Archives

January 28, 2016 - Business bills of 2016 Legislature

Associated Oregon Industries Oregon’s largest business advocate As many of you know, the Oregon Legislature convenes for both long and short Legislative Sessions, depending on the year. The upcoming 2016 Legislative Session is a short session, meaning it will last 35 days starting February 1, 2016. While some believe short […]


January 27, 2016 - 2016 Ballot: Oregon’s bloodiest political year?

By Oregon NFIB Ahead of some highly charged ballot issues that could be put to voters this fall, a top Oregon senator warned of “potentially the bloodiest political day in Oregon’s history.” Senate President Peter Courtney said this before a crowd of executives, lobbyists and union members at the annual […]


January 26, 2016 - Who and why people move to Oregon

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog This edition of the Graph of the Week continues our focus on migration into Oregon. Migration is very important to the state and one of the two main reasons Oregon outperforms the typical state during expansions. This also sets the stage […]


January 25, 2016 - Portland #1 for women owned start-ups

By Mercy Core NW Small business activity is on the rise across the country, according to a recent study by a prominent research foundation, and Portland, Oregon is at the top in two categories. The Kauffman Foundation, which looked at 40 metro areas across the United States, reports that Portland […]


January 22, 2016 - 2016 Outlook: Labor Participation, Middle-Wage Jobs

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog Among the myriad economic trends to watch in 2016, two in particular stand out to me: labor force participation and middle-wage jobs. The reason is both have turned the corner in recent years — even if the conventional wisdom about them […]


January 20, 2016 - Federal budget deal includes Oregon tax breaks

By Oregon NFIB A new bill will benefit some alcohol producers in the state. A $680 billion tax package that Pres. Barack Obama recently signed into law made permanent or renewed more than 50 temporary tax breaks—some that benefit Oregon specifically. With many hard cider producers in Oregon, one of […]


January 19, 2016 - State Treasurer warns on Energy Loan program, taxpayer bailout

Oregon State Treasurer Press Release, State Treasurer Ted Wheeler called for an immediate suspension of lending through the State Small-Scale Energy Loan Program overseen by the Oregon Department of Energy, noting that the loan fund has reported a $20 million deficit, lacks the necessary cashflow to cover its obligations, and […]


January 18, 2016 - NIKE puts $10M in City bike share program

NIKE Press release, For more than 40 years, Nike has called the greater Portland area home. Beyond centering its headquarters in the region, the company has both committed to and developed strong ties within the community. “We’re proud of our long history of partnership with the City of Portland and […]


January 15, 2016 - Federal Paid Sick Leave would cost $652B

By NFIB A federal mandate requiring employers to offer paid leave would erase 430,000 jobs and shrink economic output by $652 billion over 10 years, according to new research released today by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “There’s no such thing as a free benefit,” said NFIB President […]


January 14, 2016 - New Endangered Species: Independent Contractors

Miller, Nash, Graham & Dunn LLP NW Law Firm In Broadway Cab LLC v. Employment Department, the Court first applied the Employment Department statute that defines “employment” as “service for an employer” that is “performed for remuneration.” ORS 657.030(1). The Court held that the facts supported the conclusion that the […]