sedan made in Taiwan.

Yulon has struggled over that past four years reporting a loss of $25 billion in 2019. They show a profit in 2020 and 2021, but it only covered a third of what was lost in 2019, only to be hit with another nearly $5 billion lost in 2022.

The partnership with QPO Energy and building the Tualatin factory will be an expansion for Yulon adding manufacturing of battery and energy storage systems.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-07-29 15:56:38

Last Update: 2023-07-28 16:47:25

Remember at the beginning of 2020 when gas was $2.59 per gallon when President Trump left office, until June 2022 when prices jumped 62 cents per gallon in one month? Now, according to AAA, gas is at an average of $4.59 per gallon and diesel has risen to $5.62 per gallon.

Biden keeps saying he has lowered gas prices. He’s right that they’ve fallen from the peak of above $5 a gallon in his financially disastrous first 18 months in office. Of that 18.4 cents-per-gallon goes to pay federal fuel tax, and 38 cents goes to Oregon's state fuel tax, which is scheduled to increase to 40 cents in 2024.

Climate change proponents in Europe and in the Biden administration are bribing governments in poor nations to endanger their energy sectors, impoverish their people, and actually discourage the economic growth they desperately need. South Africa’s electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa stated that the new climate change agreement with wealthy countries will be a disaster for his country – causing power blackouts and energy shortages. He denounced Western attempts to turn South Africa into a “guinea pig” for the worldwide Green New Deal.

Climate change “justice” isn’t just impacting poor countries. Where is the justice when low- and moderate-income families spend a larger percent of their income on energy and gas, and rising gas and energy prices take a bigger bite out of their income? The options provided to coup with climate change is also out of their reach.

Oregon’s answer is to increase energy costs and restrictive building regulations. Omission restrictions are increasing cost on everything from food and housing to transportation. To compensate, provide incentives to go electric, give away over $2 billion for affordable housing including $7.5 million in down payment assistance. Governor Kotek signed a number of bills this week that neither helps low-income families or the economy.

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She sign a bill in the Climate Resilience Package Investment (HB 3409, HB 3630), which invests $90 million in community-focused and forward-looking solutions with the idea to increase energy efficiency, keep Oregonians safe from extreme weather, and grant counties up to $50,000 for developing energy resilience plans in the event of grid disruptions to basic services with a focus on an equitable energy system. Appropriates $4,641.112 general funds.

But is all this energy subsidy, caused by climate change regulations, really necessary? The U.S. per capita person emissions are lower today than at any time in the last 60 years and lower than during World War 1 when the economy was less than one-tenth as large as it is today. Since 1990 per capita carbon emissions has decreased nearly 15t. How can they claim that productivity is the culprit?

Even the Paris accord climate negotiators agreed there is currently no reliable accurate way to measure emissions or how much CO2 is coming from individual nations. They admit the science of accurate carbon accounting is in its infancy and there are gaps in the data. “Even developed nations with lots of climate scientists do not deliver demonstrably reliable emission statistics,” according to Sourish Basu, a research scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He reported that national CO2 emissions are only known “to within 5-10 percent for most developed countries.”

Since U.N. executive secretary, Christiana Figueres, admitted at the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2017 that Global Warming was framed to destroy capitalism, and not an environmental goal to save the world from ecological calamity, the world, U.S. and Oregon remain duped pursuing a false narrative.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-07-28 12:01:08

Last Update: 2023-07-28 16:36:23

The Gresham Police Department is the first law enforcement agency in the State of Oregon to implement the Drones as First Responders program (DFR) and the sixteenth law enforcement agency in the Country. The program launched on Friday, July 14. The city says it will continue as a pilot program depending on staffing levels.

"Without the additional staffing the Gresham Safety Levy would have provided our department, we are having to find innovative ways to be more efficient while keeping our community safe,” said Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg.

Gresham says the drones dedicated to the DFR program will launch from Gresham City Hall and are deployed specifically for exigent circumstances which could include but are not limited to, searching for lost or missing persons and crimes in progress.

These drones have the ability to provide critical information to ground personnel.

The city says that it is important to note that the drones do not record video unless it is necessary for the collection of evidence. The drones deploy with their cameras at a 15-degree angle, meaning, they are aimed straight ahead in order to better locate the scene and they return to City Hall at the same angle.

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The City of Chula Vista, California, which implemented DFR in 2018, has recorded the average response time for a drone to a priority one call as three minutes, nine seconds, and the patrol unit on scene as six minutes, six seconds. For priority two calls, they recorded drones arriving on scene within an average of five minutes, three seconds, and patrol units on scene within ten minutes, one second.

The Gresham DFR program allows an officer to get visuals on a situation in approximately two minutes, which can be almost half the amount of time of a patrol unit response.

“Utilizing the Drones as First Responders program allows our police to respond faster to our community’s needs while keeping our officers safe,” said City Manager Nina Vetter. “Drones have the ability to arrive at a scene within a couple of minutes, which allows our officers to have their eyes on an incident in record time and can potentially reduce the amount of personnel needed.”

With the failure of the Gresham Safety Levy in May 2023, the City of Gresham says it is now leveraging technology in order to continue the efforts of the Safe Gresham initiative developed last year.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-28 10:33:45

Last Update: 2023-08-04 10:18:17

Governor Tina Kotek has hosted a signing ceremony for four bills passed during the 2023 legislative session to address the housing and homelessness crises.

“These bills are about progress toward making sure every Oregonian has a place to live, safely and securely,” Governor Kotek said. “Each tackle these issues from a different angle and complement the efforts well under way through the Emergency Homelessness Response Package that passed early in March. We have work to do. There isn’t one solution to our housing crisis, and it won’t be solved overnight. So let’s keep going.”

