Dirk VanderHart

Oregon House Republicans test rule barring political donations during session A recent opinion by legislative attorneys suggested the longstanding rule is unconstitutional.

ICYMI we reported on this last week. #orleg

www.opb.org/article/2026...

More GOP Oregon state representatives have reported accepting campaign donations during this year's session -- breaking a chamber rule that legislative attys say is likely unconstitutional.

E. Werner Reschke accepted $500 on 2/2. Alek Skarlatos accepted $250 on 2/5. #orleg

Lawmakers are about to hold a hearing on the most contentious question of the Oregon session: Whether to move a vote on gas taxes Dems passed last year from November up to May.

Of nearly 3,300 pieces of testimony filed, I count fewer than 50 in favor. #orpol #orleg

Oregon House Republicans test rule barring political donations during session A recent opinion by legislative attorneys suggested the longstanding rule is unconstitutional.

ICYMI last week: The Oregon House has a rule that members can't raise campaign funds during session.

At least one Republican is putting it to the test, after legislative attorneys said it is likely unconstitutional. #orleg #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2026...

As cuts loom, Oregon’s budget picture improves A new revenue forecast suggests lawmakers have about $100 million more than they’d been planning for.

Oregon lawmakers got a slightly brighter budget picture this morning. They'd been planning for a $750 million budget hole. Now it's closer to $650 million. #orleg #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2026...

Oregon Democrats float plan to reclaim state money lost to Trump tax cut bill The proposal to disconnect from some pieces of H.R 1 is likely to generate friction in the brand-new session.

Oregon Democrats today unveiled their plan for reclaiming state money that is due to be lost to the Trump tax cuts.

This figures to be one of the more heated debates of the new legislative session. #orpol #orleg

www.opb.org/article/2026...

Oregon’s 2026 legislative session: What you need to know Budget challenges, ICE activity and roads will compete for attention in the five-week session convening Monday.

Oregon's (blessedly only) five-week legislative session begins today. It'll feature budget cut questions, attempts to push back on ICE, and a road-funding time loop. #orpol #orleg

www.opb.org/article/2026...

Portland councilors mull citywide foie gras ban Portland city councilors will discuss a citywide ban on the sale of foie gras on Tuesday morning.

One of those magical stories which sparks outrage from... everyone!

Pressure campaign by Oregon unions targets Democratic lawmakers Labor groups say the politicians need to take a vote that would help the state budget – but functionally raise taxes.

Background here: www.opb.org/article/2026...

Yesterday, a union-backed campaign aimed at pushing Democrats to disconnect from the federal tax code roped in top lawmakers: Senate Prez Rob Wagner, House Speaker Julie Fahey. According to Meta those ads were active for less than an hour. #orpol #orleg

Pressure campaign by Oregon unions targets Democratic lawmakers Labor groups say the politicians need to take a vote that would help the state budget – but functionally raise taxes.

Something you don't see every day: Oregon labor unions are targeting moderate Democratic lawmakers with unflattering ads.

The aim: Forcing Democrats to reject tax changes in President Trump's H.R. 1 -- and therefore (functionally) raising taxes. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2026...

With Oregon gas tax hike headed to voters, legal confusion reigns Can Democrats repeal the tax before a vote? What happens then? No one knows for sure.

To all the chaos that has surrounded Oregon’s quest for transportation funding in the last year, add this: Absolutely no one knows what happens next. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2026...

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek taps Republican rival to boost business relations Tim Knopp, a former state senator from Bend, will join Kotek’s administration.

Not something anyone I've talked to was expecting. Former state Sen. Tim Knopp, who led the longest legislative walkout in Oregon history, now works for Gov. Tina Kotek. #orleg #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2026...

Gov. Tina Kotek now wants to scrap her newly passed transportation bill The development comes after a Republican-led campaign delayed key tax increases in the bill.

Gov. Tina Kotek now says lawmakers should scrap the transportation funding bill she muscled through the Capitol last summer. Kotek wants to cut her losses and start afresh, after Republicans forced a vote on tax increases in the bill. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2026...

