Archives

December 18, 2015 - 6 key items in big budget deal

U.S. Chamber of Commerce U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the following comments regarding the compromise FY2016 omnibus spending bill and the policy priorities that were included: “Congress continues to defy expectations that nothing would get done this year. It already passed the first meaningful […]


December 17, 2015 - Oregon NFIB on breakthrough budget deal

By Oregon NFIB, At 2009 pages, the political world has a lot to say today on the federal budget deal posted online in the wee hours of the morning, and one provision in particular has Oregon small-business owners hoping Congress seals the deal on Friday and President Obama signs it. […]


December 16, 2015 - Wyden asks FBI to stop ‘Ransomware’ hackers

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Press Release, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked FBI Director James Comey how the FBI is tackling the increasing problem of “ransomware” attacks in a letter. Ransomware attacks refer to the growing criminal practice of hacking Americans’ devices, encrypting personal information and holding it for ransom […]


December 15, 2015 - Portland moves ahead on criminal hiring rule

By Bullard Law, Portland law firm Benjamin P. O’Glasser Portland to Implement Ban the Box The City of Portland has jumped to the forefront of the national “ban the box” trend and has adopted a new ordinance that restricts many employers from screening applicants based on their criminal history before […]


December 14, 2015 - Steep Oregon job loss reversed quickly

University of Oregon Regional Economic Indexes By Tim Duy Oregon Economic Forum University of  Oregon Oregon Economic Indicators: The Oregon Measure of Economic Activity rebounded from an upwardly revised September number. As expected, the steep job losses reported in September were almost entirely revised away with the October employment report. […]


December 11, 2015 - TV Ads plummeting

By NFIB, Advertisers are cutting the cord on TV spending. And small businesses could gain a lot as TV’s relevance continues to fizzle in an increasingly digital world. Global revenue from digital advertising is poised to surpass that of traditional TV by 2017, according to a recent Magna Global study. […]


December 10, 2015 - Portland reverses opposition, OKs Uber & Lyft

By Steve Buckstein, Cascade Policy Institute The Portland City Council has voted 3-2 to let ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft operate permanently in the city. The normally “progressive” council members’ split decision revealed a conflict of visions that does not fall along ideological lines as much as it falls along […]


December 9, 2015 - Oregon 2015 – who’s been hiring?

By Oregon Small Business Association, Though 2015 has witnessed key Oregon companies being acquired by out-of-state enterprises, relocating elsewhere or reducing jobs, a number of other companies have expanded operations. Breweries, sports apparel, and a range of technology-related businesses have made significant investments in Oregon to strengthen their presence in […]


December 7, 2015 - Oregon economic activity goes negative

University of Oregon Regional Economic Indexes By Tim Duy Oregon Economic Forum University of  Oregon Oregon Economic Indicators: -Weak employment numbers dragged the Oregon Measure of Economic Activity deep into negative territory in September. Highlights of the report include:  – The three-month moving average, which smooths month-to-month volatility in the […]


December 4, 2015 - House passes Transportation Act

U.S. Chamber of Commerce U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue today issued the following statement regarding House approval of H.R. 22, the “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act”: “The FAST Act is a critical investment in our nation’s future that will help keep people and commerce moving and […]