Economy
As Oregon fires rage, Chavez-DeRemer joins push for higher firefighter pay
As fires rage in Oregon, U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer joined a bipartisan group of senators and representatives pushing to permanently boost pay for wildland firefighters. Federal wildland firefighters received temporary pay boosts through the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021, which ensured they make at least $15 per hour – wildland firefighters work a […]
Consumers seeing relief in some food prices as inflation continues to slow
Consumers are getting some relief from higher prices as core inflation, which excludes food and energy, continues to show signs of cooling — an encouraging sign for the U.S. economy, according to economists. The Department of Labor’s report on Thursday showed the consumer price index rose 0.2% in July, in line with expectations, and 3.2% […]
Oregon employment officials prep for launch of paid leave program
Oregon employment officials are preparing for a monumental undertaking: the launch of the state’s new paid leave program. The program, Paid Leave Oregon, covers family leave, medical leave and safe leave for Oregonians with jobs. Starting Monday, Oregon workers can apply for benefits through the state’s new paid leave program. The first day workers can […]
State bank proposal veto begs the question: What would we use it for?
One of the most distinctive policy ideas in the 2023 Oregon legislative session – creating a state bank – drew a veto from Gov. Tina Kotek. The proposal proposed a study. But Kotek indicated that requiring the Oregon Business Development Department to study, in a short period of time, a potentially sweeping proposal would be […]
Oregon’s state-mandated retirement program hasn’t seen smooth rollout
Last Monday was the final deadline for all Oregon businesses to enroll in the state’s mandated retirement plan, OregonSaves. But many Oregon businesses didn’t know about this deadline — or even what OregonSaves is. “The first-of-its-kind program in the country that mandates that employers who don’t offer their own retirement plan” do so, is how […]
Oregon semiconductor companies gear up for expansion
Oregon’s semiconductor industry is ramping up and making plans to expand in the years ahead, as the state and federal officials push companies to expand or move to Oregon. On Monday, Gov. Tina Kotek notified lawmakers she plans to award Intel $90 million for a semiconductor expansion in Hillsboro. The award is a reminder that […]
A ‘she-cession’ no more: After COVID dip, women’s employment hits all-time high
After fears of a “she-cession” during the pandemic, women have returned to the workforce at unprecedented rates. Much of the gain reflects a boom in jobs traditionally held by women, including nursing and teaching. Many good-paying jobs in fields such as construction and tech management are still dominated by men, a continuing challenge for states […]
Kotek celebrates new housing laws but says more work needs to be done
The Oregon Legislature made progress this year on addressing the state’s housing crisis with new policies and $1.2 billion in new spending on housing and homelessness but more work needs to be done, Gov. Tina Kotek said Thursday. Flanked by state legislators and homeless advocates, Kotek hosted a ceremonial bill signing for four housing bills […]
Teamsters-UPS reach ‘game-changing’ labor deal to avert strike
UPS and its workers, represented by the Teamsters, reached a tentative deal on Tuesday to prevent an Aug. 1 strike of 340,000 union members at the package carrier. A work stoppage could have cost the U.S. economy billions by disrupting supply chains and upending distribution to both large and small businesses, hospitals and homes. Representatives […]
It’s time for buildings to stop using a third of US energy, some states say
That building looming on the corner? With a few tweaks, it might help with climate change. States with big commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are beginning to require that the owners of large buildings track how much energy they use and improve their efficiency. It’s part of a state, local and federal effort to […]
More than 800,000 student loan borrowers to have debt forgiven, White House announces
WASHINGTON — The Department of Education and the White House announced Friday that more than 800,000 federal student loan borrowers will have their remaining debt wiped out. The $39 billion in debt relief will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency’s income-driven repayment plans. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments […]
Attorneys general threaten Fortune 100 companies order with legal action for race-based policies
Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti of Tennessee is leading a coalition warning the nation’s largest companies — many of which have diversity and equity programs — they could face legal action for using race-based policies. A Thursday letter from Skrmetti and 12 other attorneys general put Fortune 100 companies on notice they could be hit with […]