As solutions continue to be sought for the failure of Measure 110, Governor Tina Kotek, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler each declared a 90-day state of emergency to address the public health and public safety crisis driven by fentanyl in Portland’s Central City. The tri-government fentanyl emergency declarations follow a recommendation put forward by the Portland Central City Task Force, unveiled at the Oregon Business Leadership Summit late last year.

“Our country and our state have never seen a drug this deadly and addictive, and all are grappling with how to respond,” Governor Kotek said. “The Chair, the Mayor and I recognize the need to act with urgency and unity across our public health and community safety systems to make a dent in this crisis. We are all in this together. The next 90 days will yield unprecedented collaboration and focused resources targeting fentanyl and provide a roadmap for next steps.”

All three emergency orders direct the City, State, and County to commit available resources to the unified response. A command center will be stood up in the central city where state, county and city employees will convene to coordinate strategies and response efforts. Each level of government has identified an incident commander who will be responsible for coordinating resources from the jurisdiction they represent. They are as follows: Nathan Reynolds, Deputy Chief of Policy and Mission Support at the Office of Resilience and Emergency Management for the state, former Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Vines for the County, and Mike Myers, Director of the Community Safety Division for the City.

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The Command Center will serve to refocus existing resources. It will also share and publicly report data on the impacts of fentanyl in downtown, use data to identify and respond to acute needs and gaps in service, identify any specific resources necessary to address gaps, and establish a system to coordinate that can be sustained beyond the 90-day startup period.

HB 4036 is the House Republican bill proposed to solve some of the problems caused by Measure 110. The bill reclassifies possession as a Class A Misdemeanor, the standard that Oregon’s district attorneys and law enforcement community agree is necessary to have any real leverage in undoing the damage. It also increases penalties for the drug dealers pushing poison into our communities.

HB 4036 prioritizes getting people clean through voluntary diversion and treatment programs or mandatory recovery programs, consistent with the will of the people. It also directs treatment dollars to responsible and accountable county governments instead of what Republicans call "shadowy, well-connected special interest groups that have failed to deliver for Oregon."

“Three years after Measure 110 initiatives started to ravage Oregon and over a year after she began her administration, Gov. Kotek has finally identified that Portland has a fentanyl crisis. While it’s about time, this problem is bigger than one city; we remind the Governor that this crisis has spread across the entire state. We welcome her to join Republicans in pursuing serious policy solutions - like HB 4036 -- and ask her to urge her fellow Democrats in the legislature to do the same,” said House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River).

”If you or a loved one is struggling with a fentanyl addiction, we hear you, we see you and we are taking this crisis seriously,” Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said. “We are acting with shared leadership to take urgent action today to respond to the very human toll fentanyl takes in our community, including overdoses, fatalities and day-to-day suffering, and the fear so many families are experiencing as a result.”

At the state level, resources will be deployed from the Oregon Department of Human Services of Office Resilience and Emergency Management, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, the Oregon Health Authority, and the Oregon State Police.

Multnomah County will marshal and direct resources from the Health Department , County Human Services , Community Justice , County Assets , Joint Office of Homeless Services , and Emergency Management and our network of partners and providers. Through coordinated outreach, the County will work to prevent exposure and use of fentanyl; reduce harm among people using substances; and increase access to outreach, treatment, recovery, and housing services.

The Health Department will launch two public education campaigns during the 90-day emergency featuring transit, billboards, digital media, streaming audio, and more. These highly-visible messages will promote prevention among youth and the effectiveness of recovery in transforming lives, and reduce stigma for treatment.

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The County will also increase the visibility and coordination of County contractors conducting outreach on the streets, distribute and train partners on the use of Narcan and issue reports on overdose data. Targeted outreach will leverage services from the downtown Behavioral Health Resource Center. The center—strategically located in the Central City— will offer immediate access to day services and improve connection to care.

City of Portland will deploy providing public safety, addiction and public health services, crisis response, and other resources and services to those impacted by the fentanyl crisis.

