By U.S. Chamber of Commerce, More contractors are facing a shortage of building materials as the pandemic continues, according to new fourth quarter data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index (Index). This quarter, 41% of contractors say less availability of building products and materials is a severe consequence of […]

By Oregon Employment Department, During the spring implementation of health and safety measures related to COVID-19, Oregon lost one out of every seven nonfarm payroll jobs. The loss of 285,000 jobs (-14.5%) in March and April was both stunning and unparalleled. By October, Oregon had regained nearly half (132,000 or […]

Oregon State Chamber of Commerce, The OSCC Board of Directors has issued the following statement. It is motivated by the desperation we have seen from our small business community. We feel it is time to be real and plain spoken about what it’s going to take to get our businesses […]

December 7: Exposure Risk Assessments & Infection Control Plans Must Be Completed By Andrew Schpak & Daniel Walker Barran Liebman Oregon law firm As a reminder, Oregon OSHA recently published extensive temporary rules regarding COVID-19 workplace exposure that implicate all workplaces in Oregon. Employers should have the following forms and […]

By Vlad Yurlov Cascade Policy Institute While many people in the Portland region value efficient governments, prevailing wage laws are rarely questioned. Prevailing wage laws drain tax-payer funded resources by increasing the labor costs of public construction projects such as affordable housing. These laws were originally enacted to shut out […]

By National Retail Federation The National Retail Federation issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay in response to the announcement of a $900 billion bipartisan coronavirus stimulus package. “NRF and our members have been vocal and consistent in our calls for additional, targeted fiscal stimulus and the […]

Does the State’s New Travel Advisory Mean That My Employees Have To Quarantine for 2 Weeks if They Travel for the Thanksgiving Holiday? By Chris Morgan & Julie Preciado Barran Liebman Oregon law firm The short answer is no. On November 13, 2020, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, California Governor Gavin […]

By Taxpayer Foundation of Oregon Tax revenue from sales of cannabis in Oregon is forecast at $300 million or more for the 2019-2021 biennium, according to the Portland Business Journal, and now the Legislature will be grappling with how to divvy up the bounty. The state brought in $46.9 million […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, While Scrooge may tear unemployment benefits from up to 70,000 Oregonians the day after Christmas, when the federal CARES Act expires, most may be given a 13-week reprieve with a shift to a new program. Congress extended the unemployment benefits awarded under the CARES Act […]

By Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association ORLA Remains Committed to Working Through Covid-19 Realities The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is disappointed we were not able to secure a temporary restraining order against the latest indoor and outdoor dining room freeze on our industry, which continues to impact thousands of […]