For Portland, more bikeways mean fewer paved roads By Dr. Eric Fuits, EconInternational At 11 percent unemployment, Oregon is tied with Alabama for having the ninth highest unemployment in the U.S.  Some politicians and policy makers are cheering the fact that Oregon is not tied for first or second place, […]

By Patrick Emerson Oregon Economics Blog Oregon state Senate Bill 1045 prohibits most employers from using credit checks in their pre-employment screen of job seekers.  It has passed the house and senate and awaits the Governor’s signature. It is not clear to me where the market failure is here.  It […]

Senate Jobs Bill: Tax Incentives to Hire Unemployed, but no COBRA Subsidy Extension by Dennis Westlind Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law Last week the U.S. Senate  voted 70-28 to approve the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, a $15 billion bill aimed at creating jobs, helping small businesses, […]

California & Washington Consider Taxes on Amazon, Candy, & Bottled Water By Oregon Tax News, As desperate States struggle to balance their budgets, California’s Legislature plans to place a bid on the governor’s desk this month in hopes of reaping up to $150 million annually for state and local coffers. […]

Statement on the February 2010 Session Alliance of Oregon Business Associations, The Democrat-controlled legislature spent the month of February increasing spending and debt, raiding the state’s cash reserves and imposing more regulations on Oregon’s struggling businesses instead of reaching out to Oregon’s Main Street businesses to help create private sector […]

U.S. Chamber Comments on Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act By U.S. Chamber of Commerce WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today said it believes the bipartisan efforts of Senators Wyden and Gregg to begin the process to reform the tax code take steps in the right direction, addressing two […]

Insurance giant AIG will pay $8 million to settle lawsuit over its role in causing Oregon pension fund losses Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund filed suit to recoup losses for workers and retirees BY Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund, SALEM – The Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund will recover losses […]

Board membership – an honor or a financial minefield? By Dunn, Carney, Allen, Higgins & Tongue It is often thought of as an honor to be asked to serve on boards of directors.  However, those asked may be in for a surprise when it comes to the personal liability to […]

by Dennis Westlind Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law Today the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) releases new regulations that will define employers’ “reasonable factors other than age” or “RFOA” defense under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).  The new regulations would reflect two Supreme Court cases interpreting the […]

The Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010 By Senators Wyden (D-OR) and Gregg (R-NH) As Congress readies for the inevitable partisan debate over how best to address the expiring 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) today offered a bipartisan solution. […]