Specifically, a combination of disciplines will be coordinated and deployed including peer outreach, and behavioral and public health services to move individuals experiencing a fentanyl addiction into treatment and provide other stabilization services, as well as continued missions between the Portland Police Bureau and Oregon State Police to hold individuals selling the drug accountable.

“I am pleased to have Governor Kotek and Chair Vega Pederson join the City of Portland’s ongoing efforts to address the deadly fentanyl crisis impacting our community. Today, we move forward with urgency to address these challenges together under the authority of emergency declarations. This is exactly the type of coordinated action needed to make a direct impact and a lasting difference,” Mayor Wheeler said.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-30 14:04:16

Last Update: 2024-01-30 14:51:38

Members of the Oregon House Democratic Caucus have selected House Majority Leader Julie Fahey as their nominee for Speaker of the House, a position that will be filled by a vote of the full House chamber when Speaker Dan Rayfield ends his term as Speaker.

Earlier, Speaker Rayfield shared a letter with legislators announcing his intention to remain Speaker through the February legislative session, and for the chamber to elect a new Speaker at the conclusion of the five-week session. Speaker Rayfield plans to continue representing House District 16 through the end of the current term. “I’m deeply honored to have earned the Democratic caucus’s nomination for Speaker of the House. Right now, we’re 100% focused on ensuring that our February legislative session delivers real results on the issues Oregonians care most about,” says Rep. Fahey, who has served as House Democratic Leader since January2022. “My commitment is to serve the people of Oregon with respect, common sense, and collaboration as we tackle the biggest issues we’re facing across this state.”

“Serving as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives has been the honor of my life, and I want to leave this post in the same spirit that I have served: creating an effective and respectful environment, being clear and transparent in our work, and always putting the interests of Oregonians first,” says Speaker Rayfield. “I will leave the Speakership with a deep gratitude for having been entrusted with this responsibility, and excitement about what will come next for the People’s House.”

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House Democrats also elected Rep. David Gomberg to serve as Assistant Majority Leader, following Rep. Maxine Dexter’s decision to step down from that role. Rep. Gomberg has represented Oregon’s Central Coast since 2013. “Geographic diversity is critical when it comes to making decisions that impact our state, especially when it comes to issues like transportation, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and more,” says Rep. Gomberg. “I’m committed to bringing a unique perspective from rural Oregon to the House Democratic Leadership Team.” The 35-day legislative session begins on February 5 and will be focused on addressing the urgent needs facing the state: Housing and homelessness, addiction and behavioral health, and public safety.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-30 13:46:58

Last Update: 2024-01-30 14:21:21

In the wake of a bombshell Oregonian story that the Oregon Health Authority buried a report that described minimal changes in drinking habits by increasing beverage taxes, House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich echoed the outrage expressed by other members of the House.

“Let’s start with the obvious: there is no universe where OHA should have hidden this report from the public," said House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River). "Their job is to make an informed recommendation to the legislature about how to best pursue better health outcomes for Oregonians while also weighing the economic impacts. OHA has potentially compromised the entire task force by putting it’s thumb on the scale.

Helfrich continued, "Cute statements about how a 2% reduction in consumption is “potentially huge” do not excuse what might one of the most brazen attempts at a cash grab by a government agency and I want to know who made this decision to not release this information. Further, OHA’s willingness to cripple our beer, wine, spirits, and hospitality industries while defrauding the legislature is a disgrace. It may seem like we’re making a mountain out of molehill, but this is the same agency that is responsible for collecting data regarding drug use and treatment under Measure 110 initiatives. Data that we’re being told doesn’t exist, is too hard to collect, or can’t be used.

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OHA’s behavior calls all of that into question," continued Helfrich. "Do we not have the data? Or is it that the data confirms what everyone is seeing: that M110 is a disaster, that current leadership has horrifically failed with programs that don’t work, and that throwing money to connected special interests has failed to deliver results – and never will. OHA has a lot of explaining to do.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-29 16:43:42

Legislators in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California are planning to introduce bills this year to put their states on standard time year-round. Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) will introduce Senate Bill 1548 in Oregon.

