U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Press Release, In a response to requests from U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and their Senate colleagues, three federal agencies announced plans to release a determination this year about whether to reschedule marijuana. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Department […]

By Oregon NFIB, Last year, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 2960, the Oregon Retirement Savings Plan bill, which was signed into law by the governor. The bill created the Oregon Retirement Savings Board in the office of the State Treasurer and directs the Board to develop a payroll deduction retirement […]

U.S. Chamber of Commerce U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President for Government Affairs Bruce Josten issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s comments about tax inversions: “Punitive one-off ‘anti-inversion’ regulatory efforts make American companies even less competitive on the global playing field and will do little to stem the […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog While non-technology Oregon exports are plunging with declining global demand and the strong dollar, one category continues to see growth. Oregon’s alcohol exports reached an all-time high in 2015, led by the state’s breweries. According to various sources, our beer exports […]

Congressman Kurt Schrader   Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) introduced legislation to lower drug prices through increased competition in the pharmaceutical market. The Lower Drug Costs through Competition Act (HR 4784) will speed up FDA approval of generic drugs where there is no competition, and will […]

By Oregon Department of Revenue, Oregon’s top 100 delinquent income taxpayers owe millions in unpaid taxes, and the state is testing a new way to collect that debt. The Oregon Department of Revenue’s website now features a list of the top delinquent taxpayers for both the personal income tax and […]

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 225 food and agricultural companies and associations including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association sent a letter to members of Congress calling for a swift vote on the Trans Pacific Partnership. NCBA President Tracy Brunner says cattle producers cannot wait any longer to level the playing field. […]

University of Oregon Economic Indexes By Tim Duy Oregon Economic Forum University of  Oregon Oregon Economic Indicators: The Oregon economy continued to grow in February at a pace consistent with past expansions. Highlights of the report include: – The Oregon measure of economic activity was a touch softer than the […]

By Oregon Employment Department, Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to a record low of 4.5 percent in March—the lowest point since comparable records began in 1976. Oregon’s February unemployment rate was 4.8 percent. A year ago, in March 2015, Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.7 percent. With the U.S. unemployment rate at […]

By Oregon NFIB A new House bill would have opened small business up to more labor regulations and legal liabilities. Oregon’s House Business and Labor Committee recently killed a bill that would have established “familial status” as a new protected class under Oregon employment law.