The Liftoff: Oregonians on Ukraine and the fund-race for Congress
PLUS: Sports and politics collide; short session winds down; big news for the environment and public education; and Oregonians' views on compromise
Welcome back to The Liftoff!
If you’re like me, you spent much of the last week reading everything you could find about the invasion of Ukraine, alternating between anger, despair, fear, and hope. Watching it unfold, I also feel greater sense of responsibility to protect and strengthen our democratic system here in Oregon. I hope you do, too. This week, we cover the reverberations of Putin’s war in our corner of the world, campaign news, the winding down of the short session, and more.
To support our project of reviving Oregon’s civic culture and join a community of civic leaders across Oregon, please consider subscribing today.
1. Oregonians react to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
Senator Jeff Merkley, who serves on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, has weighed in on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, condemning Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. Here’s how the rest of the congressional delegation reacted.
Rep. Peter DeFazio tweeted a bipartisan letter that he authored (which includes some of the furthest left and furthest right members of Congress, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Matt Gaetz) urging Biden to receive Congressional authorization prior to the use of American forces in Ukraine. Rep. Earl Blumenauer was the only other Oregonian who signed onto the letter.
A board member from the Ukrainian American Cultural Association of Oregon was interviewed by Think Out Loud about the anger and anxiety of Ukrainians in the PNW watching the invasion unfold from afar.
The Oregonian spoke to other Oregonians with Ukrainian ancestry, including Vadim Mozyrsky, a candidate for Portland City Council.
2. Huge investments moving as the short session winds down
Great reporting from the Oregon Capitol Chronicle on a $400 million suite of investments aimed at increasing affordable housing options, including transitional housing, that is expected to move through the short session.
From OPB: “But majority Democrats are also rolling the dice on an eye-popping olive branch: They are going to give minority Republicans $100 million to spend essentially as they see fit in their rural Oregon districts.” The proposal is being received well by rural lawmakers.
Rep. Marty Wilde penned an op-ed on why he has left the House Democratic Caucus.
The childcare component of the proposed legislator pay raise may violate a previously-passed pay equity law, according to the legislature’s top lawyer.
Republican amendments were adopted to the non-unanimous juries bill; its fate is still uncertain.
Senator Sara Gelser Blouin’s bill to support students with disabilities (and provide adequate learning time and resources) will not advance this session, according to Governor Kate Brown. “We lose bills all the time. This is different,” Gelser Blouin told the Capitol Chronicle. She does not know who killed the bill.
Two election-related bills will likely become law, one making it easier to register to vote and the other protecting election workers.
Déjà vu all over again: Sen. Dallas Heard has once again been booted from the Capitol building for refusing to wear a mask.
3. Who is leading the fund-race for Oregon’s congressional seats? Plus more campaign news
Shoutout to Gary Warner from the Oregon Capital Insider for the comprehensive review of all reported congressional fundraising to date. Spoiler alert: incumbents have a massive cash advantage. The most glaring is that between Rep. Kurt Schrader (over $3.5 million on hand!) and challenger Jamie McLeod Skinner (a little over $200,000 on hand).
However, Jamie McLeod Skinner is building momentum in the race with the endorsement of former Gov. Barbara Roberts and two county-level Democratic Party organizations, including the Deschutes County Democrats.
In weird political fundraising news, a “cryptocurrency billionaire” is spending big in Oregon’s new 6th Congressional District on behalf of Carrick Flynn.
David Douglas School Board Member Hoa Nguyen will run for the seat held by retiring Rep. Jeff Reardon. She is currently the only person running for the seat.
Pamplin has a story on the Republican primary in House District 40 (Oregon City), which they describe as between a “Gresham cop” and an “Oregon City proud boys leader.”
Gubernatorial Campaign News
Where will Nick Kristof’s financial and political supporters go now that he can’t run for Governor? Willamette Week asked some prominent supporters like UFCW 555 President Dan Clay and Peter Bragdon, among others.
Where do the candidates for governor stand on tolling? WW has answers from top-tier candidates in both parties (plus Betsy Johnson, who channels her inner Dr. Seuss).
Treasurer Tobias Read has called for four primary debates; Tina Kotek’s team indicated she wants to participate in even more.
4. A transformational moment for environmental policy in Oregon
In addition to last week’s news on the Oregon Private Forest Accords’ imminent passage, along with the resolution to the Elliott Forrest dispute, there is a lot happening on the environmental policy and climate change front.
