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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 […]


January 13, 2016 - Business data breaches must be reported to the state

By Oregon Attorney General, For the first time, the Oregon Attorney General must now be notified when there has been a consumer data breach involving more than 250 Oregonians. The new law, which went into effect January 1, 2016, requires businesses and government agencies to notify the Oregon Attorney General’s […]


January 12, 2016 - Oregon wage gains

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog One of our state’s key economic features in recent years is that the robust job gains have also been joined by strong wage gains. Oregon’s average wage, while still below the national average, is at it’s highest relative point in a […]


January 10, 2016 - Business opposes Seattle drivers’ union rule

U.S. Chamber of Commerce The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced its strong opposition to a Seattle ordinance that authorizes union organizing of for-hire drivers working as independent contractors, highlighting that the ordinance violates federal law in at least two ways and that the ordinance will burden innovation, increase prices, and […]


January 8, 2016 - Wyden on Social Media reporting bill

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Press Release, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on legislation filed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, to require Internet companies that are aware of undefined “terrorist activity” to report it to law-enforcement. “Let’s make sure the record is clear: The Director of the FBI testified […]


January 7, 2016 - Oregon economic index surges

University of Oregon Regional Economic Indexes By Tim Duy Oregon Economic Forum University of  Oregon The Oregon Measure of Economic Activity surged in November to 1.38, up from 0.75 the previous month. The three-month moving average, which smooths month-to-month volatility in the measure, rose to 0.62 (“zero” indicates average growth […]


January 6, 2016 - Oregon housing bubble?

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Blog Home prices are rising quickly across the state and have surpassed their previous peak in many areas, although not all. Such prices — particularly in places like Bend and Portland — have many asking the question of whether or not we […]