Oregon Senate

Preventing bad laws is part of the job

Written May 29th, 2023 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 61 responses.

You may have been reading that Oregon senators who have kept the Senate from meeting were “not doing their jobs.” That’s the wrong way of looking at it.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: legislature, Oregon legislature, Oregon Senate, Republican walkout, walkout

Legislation, baking, overtime and crackers

Written February 15th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 8 responses.

A little bill pending in the Oregon legislature caught my eye on Tuesday, not because it was particularly weird but because Democrats in the Senate sent out a press release about it. This is a story about that, and it leads to crackers at the end.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: bakery overtime, code 3118, crackers, Oregon legislature, Oregon Senate, SB 1513m overtime, tortillas

Senate walkout: It’s not about climate

Written June 20th, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 43 responses.

It’s worth taking another look at the size of the increase in the Oregon cost of living that Republican senators are trying to prevent by blocking final action on HB 2020.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: carbon, climate, HB 2020, Oregon Senate

Gun bill hearing raises questions

Written April 1st, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: no responses.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee heard from dozens of people Wednesday and received many more statements for and against expanded background checks for gun purchases. But the main questions remain unanswered and new ones were raised.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: background checks, gun legislation, Oregon Senate, SB 941

Senate wants more expensive fuel

Written February 17th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 7 responses.

Democrats in the state Senate on Tuesday rammed through a program to make fuel more expensive and less useful. You’d think that they would have more regard for the people of this state. Instead, they showed they are looking out for the fat cats who speculate and invest in alternative fuels.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: low carbon fuel standard, Oregon Senate, SB 324

Senator Close makes it official

Written October 17th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: no responses.

As expected, state Sen. Betsy Close, R-Albany, next year will run for a four-year term in the position to which she was appointed a year ago. She talked to me on camera just before she announced her plans at a reception at the Albany Golf and Event Center Thursday evening. She plans to file on Friday. […]

Posted in: News, Videos
Tags: Betsy Close, Oregon Senate, Sara Gelser, Senate District 8

Let the gun bills die

Written May 7th, 2013 by

Comments: no responses.

Four bills aimed at gun owners are stuck in the Senate, as I mentioned last week. Jeff Mapes of the Oregonian reports that Senate President Peter Courtney has sent them to the Rules Committee because they don’t have the 16 votes needed to pass. Courtney hopes that negotiations can still save the bills. But saving […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: gun bills, Oregon Senate, Peter Courtney