TOP STORIES
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
Statesman Journal
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Black Oregon legislator says campaigning in own district triggered 911 call
Oregonian/OregonLive
She looked over at the deputy in his patrol car and thought, “I don’t believe this.” He asked if she was selling something. She introduced herself as a state legislator and said that she was out canvassing and that she guessed someone called him. The deputy said someone called and reported Bynum appearing to spend a long time at houses in the area and appearing to be casing the neighborhood while on her phone.
Salem water advisory lifted as toxins remain below EPA safe levels
Statesman Journal
Bolstering the city’s confidence were 12 consecutive days of tests with algal toxins below Environmental Protection Agency health advisory levels, fulfillment of requirements set out in new Oregon Health Authority monitoring rules and the successful test of a third slow-sand filter at the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility.
INITIATIVES
Oregon Attorney General Considers Investigation Into Election Fraud
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Oregon’s top attorney is considering whether to investigate if a crime was committed during the process of putting one of the more controversial initiatives on the November ballot. At issue is a tax-related measure that could make it harder for Democrats to raise money in the future. The measure, Initiative Petition 31, would require a three-fifths vote of the Legislature for all taxes and fee increases, meaning Democrats without a supermajority would need Republican votes to raise revenue.
Our Oregon says it has enough signatures to get ‘corporate transparency’ initiative on ballot
Oregonian/OregonLive
The union-backed group Our Oregon says it has gathered more than 130,000 signatures for a proposal to force publicly traded companies and their subsidiaries to disclose their Oregon taxable income and other information in public filings. That would likely be enough to get Initiative Petition 25 on the November ballot, since Our Oregon needs to turn in just 88,184 valid signatures by Friday.
OREGON’S REVENUE
Study: Oregon most reliant state on state income taxes
Portland Tribune
The findings affirm what many acknowledge about Oregon’s revenues — that they rely in large part on state income taxes, which fluctuate so dramatically that one state lawmaker compares year-over-year tax collections to the peaks and valleys of the Swiss Alps. When it comes just to state revenues, the Oregon Center for Public Policy estimates that roughly four out of five General Fund and Lottery Fund dollars comes from the state income tax. In the upcoming legislative session, scheduled to begin in January, lawmakers must write a two-year state budget in the face of a shortfall in the state’s Medicaid program and rising public pension costs. Revenue reform could be on the table as well.
OPINION
Candidate to replace Sen. Peter Courtney promises better emergency preparedness
Statesman Journal
No one deserves a pat on the back for so poorly mishandling our water crisis. Instead, our neighbors deserve very honest answers, communicated in the clearest way possible, by the authorities who are responsible for solving the problems.