By Oregon Farm Bureau, Minimum Wage Headed for a Vote in the House! After over three hours of testimony from advocates for and against the minimum wage hike, the House Committee on Business & Labor passed SB 1532-A* on a party line vote with all Republicans voting against the measure. […]

Congressman Earl Blumenaur Press Release, On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) announced introduction of legislation that will help assuage some of the financial hardship borne by state and local taxpayers in protecting the community while armed militants occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. […]

By Oregon Farm Bureau, A 30%+ minimum wage increase. A paid sick leave law that’s unworkable for farmers. Legislation that would increase fuel and energy costs. Bills that would allow a patchwork of local ag regulations. Put them together and it’s a harrowing game of FarmCrush where Oregon farmers and […]

By Oregon Department of Agriculture, Playing the craps table in Las Vegas or buying a lottery ticket for a chance at more than a billion dollars doesn’t seem as risky as gambling that the high number of new, exotic insects, slugs, and other terrestrial invertebrates discovered in Oregon the past […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, With the Iowa caucus in the rear view mirror and all eyes looking ahead to next week’s New Hampshire primary, it’s easy to lose sight of what is a rare occurrence in Washington – bipartisanship. Specifically, the Energy Policy Modernization Act, introduced by Senators Lisa […]

Oregon Cascade Policy Institute By John Charles Two committees of the Oregon Legislature heard presentations  on a legislative proposal to eliminate the use of coal in Oregon’s electricity grid by 2035. Coal is the source of power for 33.4% of Oregon’s electricity consumption. According to news reports, Portland General Electric […]

By State Senator Tim Knopp, For the last three years, wildfires have rampaged through Oregon and destroyed delicate ecosystems, polluted air quality, endangered rural communities, and also cost the state millions of dollars. In a recent legislative poll conducted by Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend), Central Oregonians made it clear that […]

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Recent price shock in the market and insights about the turbulence ahead were explained today to more than 2,000 beef producers at the CattleFax Outlook Session held during the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. The downward spiral in price from record high cattle […]

Natural Resource Report, In the latest news, three more Refuge occupiers have been arrested. Ammon Bundy, speaking through his lawyer, asked that his team “stand down” and leave the occupation. It appears that most, if not all, of the occupiers have officially left the Malhuer Wildlife Refuge. When eight left […]

Natural Resource News Note, During a roadside encounter with police 50 miles from the Malhuer Wildlife refuge, police have arrested seven members of the standoff (including leader Ammon Bundy) as well as one killed (spokesman Robert Levoy Finicum). Authorities have erected road blocks around the refuge where as many as […]