“Oregonians have long-expressed their desire to stop changing the clock,” said Thatcher. “Some prefer keeping daylight saving time over standard time, and many don’t care which – they just want to stop changing the clock. Since daylight saving time is just not possible without congressional approval, and after waiting five years for Congress to approve a DST bill that passed here in Oregon in 2019, standard time has become a common-sense choice for 2024 and doesn’t need approval from Congress. Research also shows standard time is the healthier choice! I’m grateful to have the privilege of working with our surrounding states as they, too, introduce bills to ditch the switch!”

In Washington, Senate Bill 5795, introduced by Senator Mike Padden, received a public hearing in the Senate State Government and Elections Committee.

“If there is one issue most people agree on, it’s the dislike of moving their clocks from standard time to daylight saving time in the spring and then back to standard time in the fall,” said Padden of Spokane Valley. “There have been scientific studies connecting several health problems with switching back and forth between standard time and daylight saving time, including greater risks of heart attacks and more frequent workplace injuries. This bill would allow Washington to finally ‘ditch the switch’ by keeping us on standard time permanently.”

In California, Assemblyman Tri Ta of Westminster has introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1776 and is awaiting a committee hearing. “California voters are tired of disruptive time changes that have outlived their usefulness,” said Ta. “I am honored to join this multi-state coalition, and I know that this will make a difference to promote the health of the people of California and across the American West.”

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The principal co-author of AB 1776, Senator Roger Niello of Fair Oaks, shared, “I am glad to be collaborating with representatives of multiple states to make standard time permanent.” He continued, “Different legislative processes and timelines can be challenging, but we are all working together to make Pacific Standard Time permanent so that our constituents can avoid the disruptive process of adjusting their clocks twice a year and adapting to the time change.”

“In Idaho our standard time bill has been drafted as RS30948 and will move to the House State Affairs Committee within the next 10 days, where we are confident of its passage,” said Idaho state Representative Joe Alfieri of Coeur d’Alene.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-27 11:08:29

Last Update: 2024-01-26 18:02:49

Oregon Farm Bureau Federation President Angi Bailey was elected to represent the Western Region on the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. The Western region consists of 13 states and holds five seats on the AFBF board. The board plays a pivotal role in shaping federal policy related to agriculture and natural resources.

"With the depth and breadth of challenges facing Oregon farmers and ranchers, including issues surrounding ag labor, the farm bill, water and drought, and livestock predation just to name a few, this board seat secures Oregon and the West a voice at the table and gives us a national platform to highlight the unique challenges we face,” OFBF President Bailey said. “I will never take this responsibility lightly. I look forward to advocating for Oregon, and the rest of the West, in this new and exciting way.”

“Angi’s election to the AFBF board is an exciting and well-deserved opportunity! Her knowledge of and passion for Western issues and grassroots advocacy will be a great addition to the board,” commented OFBF Board Member Matthew Brady, who represents Lane and Douglas counties and was also present at the AFBF Annual Business meeting in Salt Lake City, UT.

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Bailey’s election marks the first time in eight years that Oregon has had a seat on the national board – formerly held by past OFBF President Barry Bushue. Bailey was also appointed to represent the West on the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Board. Angi Bailey is the first woman representing the OFBF elected to the AFBF board.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-26 16:50:00

Last Update: 2024-01-25 17:27:09

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has backed herself in a corner. The Governor has identified a severe housing shortage with a goal to build 36,000 homes each year. That would double the number of homes built in Oregon per year. The Governor’s Housing Production Advisory Council identified many barriers to meeting her goal, but bypassed the most obvious, the lack of timber.

