Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the passage of a bill to force internet retailers to collect sales taxes for states and municipalities that have local sales taxes.
Continue reading “Merkley: Oregon Retailers Should Not Be Forced to Collect Inefficient, Regressive Sales Tax” »
Salem, OR—As Oregonians face their tax filing deadline, House Democrats continue to push for more revenues, despite a nearly 10 percent increase in the amount of money going in to state coffers in the next biennium.
Continue reading “Revenue Bill Raises Questions on Tax Filing Deadline Day” »
Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate passed his amendment to create a deficit-neutral reserve fund to facilitate the criminal prosecution of U.S. financial institutions that break the law, regardless of size.
Continue reading “Merkley “Too Big to Jail” Amendment Passes” »
SB 528A allows state agencies to sell their state-of-the-art technology to boost revenue
SALEM—The Oregon Senate today cleared the path for agencies to sell innovative software designed to make government more efficient. Senate Bill 528A, which passed on a unanimous vote, will allow state agencies and the judicial and legislative branches to hold copyrights or patents and sell data processing programs to local, state, and federal government agencies.
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HB 2902A would build Oregon’s healthcare workforce and improve patient access to high-quality, cost-effective care
SALEM – A bill that will provide equal pay for Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistants who perform the same services as physicians passed the House today.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.— Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley led an effort today to pass an amendment to the funding outline for fiscal year 2014 paving the way for legislation to level the playing field for American businesses and workers by strengthening enforcement of U.S. trade agreements and U.S. trade laws.
Continue reading “Committee Passes Merkley Amendment to Level The Playing Field for Oregon Companies” »
WASHINGTON, – Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek received the 2013 State Legislator of the Year Award from the American Psychological Association Practice Organization (APAPO) in recognition of her ongoing support of prescriptive authority for psychologists and her critical involvement toward the passage of the Coordinated Care Organization legislation, which lead the country in a pilot Medicaid reform project. House Speaker Kotek, a Democrat, was presented with the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 10.
Continue reading “Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek Recognized For Advocacy Work on Mental Health Issues” »
Salem, Oregon – Oregon’s public schools would net $6.75 billion, the equivalent of nearly $1 billion in additional resources and savings, in the 2013-15 biennium under the draft budget framework released by the Co-Chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee today.
Continue reading “Co-Chairs Unveil Turning Point Budget to Boost School Resources by $1 Billion” »
Bill increases access for struggling homeowners by closing loophole
SALEM – A Senate Committee today held a public hearing on a bill that would expand Oregon’s foreclosure mediation program. Senate Bill 558 will give homeowners at risk of foreclosure the ability to request mediation with their lender regardless of the procedure that may follow.
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SALEM, OR – Two of the world’s most colorfully named towns took another step toward cementing their relationship today when the Oregon House of Representatives approved HB 2352 which declares August 9th of each year “Boring and Dull Day.” The bill was sponsored by Rep. Bill Kennemer (R – Clackamas County) who represents the town of Boring.
“While some might be inclined to call this frivolous, the reality is that this attention is attracting tourism and commerce to this Boring section of Oregon,” Kennemer said in his floor speech today. “There is a serious side here. This pairing of Boring and Dull is forging a deeper spirit of community.”
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