New economic study highlights international trade as a strength for both the Portland-metro region and the state Data show that International Trade sector gives Oregon and Portland substantial competitive advantages; provides jobs By Portland Business Alliance PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, business and community leaders released a report showing that international […]

Employee Gifts: How to Give Tax-Free By National Federation of Independent Business As you decide on an appropriate holiday gift for your employees, it’s important to consider not only what they’ll enjoy but also how taxes will come into play. Because a “gift” is often considered by the IRS to […]

By Ian Crawford Stoel Rives LLP, Oregon Law Firm OSHA compliance recently became harder and costlier, and may continue to do so, thanks to several developments at the federal and state level. (Click here for a prior post on OSHA reform.) You may go to prison if you discipline or […]

Welcome to Oregon … things look bleak here by Eric Fruits EconInternational Some bad economics news coming out of Oregon. First, Portland’s mayor rejects an economic study because it doesn’t blow enough sunshine about the city’s business environment and its livability. Next, the the governor elect, speaking at the business/politician […]

Earlier Departure, Longer Commute by Gail Krumenauer Oregon Employment Department, Oregon workers spent a combined total of 35.2 million minutes traveling to their jobs in 2009. That’s down from 36.8 million minutes spent on the one-way trip to work in 2007. As employment levels dropped off from their peak in […]

Texas Free Market Policies Beat California’s Economic Strategy By Oregon Tax News Texas managed to pull itself out of the recession with its free market policies during a time when California’s economy continues to decline. The Chief Executive magazine ranked California as the worst business climate in the nation, while […]

Scam Alert: BCS National Championship Oregon Attorney General, For Oregon Duck football fans, 2010 has been a dream season with an undefeated record and a trip to the championship game. But if you hope to cheer in person at the 2011 Tostitos BCS National Championship Game in Arizona, don’t let […]

FTC Releases Privacy Report; Outlines New Framework for Privacy Protections Davis, Wright, Tremaine LLP By Paul Glist The Federal Trade Commission has released its long awaited Privacy Report. The Report proposes a “normative framework” for new privacy protections that would cover the use of personal and profiling information across all […]

By Oregon NFIB, According to estimates from the US Department of Labor for 2010 as compared to 2009 actual contribution rates, the average increase in state UI rates is estimated at 34% as a percent of total wages. The average percent jumped from 0.62% of total wages to 0.83 of […]

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told 60 Minutes that it may take five years for employment levels to return to normal.  Bernanke stated, “At the rate we are going it could be 4-5 years before we are back to a normal employment rate.”  Bernanke spelled out the details by mentioning […]