The Oregon State Forester Cal Mukumoto is holding three more listening sessions to hear final thoughts from the public prior to making a recommendation to the Board of Forestry on a path forward for completing the draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Western Oregon State Forest Management Plan (FMP) for 640,000 acres of state-managed forestlands in western Oregon. It seems Mukumoto has learned nothing from the failed mapping project. It should be apparent that the past six years in development of a 70-year HCP plan misses revenues needed by over 30% costing rural counties roughly $18 million per year, and exceeds habitat acres needed by 150%, according to Oregon Forests Forever.

The HCP is intended to protect endanger species, but in doing so it endangers the housing industry preventing harvesting and active forest management on about 40% of Oregon's state forests decreasing timber harvest by 50 percent. The HCP involves prescribed fire (Rx) work burning off debris to reduce fire risk, but at the same time, damaging timber that could have been removed to build homes. The Governor has another problem in justifying these burns that give off carbon pollutants where harvesting would sequester the CO2 in the wood to build homes.

On the private side, the state has allowed the sale of 200,000 acres to a Chinese man associated with the CCP. Was this in the plan when Speaker Kotek exempted exporting timber to China from the Corporate Access Tax (CAT)? The restrictions on timber forces Governor Kotek to bring in timber from Europe and Canada leaving counties in lack of revenue it has depended on. Rural leaders have calculated this will eliminate police, teachers, firefighters, health care workers and other critical services for already under-served Oregonians leaving them vulnerable to the infiltration of cartels - yet another problem the Governor made as Speaker that she seems without the ability to control.

Governor Kotek also took a hit when Oregon State University rejected management of the Elliott State Research Forest due to the constraints of HCP. Washington State is now considering a land trust, what Elliott Forest was, to fund their child care centers with a working forest. "Working forest" seems to be the key to managing a productive forest, which is lacking in HCP and why OSU rejected management.

Oregon’s management of state forests is guided by forest management plans that are adopted by the Board of Forestry (OAR 629-035-0030). Forest management plans are designed to provide a full range of social, economic, and environmental outcomes that provide the “greatest permanent value” to all Oregonians (OAR 629-035-0020). The draft HCP is how ODF wants to ensure compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act while implementing the forest management plan.

Has ODF reversed the order of application? The FMP needs to achieve the "greatest permanent value" to all Oregonians (not species) before HCP. The Endangered Species Act directs states to “seek to conserve endangered species and threatened species…in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.” Is the HCP really necessary? "Seek" and "furtherance" is 85% of the way, not 150% overkill.

The National Forest Service has recently switched from their 10-year wildfire strategy, which includes mechanically thinning fire-prone forests, to a top-down D.C. approach amending all 128 forest land management plans to “conserve and steward” old-growth forests through a single Environmental Impact Statement prohibiting commercial logging, which will further impact rural communities. Under the Northwest Forest Plan, three-quarters of national forest land in Oregon is off-limits to routine active forest management, even though wildfires have burned millions of acres including endangered species’ habitat.

"ODF’s total purpose for HCP is to support the overall goal of the updated FMP by improving certainty around both ESA compliance and timber harvests." However, the decrease in timber harvest is a poor definition of certainty. The current approach of compliance through “take avoidance” has been costly and complex that needed new management. This approach requires extensive species surveys, resulting in shifting protections that, over time, may impact the quality and durability of the habitat provided, resulting in fewer acres available for harvest.

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A reprieve for the Governor’s affordable housing objective is a $78 billion bipartisan tax package unveiled by Congressional negotiators this week that includes a provision that its backers hope will spur home building nationwide. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 would expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which offers incentives for building homes for lower-income households. A Northwest nonprofit testified that Oregon’s home prices have increased 40-50% over the last three years.

Yet another stumbling block for the Governor is the recent closure of a sawmill in Banks. This creates concerns for Oregon’s timber industry. Hampton Lumber announced plans to close its Banks sawmill that affect 58 employees in a city of less than 2,000 people. The mill has operated since 1961.

ODF is seeking input on HCP and FMP during two in-person listening sessions, and one virtual listening session.

