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08/16/2024

For my Capital Chatter this week, I talked with House Speaker Julie Fahey about her approach to solving Oregon's transportation morass.

Amid a historic early fire season in Oregon that is far worse than expected, Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, warned residents: Get your Go Bag ready. Know what you’ll grab on your way out the door. Have an evacuation plan for where you’ll head.

08/16/2024

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has been busy. Here's the latest rendition of The Revolving Door in and around Oregon state government.

Sarah Foster on Sept. 3 will join Gov. Tina Kotek’s staff as workforce, labor and higher education adviser. Foster comes to the Governor’s Office from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission,

08/09/2024

Here is my new Capital Chatter: More taxes vs. more money. [Please ignore the secondary headline, which is from a previous column.]

Amid a historic early fire season in Oregon that is far worse than expected, Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, warned residents: Get your Go Bag ready. Know what you’ll grab on your way out the door. Have an evacuation plan for where you’ll head.

08/09/2024

A wide variety of job changes in this week's edition of The Revolving Door in Oregon state government.

Rochelle Layton starts work Sept. 3 as the Oregon Health Authority’s chief financial officer. Leading the Fiscal Operations Division, she will manage the agency’s work on creating its $30 billion-plus

08/02/2024

Lots of job changes to talk about in this hot-off-the-virtual-press edition of The Revolving Door in Oregon state government. Big movers: Health and housing agencies. Big political switch: Maxine Dexter.

Lt. Casi Hegney, a 16-year veteran of the Oregon State Police, took over this week as OSP Capitol Mall Area commander. She replaces Lt. Josh Moyes, who moved to OSP

08/02/2024

Oregon Capital Insider is back online!

Oregon Capital Insider is an independent source of exclusive news and insight about state government delivered conveniently by email each Friday to subscribers. The newsletter is designed for people who

08/01/2024

Update: The Oregon Capital Insider website is back online (more or less). I've added a link to the column online.

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Now we know what then-Rep. Peter Courtney was doing after hours at the Oregon Capitol:

Letting his young sons A.) play with the House chamber microphones, B.) eat all the junk food in other representatives’ desks and the Democratic caucus breakroom, and C.) slide down the marble staircase in the Rotunda.

“If we got caught by security, they would just look at my dad, and he would shrug and smile,” Sean Courtney told the several hundred mourners at his father’s funeral Tuesday in Mt. Angel.

“He loved to have fun, no matter what the rules said, and he always wanted others to have fun, too.”

Peter Michael Coleman Courtney, D-Salem, was the longest-serving legislator in Oregon history, including a record 20 years as Senate president. He died July 16 at age 81 from complications of cancer.

“He staunchly promoted bipartisan cooperation in the Senate. Throughout his two decades at the helm, he often spoke of cooperation, respecting others’ viewpoints and the power of compromise,” said the Rev. Ralph Recker, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church.

The assembled crowd reflected that bipartisan appreciation for Courtney.

Former Senate Republican leaders Tim Knopp of Bend and Fred Girod of Silverton attended, along with current leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles. So did former Govs. Kate Brown and Ted Kulongoski, Congresswomen Val Hoyle and Suzanne Bonamici, former State Treasurer Randall Edwards, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Verne Duncan, legislative staff, lobbyists, journalists and others.

Sitting next to one another in a pew were Sens. Kate Lieber and Elizabeth Steiner, both Portland Democrats; Girod and his wife, Lori; former Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenblum, D-Portland; Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis; and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan.

Legislators traveled from across the state, including Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner; Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem; Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford; and Senate Majority Leader Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland.

Recounting Courtney’s self-deprecating humor and brooding personality, his former chief of staff Phil Bentley said: “Peter was truly one of a kind and unforgettable, so much so that I can’t help but hear him telling us all right now, ‘You don’t care about me. You’re just here for the free food.’”

Bentley went on to say: “Peter was a once-in-a-lifetime political figure brushed with a gift for leadership, a talent that he matched with dedication and perseverance. For the past 50 years, he appealed to the best in us and forged common bonds.

“Peter simply wanted to make things better.”

Amid a historic early fire season in Oregon that is far worse than expected, Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, warned residents: Get your Go Bag ready. Know what you’ll grab on your way out the door. Have an evacuation plan for where you’ll head.

07/26/2024

Tales from the inside in today's Capital Chatter: "Fire season tests Oregon residents and first responders"

Amid a historic early fire season in Oregon that is far worse than expected, Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, warned residents: Get your Go Bag ready. Know what you’ll grab on your way out the door. Have an evacuation plan for where you’ll head.

