By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews The two legislators who represent Lincoln County in Salem are pleased with the results of the recently completed short, off-year session that concluded last week. They credit a smaller and more focused agenda, court rulings that punished Republican senators who in 2023 were able to derail much of the work by […]
Oregon Legislature
A first person report: What a day in the 2024 Oregon Legislature looks like for Rep. David Gomberg
Editor’s note Brad Fuqua, a longtime Benton County journalist and the editor and publisher of the online Philomath News, spent a day last week with Rep. David Gomberg of Otis, who represents Lincoln County in the Oregon Legislature. Here is his first-person report. Quinton Smith/YachatsNews By BRAD FUQUA/Philomath News SALEM — […]
A bill allowing self-service gas anywhere in Oregon moves closer to passage in the Legislature after hearing this week
By LYNNE TERRY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — A bill that would allow Oregonians to pump their own gas anywhere in the state edged closer to passage this week with its second public hearing in the Legislature. The Senate Committee on Energy and the Environment held a public hearing for House Bill 2426 on Tuesday, and mainly drew […]
The big divide over guns and violence plays out in the Oregon Legislature on Wednesday
People with the gun violence prevention group Moms Demand Action listen to testimony about firearms legislation Wednesday in the Oregon House Judiciary Committee. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon lawmakers heard civil but sometimes emotional testimony Wednesday about firearms legislation to prevent gun violence and ban untraceable or detectable […]
Betsy Johnson will resign her northwest Oregon senate seat to focus on run for governor
Betsy Johnson, Oregon state senator and candidate for governor, listens to speakers at a Portland business summit on Dec. 6, 2021. (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Betsy Johnson will end her 20-year career in the state Legislature on Wednesday to focus all her attention on her independent run for […]
In one-day special session Monday, Oregon legislators extend eviction protection, approve $400 million for landlords, farmers
Rep. Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, encourages her colleagues to vote for a bill to extend Oregon’s safe harbor protections from eviction during a special legislative session on Dec. 13, 2021. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Thousands of Oregon renters who faced the threat of receiving an eviction notice for Christmas […]