The Liftoff: A federal investigation, a gubernatorial deposition, and legislative dealmaking
PLUS: More bad news for Shemia Fagan; Chavez-DeRemer draws a big challenger; Kate Brown returns for a deposition; Speaker and Senate GOP Leader spotted together; and more!
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1. Is this the week that the Senate GOP walkout ends?
The tenth and longest walkout in the Oregon history continues, with Republican senators refusing to return. By Friday night, OPB reported that the Capitol was “abuzz” of talks to end the walkout, but no one would share details. The big questions heading into this week:
Will GOP Senators come back?
If so, what will they have gotten in exchange for their return?
More details from the The Oregonian Thursday evening: “Negotiations to end the longest walkout in Oregon’s political history have intensified in the last few days, with talks centering around whether Democrats would scrap the controversial reproductive health care bill that has been central to the Republicans’ boycott, multiple sources told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Thursday.” Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) was spotted talking to House Speaker Dan Rayfield on Thursday.
More walkout headlines:
Nearly 200 Oregon pediatricians, obstetricians, and family physicians sent a letter pressing Oregon lawmakers to pass HB 2002, the bill at the center of the Republican walkout, reports The Lund Report.
In a press conference on the state Capitol steps, Democratic lawmakers and advocates urged Republican senators to return to floor sessions and vote on bills, reports Ben Botkin with the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
On June 4, the walkout made the New York Times under this headline: “In a Year of Capitol Feuds, Oregon Has a Political Breakdown”
Here’s a quote from Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber: “I am sad to be on the front lines of watching democracy crumble.”
On June 5, OPB wrote a piece with this headline: “With impasse deepening, 2023 Oregon legislative session is on edge of collapse”
Here’s a quote from Senate GOP Leader Tim Knopp: “Senate Republicans don’t feel compelled to entertain [Senate President Rob Wagner’s] political theater. In fact, we suggest President Wagner pay our fines since it is his behavior that galvanized our protest.”
Here’s a quote from Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland): “Last week I finally called a smart person in the [House] speaker’s office. I said, ‘What’s the best use of my time?’ They said, ‘Get ready for 2024.’ That’s what I’ve been doing.”
Other Salem headlines:
The Central Oregon Diversity Project has called for Oregon House Republican Leader Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) to resign after her teenage son was photographed making a Nazi salute while on a school field trip, writes The Bend Bulletin. Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson apologized for her sons behavior.
According to the Oregon Capital Insider, ODOT told the Oregon Capital Bureau that its “overly bureaucratic attitude toward tolling freeways had ‘missed the mark’ in earning the public’s trust and creating meaningful community engagement surrounding regional traffic issues.”
Gov. Tina Kotek withdrew her request for a 50-cent surcharge by the OLCC on alcohol for mental health services, reports the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
From the Oregon School Boards Association: “Legislature Is Raiding Student Success Act For Early Learning, Education Advocates Say”
An update on the recall attempt of Rep. Paul Holvey (D-Eugene) via OPB: “In a blistering letter sent June 2, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 said it had no plans to stop. The union has already put down $100,000 to fund a recall…”
2. Shemia Fagan’s very bad week
Could Shemia Fagan be under federal investigation? In the past two weeks, FBI agents have placed phone calls to staff within the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, reports Willamette Week.
WW and other outlets obtained a wide-ranging federal subpoena issued in May that shows U.S. Department of Justice investigators are seeking extensive information about former Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and the co-founders of the La Mota cannabis chain that Fagan worked for as a private consultant.
Agencies listed in the subpoena include the Department of Administrative Services, the Oregon Department of Revenue, the Oregon Secretary of State, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission and the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
The subpoena requests that the five state agencies provide “all information, records, and documents…relating to the individuals and entities listed below” ahead of a grand jury proceeding on June 21 at the United States Courthouse in Portland.
The Oregonian on Friday posted a scathing story that questions her spending while in office:
Fagan “spent tens of thousands of dollars in campaign funds on airplane tickets for her children, a family weekend in Sunriver and stays at four-star hotels thousands of miles from Oregon…It also appears possible that Fagan double-dipped, getting compensated both by the state and her campaign for airfare, lodging and meals.”
Meanwhile, Willamette Week reported that Fagan has not yet followed through with her promise to donate all remaining PAC funds to the Oregon Humane Society. From WW: “More than a month later, the $11,585 remains with her campaign committee, according to public campaign finance records.”
3. What politicos need to know about psilocybin with Nate Howard
Nathan "Nate" Howard is an entrepreneur, activist, and political strategist. Having cut his teeth as Deputy Campaign Manager and then a Senior Advisor to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Nate has also worked on some of the most influential ballot measures in Oregon history to include Measure 109 and Measure 110. Measure 109 made Oregon the first state in the country to legalize and regulate Psilocybin services for medical purposes—an experiment that pro and anti legalization policy wonks are watching closely. Nate walks us through his background in further detail, the ins-and-outs of psilocybin, and where he sees the ballot initiative taking the state including the ups and downs.
