By Cascade Policy Institute Thousands of Oregon residents received a multi-color postcard from Metro urging them to vote on the regional government’s payroll tax, Measure 26-218 (Exhibit 1). The expensive mailing was sent far and wide, with even some Bend residents finding Metro’s postcard dropped in their mailboxes. The postcards […]

By Oregon Employment Department, Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.0 percent in September from 8.5 percent, as revised, in August. For the past few months, Oregon’s unemployment rate has closely tracked the national unemployment rate which fell to 7.9 percent in September from 8.4 percent in August. Oregon’s total nonfarm […]

By Jeff Reading A new report from accounting firm Moss Adams reveals critical new information about Measure 26-218, the proposed tax on employers and non-profits appearing on the November ballot. The report, released yesterday, reveals that the measure will tax not only wages, but will include employee benefits such as […]

By Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced a $5.5 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon, Inc. for deceptive marketing of transvaginal surgical mesh devices. The settlement is the result of an investigation finding that the companies violated state consumer protection laws by misrepresenting […]

By National Retail Federation, Imports reached an all-time high this summer as retail sales bounced back from the pandemic and merchants replenished inventories and stocked up early for the holiday season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “After […]

Tim Duy University of Oregon State of Oregon Economic Indicators The Oregon Measure of Economic Activity rose from a revised -0.03 in July to 0.22 in August. The moving average measure, which smooths out the volatility, now stands at 0.73, which equates to above average growth in Oregon. Highlights of […]

By Oregon Employment Department, Oregon’s total employment will grow by 9 percent (181,800 jobs) between 2019 and 2029, according to new projections from the Oregon Employment Department. That’s a modest job growth rate; however, many job openings are expected due to the need to replace workers who leave their occupations. […]

Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said he is co-sponsoring legislation that would make Donald Trump’s payroll tax deferral scheme optional for any worker whose employer chooses to participate, including federal employees and service members. “Donald Trump’s phony payroll tax cut is the worst kind of election-time […]

By Vlad Yurlov Cascade Policy Institute Metro is expected to spend over $1.4 billion this fiscal year. That nearly triples their revenue from a decade ago. But, has anyone received three times the service? Instead of improving its basic functions, Metro is micro-managing the entire region. Metro’s original charter provided […]

By National Retail Federation By any measure, this holiday season will be unlike any other, and the National Retail Federation is launching a nationwide consumer education campaign called “New Holiday Traditions” to encourage consumers to shop safe and shop early amidst the coronavirus pandemic. “This is going to be a […]