07/26/2024

The Revolving Door in Oregon state government: Three legislators describe ballot measures. ... An Oregon Youth Authority leader rotates to DAS. ... More changes at Oregon Health Authority. ... An Oregon insider heads the EQC. ... Honors for two longtime journalists. ... And more.

The Nov. 5 election will include three measures that the 2023 Oregon Legislature referred to voters. Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, appointed Senate Majority Leader Kathleen Taylor of Portland

07/21/2024

Prayers for our nation as we prepare for a different presidential election, now that President Biden has withdrawn. May we treat all sides with respect instead of disdain. May we love unconditionally.

07/19/2024

Peter Courtney was such a presence in Salem and in Oregon politics that my family knew him well, and vice versa. My wife, daughter and son were deeply saddened by his death. A flurry of text messages and emails ensued. Our son recalled how kind and attentive Peter was to him, when as a child, our son accompanied me to a breakfast interview with Peter.

The family’s first question was whether I would write this week’s Capital Chatter about Peter.

Yes, of course. Writing is how I deal with grief.

Knowing Peter’s personality, our son texted me from across the country: “I’m sure he would find points to grumble about, but he’d begrudgingly accept them as true eventually.

“And I know how much he respected you. I think your words would mean a lot to him.”

I’m unsure my words lived up to that expectation. But here’s what I wrote.

Rare is the politician who is extraordinarily effective, respected by colleagues across the political spectrum, beloved by those who work for him – and a hoot for journalists to cover.

07/19/2024

Lots of news – good and bad – in the new edition of The Revolving Door: The dean of the Oregon Capitol press corps loses his job. Gov. Tina Kotek gains a press secretary. Senate Democrats play musical chairs. A county health leader goes statewide. New judges take over. Oregon grabs an executive from Washington. School employees have a new lobbyist.

And much more.

Peter Wong, dean and former president of the Oregon Capital Press Corps, was among employees laid off this week by Carpenter Media, the new owner of Pamplin Media Group, which

07/16/2024

Oregon has lost a great politician and an even finer person: Former Senate President Peter Courtney died today.

He cared deeply about his family and his faith and certainly "Oregon, My Oregon."

I'll be writing this week's Capital Chatter about him. Here's a link to my most recent piece about him.

Senate President Peter Courtney’s Oregon odyssey was a fluke.

07/14/2024

Let us, as individuals and as a nation, be thoughtful, supportive and careful as we grieve the attack on former President Donald Trump today in Pennsylvania.

Our prayers are with Trump, his family, the Secret Service and other law enforcement, the families of the killed and wounded, and all who attended the rally or were involved in organizing it.

Our prayers are for and with America.

There should be no place in our hearts and minds for blaming or categorizing or jumping to conclusions.

Individually and collectively, let us pray for President Trump and all who were injured physically or emotionally. Let us give thanks for the Secret Service and all who serve in law enforcement and diplomatic/political security for their skilled, unselfish commitment to protecting our leaders. Let us reinforce within our own home, and our own circles of influence, that violence is never the answer in politics or throughout society.

We grieve.

07/12/2024

Oregonians are telling Gov. Tina Kotek that President Biden should drop out of the presidential race.

What are they telling other Democratic officials in Oregon? Hmm.

Well, ...

Here is my new, up-to-the-minute Capital Chatter.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer this week became the first Democrat in Oregon’s congressional delegation to publicly urge President Joe Biden to end his quest for re-election.

07/12/2024

Here are the latest job developments that affect Oregon state government and politics.

https://www.oregoncapitalinsider.com/news/oregon-insiders-whos-who-in-and-around-state-government/article_35a1a980-3fec-11ef-95ab-5f8f2ae8bc58.html

07/05/2024

My new Capital Chatter examines what it's like to be scammed and how it happens: A victim tells his story. An ardent anti-scammer reveals why certain people are targeted.

If you’re someone who takes people at their word, you’re more susceptible to being scammed.

07/05/2024

The Revolving Door keeps swinging during this holiday week. People are on the move again in Gov. Tina Kotek's office, at the Legislature and between state agencies.

Here is the latest edition of "Oregon insiders: Who's who in and around state government."

(It's not too early to send me your tips for next week's edition.)