• Eugene on January 25 at the Lane Events Center, Meeting Room #4, W. 13th Ave., doors open for signup at 5 p.m., with the meetings starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Astoria on January 31 at The Loft at the Red Building, 20 Basin St. doors open for signup at 5 p.m., with the meetings starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Virtual meeting on January 29 at 1 p.m. Advance registration is required. More information on the listening sessions is available here.

If attending is not possible, written comments must be received by February 2. Email comments to forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov or mail them to State Forester Cal Mukumoto, Building B, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-26 11:13:11

Last Update: 2024-01-26 17:20:47

State Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Southern Oregon), who serves as a member on the Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services, issued the following statement today in response to The Oregonian article titled: Oregon never publicized a study it funded that found higher beer, wine taxes would barely stem heavy drinking.

“As a member of the newly formed Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services Task Force, I do not want to see people suffer from alcohol abuse and addiction; moreover, I want to find ways to prevent others from traveling down that road.”

“It is appalling to discover the Oregon Health Authority has key data concerning this issue which they are not only hiding from the public -- but from this task force. Keeping such information secret erodes my confidence that OHA will provide the Task Force all the data in an unbiased way. Our Task Force is supposed to weigh all the facts to make informed and effective recommendations to the legislature. It appears that OHA is placing their thumb on the scale to manipulate the legislature into choosing a predetermined outcome.”

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In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 3610, which formed a Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services. Its goal is to study and report to the Legislative Assembly by September 15, 2024, on alcohol addiction and alcohol addiction prevention; distribution of resources for alcohol addiction treatment; current overall funding for alcohol addiction treatment programs; cost of alcohol addiction to state; benefits and drawbacks of imposing taxes on beer and wine; and additional funding options for alcohol addiction treatment. Representative Reschke was appointed as one of the four legislative non-voting members.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-25 15:54:26

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) put out a press release touting the class of 2023 as achieving the second highest graduation rate ever in Oregon. The statewide graduation rate for the class of 2023 is 81.3 percent, tying the 2022 class as the second highest graduation rate ever recorded in Oregon. While the overall rate held steady, some student groups reached all-time highs for graduation including former English Learners (87.6%) and Migrant students (81.6%). The biggest negative impact were students in Foster Care dropping 1.5% to 46.9% graduation rate.

While 81.3%, 37,700 students earned a diploma, 8,672 students did not graduate, a long hill for Governor Kotek to meet her campaign goal of 90%. Tina Kotek campaigned that it was important to her for “setting high standards and high expectations for all Oregon students.” Her website listed education priorities, lowering the 2011 statutory bar to 90% graduating by 2027.

Does a diploma demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and math? In August 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 744 eliminating the requirement for high school graduation requirements for 2022, 2023, and 2024. Prior to the pandemic it had reached 82%, then dropped to 80.6% in 2021. So the elimination of testing hasn’t made a significant difference. Oregon was one of 15 states that ended graduation test requirements. Eight other states have replaced graduation test requirements with a variety of end-of-course tests that factor into student course grades and the right for students to use an alternatives if they fail.

Besides the standard diploma, students with a documented history of not maintaining grade level achievement due to a learning, instructional, or medical barrier can earn a modified diploma or an extended diploma. They must have “demonstrated the inability to meet the full set of academic content standards for a high school diploma with reasonable modifications and accommodations.” It qualifies them for federal financial aid in college but probably will not be accepted into the military.

Oregon students still have to pass their high school classes and earn 24 credits to graduate, which is one of the highest in the nation. Still, every legislative session discusses increasing the mandatory credit requirements. Every credit required reduces the flexibility for students to pursue their interests in the direction of a possible career. ODE has recommended changes to the state's graduation requirements, including permanently ending the requirement to show testing proficiency in reading, writing, and other skills on top of credit-bearing coursework in those subjects.

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Another educational goal was passed into law in 2011 was the “40-40-20? (Bachelor’s/Associate’s/high school) goal for 100% of adult Oregonians to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent by 2025. By 2019, 7% of Oregonians had less than high school education, but the pandemic seems to have swept that goal under the carpet too. The current graduation rates would indicate that goal is a dream that will never happen.

