By US Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued a statement today following Senate passage of the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act”: “The Chamber applauds congressional leaders for moving quickly to pass a strong, bipartisan coronavirus response package that will provide immediate relief to American […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon Office of Economic Analysis Like the nation overall, Oregon is transitioning down to more sustainable rates of growth. Job gains are roughly in-line with what underlying demographics suggest the state needs to hold the unemployment rate steady. Eventually the cyclical drivers of growth will slow further […]

Dunn Carney LLP Portland and Salem based law firm During the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, Dunn Carney has been helping employers assess and respond to the implications and consequences of the virus for their workforce. As a service to our clients and the business community, we provide the following […]

Business groups clash over METRO’s homeless tax measure By Oregon Small Business Association The Portland Business Alliance has come out in favor of the new METRO ballot measure tax to fund homeless. The ballot measure tax includes a 1% business profits tax ($5M+ sales) and a 1% marginal tax rate […]

By Oregon Small Business Association, California, Washington, Ohio, Illinois and Massachusetts take measures to close (or encourage closing of) restaurants and bars. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in his statement that “hours count and very strong measures are necessary to slow the spread of the disease.” California Governor Gavin Newsom […]

Business News Note: NIKE is closing all of their stores worldwide. Within the US other retailers like REI, Apple, Warby Parker, Urban Outfitters, Glossier, Patagonia, and Allbirds are closing while Walmart and Luluemon are limiting hours of operation. From NIKE press release: The well-being of our teammates and consumers is […]

National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB Senior Counsel, Elizabeth Milito, Esq., testified before the Committee on Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on the effects the Healthy Families Act (H.R. 1784) would have on America’s small businesses. NFIB argues a one-size-fits-all approach to mandatory paid leave would not be […]

State Representative E. Werner Reschke There is a fierce battle of ideas and political willpower being waged at Oregon’s Capitol. On one side are the Democrats, who claim they have a mandate to implement Cap & Trade in order to meet CO2 emission goals set by the 2007 legislature. By […]

By Josh Lehner Oregon office of Economic Analysis Our office continues to get asked about the potential impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the economy. Long story short is that it is still too early to tell how much economic fallout will occur given the ongoing public health developments as […]

By Kathryn M. Hindman & Liani J. Reeves By Liani J. Reeves and Kathryn M. Hindman Bullard Law, As people flock to grocery stores to stock up on toilet paper and hand soap, employers should brace themselves for the unknowns ahead associated with the coronavirus. Background According to the Center […]