First, a $1-billion timber case that could have major implications for both timber counties and state government has begun at the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Please cross your fingers: a state meteorologist is predicting a much-needed wet spring amidst Oregon’s record-breaking drought. He added this (hilarious) caveat: “Basically we don’t know how things will pan out.”
In the legislature, some forestry issues were resolved by two broadly-supported tax bills.
Following reporting from The O, state agencies will work together to restore Lake Abert, a critical rest stop for thousands of migratory birds
5. Tigard Mayor Jason Snider joins The Bridge to talk why he’s never been a member of a political party, solutions to affordable housing, and how we aren’t as politically divided portrayed by the media
Tigard Mayor Jason Snider is one of highest ranking independent elected officials in Oregon (he's never been a member of a political party) as mayor of one of Oregon’s largest cities. He is a fascinating (and funny) person with a deep knowledge of policy issues impacting local jurisdictions. He serves as Chair of the Metropolitan Mayors Consortium (which represents nearly all the Portland metro cities) and is on the board of the Oregon Mayors Association.
In this episode we talk about how and why the local response to COVID-19 has varied across Oregon, what cities can do to address the housing affordability crisis and homelessness, and the extent to which Oregonians are really divided. Stick around for the end of the podcast when he describes what mayors want from their next governor—and some of the biggest (and unsung) challenges of Oregon state government.
6. Education news: cost of a degree continues to rise; Thielman resigns as mask mandate ends
The cost of higher education continues to rise in Oregon, as the U of O proposes increasing in-state tuition to about $15,000 annually and out-of-state tuition to about $41,600 (not including housing, food, books, and other necessities).
Marc Thielman has resigned as superintendent of the Alsea School District amid three formal complaints against him. Thielman has made headlines for defying state mandates; he will continue in his campaign for governor as a Republican.
Oregon will end its indoor mask mandate on March 19; three school boards (Alsea, Redmond, and Molalla River) have directed their superintendents to violate the state mandates, putting them at risk of fine or loss of license.
7. Republicans, Democrats, and independents all agree on this
Thanks to our friends at the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center for this research. In a time of divisiveness and political polarization, the above data makes clear: the majority of Oregonians across party identifications agree that they want their leaders compromise in order to get things done (vs. sticking to their beliefs at the expense of progress).
8. The politics and economics of sports in Oregon
John Canzano writes about the intersection of sports, economic development, and Portland’s reputation: “Maybe I’m naive, but part of the issue here is that Portland really is a mess. Another part is that the perception of that mess is amplified by the news coverage.”
A Vancouver-based billionaire wants to bring women’s professional basketball back to Portland for the first time since the departure of the short-lived Portland Fire. The biggest potential roadblock? The Trailblazers control the scheduling of the two biggest arenas. The Blazers front office says they welcome “conversations” about bringing a team to Portland.
From The Oregonian: “Oregon bill requiring royalty payments to college athletes from sales of jerseys, video games, trading cards passes state Legislature”
9. News Roundup
A bipartisan group of Oregon leaders, including Governor Kate Brown and the Democratic and Republican leaders of both legislative chambers, have condemned a Washington State proposal that would raise taxes on Oregon-bound fuel
Bad winter storm conditions caused over 170 traffic accidents and 19 injuries on I-84.
Read Nigel Jaquiss’ deep dive on the “crumbling empire” Robert Pamplin, Jr.
Senator Ron Wyden has scheduled his 1,000th town hall as he approaches re-election to his fifth full term.
Following reporting from WW, the Portland Police Bureau will assign an officer to address the backlog of abandoned vehicles in the city’s impound lots
Josephine County will become the latest Oregon county to ask its voters whether they want to join Idaho
Read OPB’s recent profile on how the Ku Klux Klan terrorized southern Oregon.
ESPN has a fascinating in-depth write up of how Dan Lanning came out ahead to become the Oregon Duck’s next football coach.
Thank you for reading.
Tips? Feedback? Ideas? Corrections? We want to hear from you! Email benjaminwbowman@gmail.com.
If you value this newsletter, please become a paying subscriber today. Your support will help us grow and offer more opportunities to this community. It’s just $10 a month!
Interested in advertising with us? Get in touch!
This is obviously a place for Oregon Dems — little viewpoint diversity. Maybe call it “The Oregon Democrat Way”.