Dr. Charlene Williams, ODE Director, states, “Each diploma represents an inspiring step forward for a student, their loved ones, and their community. With impressive grit and resourcefulness, they worked their way through the jarring and isolating impacts of the pandemic to earn their education. We need to maintain high expectations and provide high levels of support that will lead to academic excellence for all of our students. Each and every child from birth through 5th grade must be set up for success in learning to read and reading to learn and be provided opportunities to find their path to graduation success and their dream career.”

Governor Kotek would like to see more targeting of resources, “such as career and technical education and supporting English Language Learners. This targeted approach to success is working for our students, so let’s do more of that, and I hope lawmakers support summer learning investment in the 2024 session.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-25 11:57:07

Last Update: 2024-01-25 16:43:10

Oregon Fourth Congressional District Candidate Monique DeSpain has held a press conference to ask what Congresswoman Val Hoyle is hiding from the public in the La Mota Scandal and to request that U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Natalie K. Wight expand the current investigation by her office into La Mota and the resigned ex-Secretary of State Shemia Fagan be expanded to include Hoyle.

“Today, I unveiled a detailed reporting of Val Hoyle’s corruption and my call to the US Attorney for the District of Oregon to investigate her immediately,” said Monique DeSpain. “I contend that Congresswoman Val Hoyle has disqualified herself from further public service in Congress as our representative because she has demonstrated a pattern of corruption, obstruction, and deceit for at least the past three years.”

“Citizens of the 4th congressional district, including myself, are greatly concerned about the numerous news reports indicating connections between Congresswoman Val Hoyle, La Mota, and Shemia Fagan, the subject of a current investigation,” DeSpain added. “It is obvious La Mota’s corrupt tentacles extend far beyond former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. No one should be above the law -- any and all illegality involving La Mota and ENDVR must be rooted out before Oregonians’ trust in their government can be restored.”

“To this end, I have sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, Natalie K. Wight, to urge her to expand the scope of USDOJ’s investigation into Fagan and La Mota or launch an independent investigation on similar grounds into Congresswoman Hoyle and her role in the award of a taxpayer grant to the La Mota-linked non-profit named ENDVR.”

Wight was appointed by President Biden in June 2022 and confirmed by the Senate a few months later.

“There have been countless news articles over the past year and a half covering Congresswoman Val Hoyle’s deceit, corruption, and blatant stonewalling, but now voters can go to WhatsValHiding.com to view a comprehensive timeline of her corruption and sign a petition calling for the US Department of Justice to formally investigate her role in the scandal.”

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Monique DeSpain is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, mother of twin boys, and public policy advocate who resides in Eugene, Oregon. She is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Oregon’s 4th Congressional District in a bid to unseat incumbent Congresswoman Val Hoyle in 2024


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-25 10:01:00

Last Update: 2024-01-25 18:57:03

In an announcement which some observers say may be in violation of the current understanding of the Oregon Republican Party (ORP) bylaws, the Chairman of the state party, Justin Hwang has formally given his endorsement of Donald J. Trump for President of the United States in the upcoming November 2024 Election.

"As the Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, I am prevented by our bylaws from endorsing a candidate in any contested Republican race until after the primary. While I acknowledge and respect the authority of those bylaws, I also firmly believe in the fundamental American right to individual free speech. Therefore, I, Justin Hwang, as an Oregonian and small business owner, am today exercising my First Amendment right to freely express my personal unwavering and enthusiastic support for former President Donald J. Trump in his bid for reelection."

Hwang explained further, "In close consultation with the Oregon Republican Party’s dedicated legal team, as well as the Central and Executive Committees, I plan to explore revisions to our bylaws that will respect and protect the principle of free speech for every member of our organization."