In March, Governor Kotek signed House Bills 5019 and 2001 to help address Oregon's housing and homelessness crisis, which included the urgent funding she proposed in response to the homelessness state of emergency that she declared on her first full day in office. The funding is dedicated to homelessness prevention programs, more shelter capacity, rehousing services and more. Critics have said that much of this work enables homelessness and doesn't address the core issues of mental illness and drug abuse.

Below is the list of bills Governor Kotek signed:

• SB 611: Provides predictability and stability for renters by limiting rent increases to no more than 10% each year, while maintaining exemptions for new construction to support housing development.
• HB 3042: In the unfortunate circumstance where affordable housing is not preserved and the owner chooses to transition the property to market rate, this bill provides predictability for current residents by expanding notification requirements, preventing certain types of evictions and limiting rent increases for a period of time.

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• HB 3395: An omnibus policy and funding bill that includes funding to help low income college students access affordable housing options; grants to develop housing projects for agricultural workers; grants to cities, counties, and tribes to aid in housing and community development initiatives; funding to establish programs that guarantee loans for affordable housing projects; and more.
• SB 5511: The budget bill for the Housing and Community Services Department, which includes $130 million to further critical investments the state has made in the homelessness response, including maintaining Project Turnkey sites, navigation centers, and the shelters being built now through the Governor’s emergency declaration on homelessness; $55 million to expand the state’s homelessness response by preventing homelessness for more households; $5 million in direct funding to tribes to prevent and address homelessness, $12.5 million to support homeownership for low income families; $6 million for tenant services; and more.

The Legislature did not make much sought changes to land use laws -- what many point to as a major source of the problem with housing availability.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-27 21:52:29

Last Update: 2023-07-27 22:16:25

Senate Republicans across Oregon have announced plans for re-election to their current Senate seats. Barring litigation on Constitutionality of Measure 113 nine Senators -- 10 Republicans and 1 Independent -- will no longer be able to file to run for their seats.

Senators Tim Knopp and Dennis Linthicum have sent a letter to Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade asking for a declaratory ruling on Measure 113 on whether Senator Knopp and Senator Linthicum will be allowed ballot access for the 2024 election. This is being done to lay the foundation for a Republican lawsuit to have the measure invalidated -- most likely based on the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution.

Republican Senators Eligible for Re-election Based on M113

David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford)

Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City)

Fred Girod (R-Lyons)

Senators Not Eligible for Re-election Based on M113

Lynn Findley (R-Vale)

Bill Hansell (R-Athena)

Tim Knopp (R-Bend)

Art Robinson (R-Cave Junction)

Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer)

Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook)

Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles)

Cedric Hayden (R-Roseburg)

Dennis Linthicum (R-Klamath Falls)

Brian Boquist (I-Dallas)

“Oregonians are fed up with the national Democrat agenda.” Knopp said. “They are tired of out-of-control crime and drug use making their neighborhoods more dangerous. Oregonians deserve better than the reckless tax and spend policies driving up the cost of living and inflation across Oregon. They desperately want balance. Senate Republicans are looking forward to vigorous debates over the course of the campaign season.”

Senators Dick Anderson and David Brock Smith did not participate in the walkout. Senator Fred Girod had a well-documented medical reason for his absences.

Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) Senate District 1, Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City) Senate District 5 and Senator Fred Girod (R-Lyons) Senate District 9 have announced for 2024. and are not barred from running in 2024. Additionally, Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend) Senate District 27 and Senator Dennis Linthicum (R-Klamath Falls) Senate District 28 will need a successful challenge to Measure 113 in order to file for election.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-07-26 15:50:30

Last Update: 2023-07-26 16:12:16

The Oregon Department of Energy has announced that it is now accepting incentive reservations through the agency’s new Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program. Under this new program, owners of rental homes and manufactured dwellings or recreational vehicles in a rented space may receive incentives for installing energy efficient heat pumps and related electrical upgrades.

The heat pump program was established at ODOE by the Oregon Legislature with bill SB 1536 following the 2021 heat dome event, during which at least 100 Oregonians died of heat-related illness – often in their own homes.

Heat pumps, which move heat rather than create it, are becoming more popular in Oregon homes thanks to their efficient heating and cooling, lower energy use, and potential incentive savings (including a federal tax credit.

Oregonians interested in installing energy efficient heat pumps in their rental properties should contact an approved program contractor, who will be able to reserve rebates on behalf of their customers. After completing installation, the contractor will submit project completion information to receive the rebate from the agency. The full amount of the savings must be passed on to the customer.

Rebate amounts vary based on the project, and higher incentives are available for homes with tenants who have low or moderate incomes. For rental homes, rebates are available between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the efficiency of the heat pump and the income level of the tenants. For a manufactured home or recreational vehicle renting space in a manufactured home or RV park, rebates are available between $2,000 and $7,000 depending on heat pump efficiency and income level.

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Grants are also available for associated upgrades alongside the heat pumps, such as electrical wiring. For homes where tenants meet low- or moderate-income eligibility, up to a $4,000 grant is available. For those who are not low- or moderate-income, up to $2,000 is available.

“Renters are often limited in making significant energy improvements at home since they don’t own the property,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “The Oregon Department of Energy looks forward to helping rental home owners across the state make the switch to energy efficient heat pumps, which will make their tenants’ homes more comfortable – and safer – in the heating and cooling seasons.”

More information and a list of approved contractors is available on ODOE’s website. The agency also continues to recruit contractors statewide to participate in the program. Interested contractors can also register online.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-07-26 10:22:37

Last Update: 2023-07-26 11:17:01