4. Sponsored Message from Harrang Long P.C.: Harrang Long’s Government Ethics Practice
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5. Congresswoman Lori Chavez DeRemer draws her first big challenger
The race to challenge Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer is on. Over the course of 48 hours, two well-known Democratic women (kind of) announced they are running for the first term Congresswoman’s seat.
Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley) said on Tuesday she’s considering a run for US Congress, according to a tweet by Noelle Crombie with The Oregonian.
By Thursday afternoon, Metro President Lynn Peterson announced she was running and launched a website. Peterson has secured some impressive endorsements, including former Governor Barbara Roberts and former Congressman Peter DeFazio.
Peterson told Pamplin Media Group she is very concerned about the “culture war” agenda pushed by first-termer Chavez-DeRemer and other members of her caucus.
Meanwhile, the Democratic nominee against Chavez-DeRemer in 2022, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, has a new gig, according to the Oregon Capital Insider, as the “strategic initiatives manager, working with the DHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management.” Many have speculated she will run again in 2024.
Are you running for Congress in Oregon? Let us know! We always love a good tip.
6. Central & Eastern Oregon Round-up: “Greater Idaho” gets a narrow win, school board clashes, and more!
The Greater Idaho movement won Wallowa County by 7 votes. The County Commission will now need to meet twice annually to discuss relocating to Idaho. The story has gotten serious national attention as rural counties continue to embrace “Greater Idaho.”
Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch made national news after being the target of harassment and threats. Fitch found a dead raccoon and a sign with “intimidating” language outside of his office front door and reported it to police.
Crook County Superintendent Sara Johnson is resigning from her position after clashing with conservative members of the local school board. She announced her resignation upon the election of three new school board members. Johnson and the new members were expected to clash on LGBTQ curriculum issues and requirements.
Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson has proposed new camping ordinances, surely setting up a clash with homeless advocates. The measures would ban individuals from staying in one spot for more than 24 hours, and require them to move 600 feet, according to Central Oregon Daily News.
7. The Way: Reforming the kicker—and how to end political gridlock
We have a number of pieces for you this week from our Oregon Way Contributors. For starters, former Portland Commissioner Steve Novick has an idea of how to reform the kicker without a constitutional change—meaning the legislature to could do it themselves. The kicker is projected to be over $5 billion.
Next up, we have regular contributors Mark Hester and Gary Conkling who take on legislative gridlock and the walkout. Hester argues that in order to end gridlock, parties and institutions need to relinquish some power, while Conkling argues that a serious lack of trust is leading to the ongoing walkout.
Have thoughts on the pieces? Sound off in the comments!
8 . News Roundup: Blazers drama, Google’s secret deals, and more!
Former Oregonian reporter Rachel Bachman (now with the WSJ) wrote about the ongoing battle between Phil Knight and Jodi Allen over the Blazers.
Fortune has a story on Google’s secretive relationship with The Dalles.
Portland’s Kann was named America’s best new restaurant at the 2023 James Beard Awards.
Former Gov. Kate Brown will be deposed in a case alleging she and the state failed to protect Oregon prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic, a judge ruled Wednesday.
KOIN is airing a segment called “Kids Speak Out: Oregon” every Thursday at 7 p.m. this summer. The first episode was on the impact of drugs.
Sens. Wyden and Merkley submitted names of 6 prominent Oregon lawyers to replace U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez. Dick Hughes from the Oregon Capital Insider has all the details.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is investigating Fox News over possible losses to state employee retirement funds over false claims about the 2020 election.
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About the Authors
Ben Bowman is the state representative for Oregon House District 25 (Tigard, Metzger, and South Beaverton) and a member of the Tigard-Tualatin School Board. In his day job, he works as an administrator for a public school district. Previously, he worked as a legislative aide for former Reps. Margaret Doherty and Val Hoyle. He also co-hosts The Oregon Bridge podcast. In the newsletter and podcast, he speaks only for himself.
Alex Titus is a small business owner and consultant to businesses, nonprofits, and associations. Previously, he served as an Advisor in the Trump Administration and as a Policy Advisor to President Trump’s Super PAC. His writing has appeared in National Review, Fox News, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, and other publications.
Kristina Edmunson has been everything from press assistant for Governor Kulongoski, media advance associate for Vice President Biden, and communications director for Attorney General Rosenblum. Born and raised in Eugene, she has been involved in some of the biggest policy and legal decisions in Oregon over the last decade. Today, she runs her own communications practice. She speaks only for herself in her contributions to The Liftoff.
Kevin Easton is the other person who's in the running for OR-05 at the moment! https://voteeaston.com/ Should be an interesting race.