Tag Archives: Task Forces

A closer look at attempts to tax alcohol production in Oregon to fund addiction services

One local cider brewer is trying to steer a state task force that’s aiming to figure out how to use tax revenue from alcohol production to fund addiction services in Oregon. Aaron Sarnoff-Wood is the co-founder and vice president of sales of 2 Towns Ciderhouse based in Corvallis. He is a member of the Task […]
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Oregon insiders: Who’s who in and around state government

Gov. Tina Kotek overhauled her top staff following last month’s departures of Chief of Staff Andrea Cooper, who was given a temporary assignment at the Department of Administrative Services, and senior adviser Abby Tibbs. • Chris Warner, who served as acting chief of staff for the past three weeks, was given the permanent job. He had […]
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Why hospitals in many states with legal abortion may refuse to perform them 

State Library Ed. Note: If you cannot access this story via the link below, state employees can access this Washington Post story HERE via the State Library’s subscription to the US Newstream database. Alternatively, state employees can contact us for access: LibraryHelp.SLO@slo.oregon.gov or 503-378-8800. Laws in 35 states shield hospitals from liability for refusing to provide abortion care due to religious […]
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Business recruitment agency seeks $5 million from state to market Portland area

Business recruiters and local mayors want the Oregon Legislature to allocate $5 million during the current session to help market the Portland area and improve its image after three years of turmoil and bad press. The money would fund an “Open for Business” marketing campaign, aimed nationally and internationally helmed by the business recruitment agency […]
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Oregon to reestablish task force on tribal cultural items, as new federal law takes effect

Oregon’s governor is reinstating a Task Force on Oregon Tribal Cultural Items as museums across the U.S. respond to new federal rules for displaying cultural objects. Gov. Tina Kotek announced Tuesday the reestablishment of the task force, which will be charged with asking public institutions and agencies about any items they may have on display […]
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As downtown Portland’s comeback plateaus, is it time for a new approach?

Downtown Portland was notably more active last month, with pedestrian volumes up nearly 10% from a year earlier. It may have been the busiest holiday shopping season since COVID-19 hit. Accounting for the rest of 2023, though, downtown visitor activity remained down 38% from 2019, and the pace of recovery is slowing. Request full-text (for […]
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Task force on beer and wine taxes and alcohol addiction gets to work

Health officials are concerned about the toll of addiction and need for more treatment in Oregon. A longtime proponent of taxes on beer and wine is now in charge of a state task force studying the public health impacts of alcohol abuse and whether to raise alcohol taxes for addiction treatment. Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland, […]
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Editorial: Kotek removes member of alcohol task force | Opinion |

Mike Marshall, the executive director of Oregon Recovers, has been a powerful advocate trying to get the state to increase taxes on alcohol to fund addiction treatment. Gov. Tina Kotek just removed him from a state task force looking at — if the state should increase those taxes. Source: Editorial: Kotek removes member of alcohol […]
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Opinion: Let’s change the narrative on Portland and show why we’re still the place to be

Earlier this month, a task force led by Gov. Tina Kotek unveiled a set of promising recommendations aimed at enhancing prosperity in downtown Portland. Unfortunately, one specific recommendation – to criminalize public drug use – seemed to draw an outsized amount of attention with national coverage in a New York Times story. Source: Opinion: Let’s […]
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Opinion: Businesses statewide need a pause on new taxes

If legislators go in for new year’s resolutions – here’s hoping they do – they should commit to taking the tax-related recommendations of the Portland Central City Task Force statewide, beginning with a multiyear moratorium on new taxes. It’s true that the tax environment in and around Portland is unique and particularly onerous, thanks to […]
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