Gov. Tina Kotek’s strategic communications adviser, Danny Moran, is now the governor’s deputy legislative director, a new position. He was Kotek’s communications director during part of her tenure as House

06/28/2024

Students spend an average of 45 minutes a day on their cell phones while at school, including taking pics of classmates and posting them to social media. Should schools block student use of cell phones? Should the state? That’s the topic of my new Capital Chatter.

Parents, if you want kids to be safe and successful in school, step away from your cell phone – yes, yours.

06/28/2024

What do Oregon's prison system, health system, judicial system, ethics enforcers and legislative system have in common? People switching jobs.

Here is the new edition of The Revolving Door in state government ... and beyond.

The Oregon Department of Correction chose FBI agent Ryan Dwyer to become deputy inspector general. He is the FBI special agent in charge of the Eugene-area field office and has

06/21/2024

A legislative transportation hearing Tuesday in Tillamook underscored the difference between Oregon’s “have” and “have-not” communities, as I describe in my new Capital Chatter.

The state transportation hearing Tuesday in Tillamook illustrated the difference between Oregon’s “have” and “have-not” communities.

06/21/2024

A new top legislative leader. Incoming and outgoing personnel at ODOT, Employment and Agriculture. A Republican turned Independent. And more in the new edition of The Revolving Door in Oregon state government.

Oregon Senate Democrats this week chose Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, as their new majority leader. Taylor will take over July 15 when Majority Leader Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, becomes co-chair of the

06/16/2024

A profound column by Nick Kristof.

Infected with ideological purity, the West Coast is focused more on intentions than on oversight and outcomes.

06/14/2024

Remember Oregon Gov. Neil Goldschmidt?

He died.

I write about his legacy -- the real one -- in my new Capital Chatter.

A particular image comes to mind when I think of disgraced former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, who died Wednesday: It is of me hopping up and down atop a parking garage

06/14/2024

Roll on, state workers, roll on
Roll on state workers, roll
Your service is turning the wheels of state government
So roll on, state workers, roll on.

To state the obvious, I'm no Woody Guthrie. But I am inspired by how state employees roll from one job to another in service to "Oregon, My Oregon." This is the new edition of The Revolving Door, with a host of changes across the three branches of government.

Sarah Roth joined the Oregon Department of Justice as head of the Administrative Services Division, overseeing Human Resources, Information Systems, Facilities and Procurement, and Financial Services. She replaced Marc Williams,

06/07/2024

Oregon's highways today are in better shape than, say, those in neighboring Nevada and Idaho. But that's an incomplete measurement for judging a state system. Congestion is worsening in some areas, maintenance needs are piling up, cyclist and pedestrian safety is a huge concern, transit is especially inadequate in rural areas ... and ODOT says it's $1.8 billion short of what it needs to operate each year.

From whence will that money come?

I write about the challenges, and what key legislators have to say, in my new Capital Chatter.

Oregon’s transportation system is hemorrhaging.

06/07/2024

This week produced intriguing job changes in the Oregon Legislature and elsewhere around Oregon state government.

And at OPB!

Here is the new edition of The Revolving Door.

House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich of Hood River, who took on that role in September, soon will be the most-senior caucus leader in the Oregon Legislature. Senate Majority Leader Kate

06/03/2024

Big shake-up today in the Oregon Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber is dropping that role to become the Senate's co-chair of the Legislature's powerful budget committee -- Joint Ways & Means.

Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, co-chair since 2018, is giving up that job to focus on her campaign for state treasurer.

The changes are effective July 15. No word yet on election date for Senate D's to choose a new majority leader.

Lieber quickly had become a legislative star. She also replaces Steiner on the Emergency Board, which handles budget issues between legislative sessions. Senate President Rob Wagner made the Lieber appointments today..

The news rolled out in an odd series of press releases by Steiner, Wagner and finally Lieber, momentarily creating the impression that Lieber would be both budget co-chair and and majority leader.

05/31/2024

My new Capital Chatter: Mark McMullen was one of the best in a job where he was always wrong.

Six years ago, State Economist Mark McMullen was presenting Oregon’s quarterly economic and revenue forecasts when House Revenue Chair Phil Barnhart, D-Eugene, said: “I think you just said that you’re

05/31/2024

A slew of job changes unfolded this week across Oregon state government, from the Governor's Office to the Legislature -- and among lobbyists.

Meanwhile, a 96-year-old former Senate president returns to the State Capitol today, and another turns 100.

Here is the new edition of The Revolving Door.

Elisabeth Shepard is Gov. Tina Kotek’s new public affairs and communications director, making her part of the governor’s executive team. Shepard, who was one of Kotek’s two press secretaries, replaces