The Liftoff: The fight to unwind drug decriminalization in Oregon
PLUS: The 10 declared PDX council candidates; Nick Kristof's new book; Kotek announces newest round of appointments; the largest kicker check ever; and more!
Welcome back to The Liftoff! It’s Labor Day, which means it’s the unofficial start of campaign season. Let us know if you have a campaign announcement!
Thank you, as always, for reading along with us this summer. We aim to send you the biggest news headlines from around the state each week.
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1. The largest kicker check ever (and more state government news)
Oregon’s latest quarterly economic forecast painted a very rosy picture, with growth massively outpacing expectations. Tax collections and wages are higher than before the COVID pandemic and inflation remains high, though it slowed in recent months.
As a result, the state will pay out $5.6 billion through the unique “kicker” rebate, which kicks in when revenues collected exceed official projections. Oregonians will receive money back when they file their 2023 tax returns next spring, and higher-income Oregonians who pay more in taxes will receive more money back.
This is by far the largest amount ever returned under Oregon’s unique law. Here’s how much taxpayers can expect in refunds:
The top 1% of earners, with adjusted gross incomes higher than $466,700, can expect $44,600 back.
The median taxpayer, with incomes between $35,000 and $40,000, can expect $980.
The average taxpayer, earning less than $70,000, can expect $2,100.
The lowest 20% of taxpayers, earning less than $11,400, can expect $60.
See how top lawmakers responded to the news here.
At Wednesday’s quarterly state revenue forecast, economists said they also expect 3,000 new Oregon semiconductor jobs between 2025 and 2030. They expect new and expanded Oregon chip factories will add 1,000 net construction jobs for the next five years, reports The Oregonian.
More state government headlines:
Five Republican state senators who walked out from the Oregon legislature this year want to fast-track a lawsuit to allow them to seek reelection…and lawyers on the opposite side of the case, the Oregon Department of Justice, agree, according to OPB.
Oregon’s “Red Flag” gun law is one of the least used protective orders in the state, according to a report released Wednesday by the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. Lawmakers passed the law in 2017 to allow family members, law enforcement or others to petition a judge to temporarily order someone to turn over firearms.
From the report: Between 2018 and 2021, Oregonians submitted over 64,000 requests for protective orders, including against stalkers, perpetrators of domestic violence, people who abuse elderly relatives and more. But, less than 1% of those were “red flag” requests.
From the Oregonian: “Oregon Employment Department hold times soar, despite record low unemployment”
According to WW, only four psilocybin manufacturers, two testing labs, and eight service centers have been licensed in Oregon since voters approved Oregon’s new psychedelic mushroom law. The law was supposed to pay for itself from licensing fees paid by mushroom growers, testing labs, trip facilitators and service centers, but Oregon Psilocybin Services is not meeting that goal because too few people are seeking the licenses.
2. District Attorney, former legislator, and Betsy Johnson lead effort to unwind Measure 110
A group of political, civic, and business leaders wants to unwind the centerpiece of Oregon’s controversial drug decriminalization law (Measure 110) by treating minor drug possession as a misdemeanor crime, reports The Oregonian. The group will emphasize getting people into treatment regardless of whether they want it—a departure from Measure 110. They will be advocating for legislation in the 2024 session—and legislation doesn’t pass, they say they’ll move forward with a ballot measure.
Max Williams, who served in the legislature, ran the Department of Corrections, and most recently led the Oregon Community Foundation, said to the Oregonian: “Our goal isn’t to repeal the law. It’s to improve it.”
That’s not how Tera Hurst, director of the Oregon Health Justice Recovery Alliance, sees it, telling the O: “It’s disappointing that anyone would propose the failed policies of our past and lack of any real solutions.”
Joining Williams in working to support the new proposal are Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton, Dan Lavey (of People for Portland), political consultant Paige Richardson, and Betsy Johnson.
3. Who will run for Portland’s new, bigger City Council?
It is still more than a year out from the election to determine Portland’s new 12-member City Council. But WW reports that more than 10 candidates have already either registered political action committees or filed with the city’s Small Donor Elections Program.
But, how about the other names of potential candidates that are circulating?
Read WW’s list of potential candidates whose response to running is “no comment” here, which includes Steve Novick, Loretta Smith, and Sam Adams.
According to Axios Portland, a pilot program that sends less experienced first responders to less serious emergency calls is underway in Multnomah County. The Oregon Health Authority will soon release a draft proposal that would ease paramedic licensing requirements for ambulances around the state.
