SALEM — The Oregon House on Wednesday passed the Jobs and Transportation Act that aims to create 4,600 jobs while raising $300 million annually for transportation projects through a 6-cent-a-gallon gas tax and increased vehicle registration fees.
The measure was approved by a 38-22 margin, just two votes more than the required three-fifths majority for tax increases. The bill will now move to the Senate, where it is expected to be passed on Friday.
“This will ...
SALEM — Last week, the voters of California rejected five ballot measures that would have limited that state’s budget woes through increased taxes just one day after Oregon legislative leaders released a budget plan that would require an additional $800 million in revenue to maintain a balanced budget.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that the state would “go all out” in cutting government spending, after more than 60 percent of voters rejected the tax measures.
“We tried ...
SALEM — The Oregon Legislature today learned the state is $3.8 billion short to maintain current education, public service and safety levels over the next two years. The state will also need to find an additional $351 million in savings, either by cuts or use of reserves, to balance the 2007-09 budget, which ends on June 30.
State Economist Tom Potiowsky released the report from the Office of Economic Analysis to a joint-session of the House and ...
SALEM — Republicans in the Oregon Legislature announced a budget plan that they claim would protect core services without increasing taxes.
According to the Senate Republican office, “the plan funds a full school year, protects prioritized service areas like public safety and human services by giving them the same funding levels they received in the last two year budget and creates a $1.374 billion surplus for targeted legislative add-backs and contingency reserves.”
Democrats were quick to criticize the ...
SALEM — A measure moving through the legislature would allow candidates to list multiple party nominations on the general election ballot.
For instance, if the Democratic Party nominee for a State Senate seat was also nominated by the Independent Party and the Working Families Party, that candidate would be able to list all three nominations on the ballot.
“This bill offers a way for people to know more about candidates, on ballots, than they currently do,” said ...
SALEM — The Senate Rules Committee heard public testimony on Tuesday on House Bill 2386, which would direct the Secretary of State to institute an electronic registration system.
“It is clear to me that online voter registration is the way to go to keep people engaged in the process,” said Rep. Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay).
In recent elections, Oregon has rated at or near the bottom of the nation in the gap between voters over 65 ...
