HOUSE REPUBLICAN OFFICE
NOVEMBER 9, 2017 DAILY CLIPS
STATE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Sources Say: West Coast Dems plot ‘blue wall’
Portland Tribune
Democratic politicians in Oregon, California and Washington are working together to create a political “blue wall” along the West Coast and pass progressive legislation, including a coordinated carbon tax.
West Coast Democrats Behind ‘Great Blue Wall’ Push Progressive Climate Agenda
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Oregon is also considering a proposal to cap the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Oregon is a small state,” Brown said. “We’re only four million people, and our ability to work with states like Washington and California — and frankly the (Canadian) province of British Columbia — enables us to move further and faster.” Brown said the three states and Canadian province can work with each other to “replicate best practices” along the West Coast.
Whisnant appointed to interim session education committees
KTVZ
“I look forward to serving on all these committees,” Rep. Whisnant stated in a news release Wednesday. “With the additional committee assignments, I will be serving on all the education policy and Ways and Means committees concerned with early education learning, PK-12, and Higher Education issues. I have served on the House Education Committee in previous sessions when the committee addressed all education issues. I was vice-chair twice.”
Willamette Week
A police report WW obtained today under Oregon’s public records law sheds new light on a strange episode involving state Sen. Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg) and a grainy YouTube video that Kruse says was being used in an attempt to extort money from him.
HEALTH CARE
COFA Islanders Rush to Enroll, but Face Obstacles in Special Insurance Program
The Lund Report
A tight deadline has insurance brokers working overtime to help a group of Pacific Islanders to get insurance, but a rule requiring them to pay deductibles upfront has some members facing collection agencies.
JOBS & THE ECONOMY
Fresh layoffs at SureID, now called Fortior
The Oregonian
The Hillsboro company formerly known as SureID is laying off 25 more employees this week, according to a notice it filed with the state. Including these cuts, the company has reduced its Oregon workforce by more than 80 percent since May. The new layoffs included customer service positions and perhaps jobs in other parts of the business, according to two people who lost their jobs. The company, now called Fortior Solutions, did not respond to a request for comment.
LOCAL NEWS
Portland, not waiting for Amazon, moves forward with Post Office plan
The Oregonian
Even if Amazon chooses another city for its second headquarters, Portland has big plans for the Pearl District Post Office site – including affordable housing and living-wage jobs.
Portland to spend $12 million surplus on police, homeless, roads and new positions
The Oregonian
The city of Portland has a $12 million surplus from last year’s budget, and it plans to spend much of it to add to the city’s police force, operate homeless shelters and complete infrastructure projects. The new spending, approved Wednesday, will be on top of the $516 million spending plan for 2017-18 that the City Council approved in May.
OPINION
Editorial: Medicaid error is another reason to vote against new taxes
Bend Bulletin
We already know the taxes themselves are bad policy; they apply unevenly and target struggling hospitals and consumers with already climbing premiums. The problems at the OHA add another reason to vote against them. The situation calls for transparency from the governor, not political posturing.
Editorial: Block of appointment may hurt Oregon
Bend Bulletin
They’d lose, too, as would all Oregonians, if President Donald Trump withdrew the nomination and appointed a judge from Idaho or another securely Republican state to the court, as some Republicans have hinted he might. The tradition that says two judges will come from each state would be ended, and Oregonians’ influence there diminished as a result.
Register-Guard
Eugene’s bike rental program is getting ready to roll and, if it’s done properly, should benefit not just the riders but also motorists, businesses and local taxpayers.
Guest column: Huge defense budgets but still not taking care of veterans
Ric DeMarco lives in Bend
“America First” seems to be a constant rallying cry from both the left and the right. However to date, we’ve spent over $4 trillion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Surely America can afford to respectfully and properly care for our veterans and their families. Let’s truly appreciate and applaud our veterans by honestly and properly taking care of them. By the way, a trillion seconds is about 32,000 years.