GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Oregon Prisons Were Ordered to Protect Veteran Benefits. They Tried to Find a Loophole Instead.
Willamette Week
When the Oregon Legislature set up a mechanism last year to collect debts from inmates in state prisons, it made an exception. It barred the state’s Department of Corrections from taking money from veterans’ disability benefits. But prison officials built in a work-around that would force former service members behind bars to pay court fines before they could buy food, clothing or sundries from the commissary. Critics say the Oregon Department of Corrections is unfairly and perhaps illegally trying to take money from imprisoned veterans.
Professional Republican Bomb-Thrower Jonathan Lockwood Takes Some Parting Shots at Oregon
Willamette Week
From the minute I became the spokesman for the Senate Republicans, I set Kate Brown in my cross hairs, and whether it was working on Knute Buehler’s campaign, Greg Wooldridge’s campaign or while sipping yerba mate in the morning, my goal was to tank her numbers, and I did.
CAMPAIGNS & INITIATIVES
Gov. Kate Brown’s Campaign Claims A Hate Group Endorsed Her Opponent. It Didn’t.
Willamette Week
“Knute has neither sought nor would he accept the endorsement of this organization,” Buehler’s campaign said in a statement responding to WW’s questions about the alleged endorsement. “Unfortunately Gov. Brown has a history of lies and smears about Knute’s record.” When asked why the campaign said OFIR had endorsed Buehler when it had not, a spokesman for Brown’s campaign said the press release referred to informal and implied endorsements of his legislative record and policy positions in comments made by Kendoll to OPB and by OFIR in social media posts.
Nike CEO takes public stance on sanctuary law repeal
East Oregonian
“Nike employs people from all over the world; we can attest to the unique value, contributions and innovations that people from diverse backgrounds add to Nike and to Oregon’s culture and economy,” wrote. “Ending Oregon’s sanctuary law will damage Oregon’s longstanding track record as a place that attracts diverse talent from across the globe.”
Statesman Journal partners with nonprofit on political candidates’ background checks
Statesman Journal
Most businesses run job candidates through a background check before hiring, to ensure there are no surprises or issues that didn’t come up during the interview process. With that in mind, the Statesman Journal is partnering with a nonpartisan, nonprofit called Verify More to do background checks on Mid-Valley political candidates. The Statesman Journal hopes the partnership will improve voter confidence in Mid-Valley candidates and decrease the chances of candidates inflating their credentials or omitting information.
LOCAL
Oregon hiker likely killed by cougar, authorities say
The Register-Guard
Search and rescue teams found the body of Diana Bober, 55, on Monday off a trail in the Mount Hood National Forest in Welches, about 40 miles southeast of Portland. Her body was several miles from where searchers found her car last week near a ranger station.
Josephine County’s Attempt To Upend Oregon Cannabis Laws Has Failed
Oregon Public Broadcasting
A U.S. magistrate judge has recommended dismissal of a lawsuit Josephine County filed against the state of Oregon, finding the county has no standing to sue the state, and hasn’t proved it’s been injured by laws allowing growth and consumption of recreational and medical cannabis. The recommendation will now go before a U.S. district judge, who will decide whether to dismiss the case.
OPINION
Editorial: Transparency takes another hit with state’s unwarranted secrecy
The Oregonian Editorial Board
The motivation for the refusal to disclose these forms may or may not be the pending election. It may or may not be a housekeeping move. But one thing is clear: It’s another disappointing stand by a governor who pledged transparency from Day One. Brown should direct the Department of Administrative Services to release the documents and accept the scrutiny.
Editorial: Gov. Openness should release records
The Bulletin Editorial Board
This year, with Brown up for election, the policy for releasing such records has changed. There are new instructions sent to agencies about the forms: “Although it is expected that agencies will have discussed legislative concept ideas with stakeholders, agencies are directed to treat this document as confidential and privileged and, accordingly, not to share the text of this form outside of state government before legislation is drafted and finalized.” That will be after the election is over. Does that make any sense at all except to hide what the government is doing from the public?
Can candidates execute plans on homelessness?
The Register-Guard
State action on homelessness hinges on the central issue in the governor’s race. Would Democratic Gov. Kate Brown or Republican Rep. Knute Buehler be the more effective leader? The governor’s most important role arguably is as CEO of state government. That requires the wisdom to hire effective staff, including agency directors; the leadership to get state agencies working in the same direction; and the tenacity to keep atop that work instead of jumping from priority to priority. Candidates always campaign on their vision for the state. The electorate must assess whether they have the skills, expertise and experience to convert that vision into reality, whether on homelessness or any other issue.