For 70,000 unemployed Oregonians, it s a waiting game
State official pins hopes on Congress, not the state Legislature s special session.
More than 70,000 Oregonians will have to pin their hopes on Congress, not the forthcoming special session of the Oregon Legislature, for their unemployment benefits to continue past a looming deadline of Dec. 26.
Acting Director David Gerstenfeld says the Oregon Employment Department foresees a gap in their payments, even if Congress does extend federal benefits to self-employed and gig workers who became newly eligible under the CARES Act earlier this year. Also expiring is a program that extends the regular state benefits of 26 weeks by another 13 weeks.
Oregon lawmakers get business done despite protests
They extend evictions deadline and set aside $800 million for pandemic and wildfires.
When Oregon legislators came to Salem on Monday, Dec. 21, for the year s third special session, they were ready for business.
They gathered four bills dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, its effects and the Labor Day wildfires.
They passed them in a 10-hour session, despite the presence outside of anti-lockdown protesters, some of whom shoved news photographers and others who got into the Capitol before police ejected them.
Leading the short list was a six-month extension of the statewide moratorium on residential evictions, coupled with $200 million in state funds to help landlords and tenants. Without legislative action, the current moratorium would have ended Dec. 31.
Photo: ODOT
The Oregon Legislature met in special session on Monday to provide critical relief to Oregonians still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and dealing with the recovery from destructive wildfires that burned earlier this year.
Legislation passed includes:
House Bill 4401 – An extension of the eviction moratorium and creation of a $200 million fund to support small landlords and tenants.
Senate Bill 1801 – a relief package for independent restaurants throughout the state.
$600 million to support additional COVID-19 and wildfire recovery.
House Bill 4402 – legislation to incentivize schools, administrators, and teachers to follow health directives and best practices.
House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner (D-Portland) issued the following statement:
Oregon Legislature: Special session covers COVID-19 relief as protestors try to wrest open doors Claire Withycombe, Salem Statesman Journal
VIDEO: Arrests made following protests at Oregon State Capitol
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As protestors and police clashed outside, lawmakers met in a special session Monday to pass measures to deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s the third time lawmakers have met for an emergency session in what has been an extraordinary year, marked by the pandemic, widespread protests and blistering wildfires.
Here’s what lawmakers did on Monday:
Extended a statewide ban on evicting renters until the end of June
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