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"This endorsement is not just a formality—it is a call to action," said Hwang. "I invite and encourage all Republicans, all conservatives, and all like-minded citizens who are concerned about the deterioration of our country under the current administration, to join me in this endorsement.

Hwang concluded, "Together, let’s support a leader who shares our values and vision of what America can be. We need a leader who will lead us toward a future of peace, prosperity, and security for this great nation. Let’s stand together, united in our effort to see Donald J. Trump triumphantly return to the presidency of these United States."

Oregon will hold it's primary election on May 21st. Technically, Trump is yet to be officially determined as the party nominee, although he still seems have a commanding lead over Nikki Haley, his only remaining GOP opponent.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2024-01-25 09:53:18

Last Update: 2024-01-25 18:57:23

In Tuesday’s Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response, Democrats unveiled their plan to address Measure 110. Republicans have also proposed several key pieces of legislation.

“Above all, I am saddened by the Democrats’ lack of interest to do what is necessary to end the drug addiction crisis, which is killing people young and old every single day. They are instead choosing to listen to special interest activists and pursue an omnibus bill reduced to window dressing,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend). “While Democrats kick the can down the road, we will continue to put forward bold solutions that will stop the drug crisis in its tracks.”

“The proposal we saw today is one chalked full of farcical fixes which will work about as well as the drug treatment hotline. Measure 110 has proven that voluntary addiction treatment does not work and keeps people chronically addicted. Oregonians overwhelmingly agree that we must scrap this naïve approach, but the Democrats’ proposal keeps the status quo in place,” said Representative Christine Goodwin (R-Canyonville). “Oregonians deserve better than this weak proposal. It will do almost nothing to save lives, clean up our streets, and restore safety to our communities.”

“Oregonians have made it abundantly clear: we must reestablish hard drug use as a class A misdemeanor so that rehabilitation treatment can be required. The current system does not include such power and a low-level class C misdemeanor only provides 30 days in jail as an alternative. This is nowhere near the amount of time needed to address addiction,” said Representative Kevin Mannix (R-Keizer). “Our current system is not compassionate. People are hurting. The Legislature has a responsibility to step up and meet this challenge.”

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“Clearly Democrats in the legislature haven’t walked the streets to see the crisis Measure 110 has caused," said House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich. “The Republican bill restores accountability, ushers addicts into treatment, and makes our streets clean and safe again – none of which will be achieved with the majority’s proposal. While people suffer, the majority party ignores Oregonians’ calls for bipartisan action, choosing instead to pander to radical special interests with a bill that solves nothing. Oregonians have demanded real solutions, and that is what House Republicans will continue to strive for.”

Candidate for Oregon Attorney General and former prosecutor, Will Lathrop, rebuked politicians in Salem for failing to propose a real solution to Oregon’s failed Measure 110 and instead hiding behind House Bill 4002, a half-hearted proposal.

“Unfortunately, Salem politicians have failed to listen to law enforcement, local governments, and Oregonians across our state who are demanding meaningful solutions to Oregon’s failed Measure 110. Instead, these same politicians have opted to hide behind their political ideologies with an inadequate bill that fails to respond to the historical crisis on our streets,” said Will Lathrop.

“What was hailed as revolutionary change, is now known to be an unmitigated disaster shrouding Oregon in a state of crisis. Despite calls from our law enforcement community, treatment experts, and local jurisdictions to replace Measure 110 with real accountability measures that get people into treatment and traffickers off the street, HB 4002 is a half-measure designed to provide cover to a political class determined to continue the status quo,” added Lathrop

With less than two weeks before the 2024 Legislative Session convenes, AG candidate Will Lathrop offered Oregonians some words of encouragement while challenging legislators to return to the drawing board.

“It’s not too late for legislators in Salem to reject band-aid fixes and work with law enforcement and addiction service providers to deliver lasting solutions. Oregonians are relying on our elected politicians to act with urgency to shift the tide of crime and addiction in our communities and give Oregonians real hope for change,” concluded Lathrop.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2024-01-23 15:31:59

Last Update: 2024-01-23 16:38:51

As the COVID-19 pandemic turned into a lockdown of businesses and schools by Governor Kate Brown, thousands of Oregonians were threatened with eviction. As their income diminished, they struggled to pay rent in an economy that had stalled. In December 2021 the Legislative Housing Committee requested an audit of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (Oregon ERA).

