Author Archives: Jerry Curry

Editorial: Legislature shows poor commitment to transparency

The Oregon Legislature’s interest in improving government transparency is as shallow as it can be to keep up appearances. The latest evidence is in the fate of House Bill 2431. The bill is a product of the committee the Legislature set up to take a look at government transparency. And the Legislature is treating a […]
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Your View: Republican senators are doing their jobs

Your editorial on Friday deserves a response to “Republican senators, do your jobs.” I would state they are! I would ask the Democratic super-majority, why aren’t you? I have grown up with the belief that you should always work to listen to the minority’s opinions, respect all points of view and work together to come […]
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Editorial: House should let petition bill die

It’s clearly not enough for the Oregon Legislature’s Democrats that they can impose new taxes, raise old taxes and otherwise make mischief pretty much at will this year. They’re also doing what they can to make it harder for ordinary citizens to try to challenge bills adopted by the Legislature. Thus Senate Bill 761, which […]
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Ethics Commission: No conflict of interest with Smith

Letters indicate Rep. did not use his position to gain private business. After a May meeting, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission decided that there is no conflict of interest coming from Malheur County Economic Development Director Greg Smith’s work between his private business and his political career stemming from his position with the Treasure Valley […]
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The cost to comply with a public records bill quietly drops to $0. Will lawmakers act?

A bill that would require state agencies to track and report on the public records requests they receive has stalled in Salem, although implementing the mandate would no longer cost nearly as much as lawmakers thought. Lawmakers have carved out a permanent place for Oregon’s nascent public records advisory council, but the fate of the […]
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Editorial: Legislature should give Deschutes County a needed judge

Amid all the other things that Oregon lawmakers may cram into the last few days of the 2019 legislative session should be this: They should make certain Deschutes County’s circuit court gets a badly needed additional judge. Martha Walters, chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, has asked for 13 new judges statewide. Source: Editorial: […]
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Oregon Republicans Say They’ll Return To Senate If Cap And Trade Is Referred To Voters

Could A Few Words Make A Difference? Republican senators refused to show up for work at the Oregon Legislature for a second day Friday, and their standoff with Democrats seemed to have no end in sight. The sticking point is a massive policy that could impact every Oregonian and dictate how Oregon fights climate change […]
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Bare knuckle politics

Editor’s note: The Mail Tribune, Rosebud and KTVL are partnering to cover what the 2019 legislative session means for Southern Oregon. Part 2 will be published Monday. Check MailTribune.com for RoseBud’s interview with Senator Jeff Golden, and watch KTVL News 10 on Wednesday and Thursday night. Armed with a commanding majority in the Legislature, Oregon […]
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Oregon passes bipartisan legislation to slow rising cost of health care and increase transparency for consumers

With the passage of Senate Bill 889, Oregon becomes the fourth state to set a spending benchmark to rein in the rising costs of health care. Modeled after a program in Massachusetts, SB 889 creates the Oregon Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark Program. The program will set a state spending growth target that all insurance […]
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The Oregon Transportation Commission Again Defers Approval of Pricey Rail Projects Fronted by Rep. Greg Smith

“Commercial viability is the question.” The Oregon Transportation Commission on June 20 declined to approve two multi-million rail projects that lawmakers agreed to fund two years ago. “If we made the decision today, it would be ‘no,’” OTC chairwoman Tammy Baney told disappointed proponents at the OTC’s monthly meeting in Salem. Source: The Oregon Transportation […]
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