In August, Multnomah County released data showing between Sept. 2022 and Feb 2023, ambulances sent on life-threatening calls in Multnomah County met their contractual requirement for quick arrival only 67% of the time.
From WW: “After a month and a half of squabbling between two Portland city commissioners over how best to fix the city’s haphazard permitting system, Commissioner Mingus Mapps has quietly acquiesced and signed on to the plan of his colleague, Commissioner Carmen Rubio.”
Multiple government agencies have committed $800,000 to pay for an effort to beef up unarmed private security patrols in an area of downtown Portland crammed with struggling hotels. The Oregonian reports that the push is spearheaded by the central city’s business district Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, which is also using private funding. Two other news nuggets from the article:
More Portland police officers are volunteering to work unfilled patrol shifts in the Central Precinct after city leaders approved a temporary increase in overtime pay.
Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Carmen Rubio are asking the Portland City Council to make much of downtown Portland a tax-free enterprise zone as companies flee the central city to avoid taxes and crime, according to WW.
4. What Oregon leaders can learn about battling corruption from the Truman Committee, with Steve Drummond
The Watchdog, a brilliant book by NPR senior editor Steve Drummond covering the Truman Committee's oversight of the defense buildup and war production effort of World War II, begins in Portland, Oregon. The book chronicles Harry S. Truman before he became president—his development from a junior senator from Missouri without much power, recognition, or stature to the Vice President of the United States (and, just a few months later, President).
The Truman Committee is a case study on effective government oversight. Ultimately, the Committee saved billions of dollars, prevented countless American deaths, and helped the United States win World War II—and the Committee is undoubtedly what launched Truman from political obscurity to political powerhouse. In this episode, we discuss the lessons that today's leaders can learn about fighting corruption from Harry Truman and the Truman Committee.
5. Sponsored Message from Harrang Long P.C.: Harrang Long’s Political Law Practice
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6. The Oregon Way: Republicans fear of Trump and Biden’s low approvals
7. Familiar names in the headlines
According to the Oregon Capital Insider, former EO Media Group state politics reporter Gary Warner has taken a new job, working as a reporter for the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Bend Bulletin wrote an editorial commending House Minority Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) and Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Bend) for a rare joint, bipartisan town hall: “The political warfare Oregon needs more”
Congresswoman Val Hoyle is in the headlines again for her tenure at the Bureau of Labor and Industries. Here’s the WW headline: “For Eight Months, Congresswoman Val Hoyle Has Not Produced Public Records Held on Her Personal Devices to the State Agency She Once Ran”
Governor Tina Kotek has announced her latest appointments for Senate confirmation. Here are a few highlights:
Salem-Keizer School Board Member (and former district administrator) Cynthia Richardson to the State Board of Education
Former Eugene School Board Member Alicia Hays to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission
Former Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder to the Sustainability Board
Congressional candidate Jamie McLeod-Skinner reappointed to the Watershed Enhancement Board
8. News Roundup: Kristof’s new book, legislative assistants’ new contract, and more
Nick Kristof announced a new memoir called, “Chasing Hope: A Reporter’s Life”. Brace yourself: the book will include material about his run for governor in 2022. You can see the newly-released cover and preorder a copy from Penguin Random House.
Union workers at Powell's Books authorized a strike Wednesday, calling for a contract that includes access to a living wage and affordable health care.
From the Oregon Capital Chronicle: “Report: Oregon political system needs changes to keep people of color in office”
Aides in the Oregon Capitol have reached a tentative labor contract with the Legislature, more than two years after staff first voted to unionize, reports OPB.
Two public defenders have sued Washington County over what they say is systemic courthouse racism, reports OPB.
Eye-opening stat: According to the Oregon State Bar Association, only 56 attorneys (0.36% of the state’s licensed lawyers) identified themselves as Black women as of last month.
Rep. Val Hoyle, Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration against a plan to decommission a weather buoy off of Port Orford. They write that without the buoy the National Weather Service would produce inaccurate weather models and wave observations, impacting the safety of fishermen.
From KATU: “Portland's 1st medical detox center funded by Measure 110 to open in September”
BONUS: Veteran journalist Les Zaitz will be speaking at an event on Tuesday, September 12 hosted by the League of Women Voters of Clackamas County called “Free Press and Survival of Democracy”. It will be held at the Lakewood Center For the Art in Lake Oswego at 7:00pm.
Tips? Feedback? Ideas? Corrections? We want to hear from you! Email benjaminwbowman@gmail.com or kristinaedmunson@gmail.com.
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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.