Opb Politics Now

In Oregon, voters said "yes" to money for Portland Community College and "no" to a major structural change in Douglas County government. Washington voters elected a candidate to the Port of Vancouver board that likely spells the end of the proposed oil terminal there. And a key legislative race in Washington solidified the "blue wall" of Democratic control up and down the west coast. Host Julie Sabatier is joined OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, and Jefferson Public Radio reporter April Ehrlich to wrap up the 2017 special election.

The November 7 special election will decide the balance of power in the Washington Legislature. It will also determine if Portland Community College gets $185 million for expansion. We talk about the important issues before voters on both sides of the Columbia. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, and OPB’s SW Washington reporter Molly Solomon.

The current nationwide discussion about sexual harassment that started with allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has spread far and wide, including to the Oregon Capital. State Senator Sara Gelser accused fellow senator Jeff Kruse of touching her inappropriately. A second unnamed senator made a similar accusation, and Sen. Kruse was stripped of his committee assignments. We'll talk about the allegations, and more broadly about the culture of harassment in Salem. Host Julie Sabatier is joined by OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Lauren Dake, and Gordon Friedman, politics reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive.

This November, Douglas County voters will be asked to approve a Home Rule charter. It would dramatically change how the county is governed. The county commission would expand from three to five members, and a county manager position would be created for the day-to-day running of the county. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman, and Jefferson Public Radio’s April Ehrlich about the nitty-gritty of the charter, and what lessons it might have for local governments around the state.

A proposed I-5 expansion through the Rose Quarter has become about MUCH more than a few more highway lanes. It touches on racism, privilege, Portland’s relationship with the state and how leaders envision the city.We talk about where the battle lines are being drawn and dig into the history of Portland's difficult relationship with freeway projects. Host Julie Sabatier talks to OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Portland Mercury news editor Dirk VanderHart.

Oregonians might have the opportunity to vote on a controversial new tax that’s designed to prop up the state’s Medicaid program. But they won’t get to weigh in on a new law that allows the confiscation of guns belonging to certain people deemed an extreme risk to themselves or others. This time, we dig into the ballot referendum process in Oregon and how it could affect two of the most divisive issues of our time. OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Oregonian/OregonLive editorial pages editor Laura Gunderson join host Geoff Norcross.

Analysts predicted Oregon would lose more than any other state if the latest attempt to roll back the Affordable Care Act was enacted. It won’t be, though. The bill known was Graham-Cassidy was shelved after failing to earn enough support from Senate Republicans. We look at what Oregon stands to lose if this isn’t the last hurrah for the repeal effort. We’ll also get a status update on the effort to repeal a new state tax on health care providers. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Courtney Sherwood, editor-in-chief of The Lund Report.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited Portland this week, and railed against Oregon’s law that prohibits state law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration agents. He said these policies, “…have serious consequences for the law-abiding residents of Oregon.” At the same time, groups are gathering signatures for a ballot measure to repeal that state law. Host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Dirk Vanderhart, editor for the Portland Mercury.

Commissioner Dan Saltzman sent ripples through Portland city government when he announced he would not run next year. His replacement could be a woman of color, which would be a first for the council. Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB reporters Jeff Mapes and Amelia Templeton about the how the race is shaping up. We’ll also analyze Mayor Ted Wheeler’s response to a video that appears to show a police officer lobbing a distraction grenade at demonstrators last weekend.

Wildfires have scorched over 800 square miles in Oregon this year. Our lawmakers are trying to get more federal money to help the firefighting effort. Hurricanes have focused the federal government on disaster relief and that could mean big changes in the way fire funding works. OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman join host Julie Sabatier to talk about the political, financial, and environmental complexities of wildfire.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown is under pressure to reduce the state’s liability for the public pension system. This week, the governor's task force on the pension deficit put forth several ideas for how to do that. Many of those ideas would end up costing all Oregonians. Not surprisingly, Republican lawmakers pounced.Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman about some of the options on the table. We’ll also answer some basic questions about PERS, like how it got to be such a money pit in the first place.

Oregon’s unique “kicker” law means taxpayers will get $464 million in rebates next year. The news comes shortly after a legislative session that worked to close a $1.4 million spending gap. Yep, it’s a weird way to manage the state’s money.OPB political reporters Jeff Mapes and Chris Lehman join host Julie Sabatier to answer your questions about the kicker, such as where it came from and why it’s so hard to change.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight gave GOP candidate for Oregon governor Knute Buehler’s campaign $500,000 this week. Even with that huge cash infusion, Buehler has way less money on hand than incumbent Kate Brown, who hasn’t even declared she’s running yet.Host Geoff Norcross talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes about the big money that’s already flowing into the gubernatorial race. We’ll also hear what Governor Brown vetoed and what she signed this week.

You may think of August as a slow month for political news, but some of Oregon’s 2018 races are already heating up. OPB’s senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and news director Anna Griffin join host Julie Sabatier to talk about political gamesmanship in the race for governor, a state senator who is facing two interesting challengers and a former lawmaker who’s taking on a longtime Portland City Commissioner.

There’s a lot going on in the Portland Police Bureau these days. There’s the search for a permanent chief. The mayor has also proposed a new model for community oversight, which is attracting criticism.This time, we’re listening to a couple of recent conversation’s on OPB’s "Think Out Loud." Host Dave Miller spoke with Mayor Ted Wheeler and T. Allen Bethel, president of the Albina Ministerial Alliance.

This week, the Washington Post posted an interview with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who is an anomaly these days: a woman governor leading a state with a Democratic majority in the statehouse. Only Rhode Island can make the same claim.Host Geoff Norcross and OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes talk with Washington Post reporter Amber Phillips about her piece on Gov. Brown, and why East Coast journalists view Oregon as the center of resistance to President Trump and his policies. We also talk with Oregonian/OregonLive political reporter Hillary Borrud about accusations of sexism in state politics.

We’re taking advantage of a slow week in Oregon politics to bring you a recent conversation with Oregon Governor Kate Brown on OPB’s "Think Out Loud."Host Dave Miller sat down with Brown after the legislative session ended in Salem to take stock of her agenda and look ahead to 2018. We’re back next week with a brand new episode.

Now that Oregon lawmakers are finished with passing bills for a while, they have time to consider their next moves. We dig into the election maneuvering now taking wing. We’ll talk about which politicos might file for which offices and look ahead to the next statewide ballot, which could be stuffed with measures for you to vote on. This week, host Julie Sabatier talks with OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes, and Saul Hubbard, who covers politics for the Register-Guard.

The 2017 Oregon legislative session is finally over! On this special episode, we talk about what passed, what didn’t, and where all of that leaves Oregon politics. OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and Oregonian/Oregonlive reporter Hillary Borrud join host Julie Sabatier.

***As of our taping Friday morning, the Oregon Legislature is still in session. Look for a special episode Monday, July 10 recapping the highlights once the session wraps up.*** While Congress continues to negotiate rolling back the Affordable Care Act, Oregon lawmakers are going the other way. Both chambers approved controversial bills. One would extend health insurance to children who are in the country illegally. Another would require insurance companies to cover reproductive care, including abortions.We talk about why Oregon lawmakers are so willing to counter the federal government on such hot-button issues. Host Geoff Norcross is joined by OPB senior political reporter Jeff Mapes and news director Anna Griffin.