Rep. Jason Kropf was a deputy district attorney when he ran for the seat held by Republican restaurant owner Cheri Helt last year. Kropf never disclosed $45,000 he got from the statewide teachers union.
Oregon unions, progressive groups file initiatives to discourage Capitol walkouts
Updated May 07, 2021;
Posted May 07, 2021
This February 25, 2020 file photo shows the Oregon Senate on the second day of a week when nearly all Oregon Senate Republicans refused to attend the morning floor session, preventing all other lawmakers from passing bills. Beth Nakamura/Staff
Facebook Share
Oregon public employee unions and progressive groups on Thursday announced they are preparing to launch a signature gathering effort to qualify two anti-walkout initiatives for the 2022 ballot.
The groups, which include Planned Parenthood and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, also introduced an additional eight initiative proposals, all aimed at discouraging lawmakers from boycotting the state Capitol to kill legislation they oppose. In 2019 and 2020, Republicans used walkouts to kill climate change, gun safety and vaccine bills.
Oregon Senate passes bill to ban daycare, preschool suspensions by 2026
Updated May 05, 2021;
Posted May 05, 2021
A bill that passed the Oregon Senate Tuesday would prohibit private daycare and preschool programs from suspending and expelling students beginning in 2026. In this 2019 photo, incoming Portland Public Schools students attend a kindergarten transition program session.Photo courtesy Portland Public Schools
Facebook Share
A proposal to eventually ban suspensions and expulsions at private daycares and preschools that receive public funding is on its way to the state House, after Senate lawmakers passed the plan on a bipartisan vote Tuesday.
Senate Bill 236 would ban private programs from suspending or expelling children starting in 2026, an effort to interrupt what supporters described as the school-to-prison pipeline. It can begin in preschool, when national statistics show Black boys are disciplined at a highly disproportionate rate.
Employment Department woes continue, plus Oregon gets new Congressional seat: Beat Check podcast
Posted May 03, 2021
Facebook Share
With 15 Oregon counties moving back to extreme risk of COVID spread, the state will likely see jobless claims rise as restrictions on indoor activities return. Those newly out-of-work Oregonians will go back to the state’s clunky unemployment system that remains one of the slowest in the country
On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, business reporter Mike Rogoway talks about the still ongoing woes at the state’s employment department. A year into the economic crisis, some workers are still stuck dealing with a system that has fundamental flaws that can’t be fixed anytime soon.