Oregon ERA was created to provide federal funding to help keep Oregonians in their homes. Oregon’s housing agency, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), was charged with administering the program under enormous pressure to get millions of dollars out the door as quickly as possible.

OHCS was able to distribute $426 million in emergency rental assistance as of June 2023. But according to the Oregon Audits Division audit, the framework under which this occurred came with substantial risk. A year into the pandemic in 2020, OHCS agrees with auditors that, like many other government and non-governmental organizations, the agency was unprepared for the magnitude and scale of multiple emergencies. Oregon ERA suffered from the rushed implementation of new software and a fragmented customer service system resulting in application processing delays and communications challenges that frustrated consumers and local partners.

Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade said in a statement, “The urgency with which OHCS acted to distribute rental assistance during a global crisis is laudable. As auditors, it’s our job to ensure state agencies properly account for how they spend public money. I encourage OHCS to work speedily to implement the recommendations in this report in preparation for future emergencies.”

According to the audit, "While the urgency brought by this situation was understandable, it’s still critically important agencies implement adequate financial controls to ensure funds are distributed to the people who should be receiving them. Money that is spent out of compliance with federal guidelines runs the risk of being clawed back by the federal government. Fraud was a major risk for Oregon ERA." According to multiple community action agencies, they denied approximately $37 million requested through 1,813 potentially fraudulent applications.

OHCS employed limited oversight of the funds and, in its haste, skipped critical controls, including over financial accounting and contract administration. These same control weaknesses were highlighted by financial auditors in the Statewide Single Audit released earlier this year. In fact, the severity and pervasive aspect of the control weaknesses led financial auditors to issue an adverse opinion for the program — the first from the division in more than 25 years.

While the urgency brought by this situation was understandable, it’s still critically important agencies implement adequate financial controls to ensure funds are distributed to the people who should be receiving them. Money that is spent out of compliance with federal guidelines runs the risk of being clawed back by the federal government. Fraud was a major risk for Oregon ERA; according to multiple community action agencies, they denied approximately $37 million requested through 1,813 potentially fraudulent applications.

“There is no doubt OHCS, like all of Oregon government, was working under unprecedented emergency conditions during the pandemic,” said Audits Director Kip Memmott. “As auditors, it’s our job to ensure public monies are being spent in accordance with program guidelines and properly accounted for. It’s extremely concerning that OHCS is unable to verify whether millions of dollars went to the Oregonians who needed and deserved this money the most.”

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

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

Auditors have multiple recommendations for OHCS, among them:

• Better prepare for future emergencies given the agency’s important role under Oregon’s emergency management framework, including conducting an after-action review of Oregon ERA with local partners; Improve internal controls over contract monitoring;
• Improve internal controls over reporting program outcomes, especially when it comes to reporting the number of Oregon ERA applications paid, households assisted and dollars spent;
• Improve internal controls over detecting and preventing fraud; and
• Continue efforts to obtain timely, complete, and quality client data to better understand and respond to Oregon’s housing needs.

Oregon ERA ended on June 2023. However, the lessons learned from this program are still applicable. OHCS has now been tasked with administering millions of dollars to address Oregon’s ongoing homelessness crisis, a major priority for Governor Tina Kotek. This can be troublesome since OHCS disagrees with the audit on the after-action process including systems oversight of benefit measurement, and they lacked reporting to ensure systems are functioning as expected.

Other recommendations were only partially agreed to being correct. OHCS must implement audit recommendations and apply lessons learned, if Oregonians can be reassured OHCS can successfully and properly accounted for the Governor’s homeless program.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-01-19 13:19:01

Last Update: 2024-01-19 15:22:40