Oregon asks judge to block potential ICE detention center in Newport The state Department of Justice says the Trump administration hasn’t met key requirements.

The Oregon DOJ is asking a judge to block the construction of an ICE detention facility in Newport -- a facility no one is sure is actually coming.

www.opb.org/article/2025...

The coast guard has declined to offer any details on why it removed the helicopter without notice. Its leader apparently said today it always planned to return it for crabbing season, which begins in a couple weeks.

US Coast Guard returns rescue helicopter to Newport The U.S. Coast Guard has permanently returned its rescue helicopter to Newport, after removing the aircraft without explanation in October. That’s according to Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, who sh...

The US Coast Guard told Oregon's US Senators that it will return a rescue helicopter to Newport permanently. A lawsuit over the helicopter's sudden removal in Oct is ongoing.

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek says she’s made progress on major issues. Even some fans are skeptical As the governor prepares to launch a reelection bid many believe will succeed, she may need to address the sense that she has underwhelmed.

With Gov. Tina Kotek's (long-expected) announcement that she's running for reelection this morning, it's the perfect time to revisit our comprehensive look at how her first term has gone. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Opponents of Oregon gas tax increase say they’ve cleared key hurdle to let voters weigh in The initiative needed roughly 78,000 signatures by Dec. 30 to qualify for next year’s election. Backers say they have more than 150,000.

Here's a look at the signature-gathering campaign -- including a visit to a Portland coffeeshop whose owner is collecting referral signatures. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Assuming those signatures are legit, Gov. Tina Kotek will want to start getting ready to lay off hundreds of ODOT workers -- or finding another option.

A successful referral would freeze taxes Dems say they need to fund those positions. #orpol

The campaign hoping to refer Oregon's newly passed gas tax increase to next year's ballot now says it has more than 150,000 signatures -- roughly double of what it needs. #orpol

A federal defense contractor seeks hundreds of coastal Oregon hotel rooms, city of Newport says It’s just one recent sign that interest over an immigrant detention facility on the coast hasn’t faded.

There are new signs of life for a rumored immigrant detention center in Newport. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Oregon attorney general, county prosecutors warn federal officers that excessive force will be investigated Elected prosecutors from Oregon’s three largest counties along with Oregon’s attorney general say they’ll investigate federal law enforcement officers when their actions appear criminal.

Four of Oregon’s top lawyers are “highly concerned” about immigration officers stopping a group of teenagers at gunpoint in October and, last week, arresting a high school student on his lunch break.

With ICE (maybe) waiting in the wings, Newport sits in limbo A missing helicopter and a possible immigrant detention center have roiled the coastal city.

We took a look earlier today at the weeks-long saga that has roiled Newport since the helicopter left -- and ICE started sniffing around.

www.opb.org/article/2025...

U.S. Coast Guard must return rescue helicopter to Newport, judge rules The temporary order comes just three days after a lawsuit challenging the removal

That was quick.

A federal judge has ordered the Coast Guard to immediately return a rescue helicopter it quietly moved away from Newport last month.

www.opb.org/article/2025...

A federal contractor is looking to hire ICE detention officers in Newport It’s the latest sign U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcment is planning a major new facility on the Oregon Coast.

There is growing evidence ICE is planning a new detention center on the Oregon coast. The latest: an ICE contractor is hiring "detention officers" in Newport. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Inquiry from defense contractor spurred concern about ICE facility on Oregon Coast A letter to the City of Newport last week suggested that unspecified federal operations are planned for December.

New: Speculation that ICE might be planning a new facility on the Oregon coast kicked off last week, when a federal contractor told Newport officials it would assist in a federal mission at the city's airport scheduled Dec 1. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2025...

The second is that the city recently got an inquiry from a third-party contractor looking to lease space at the airport on behalf of an unnamed federal agency.

There are two reasons to believe they could be right.

The first is that the U.S Coast Guard recently relocated a rescue helicopter it has long stationed at the airport, potentially freeing up space.

Newport officials raise alarm about possible new ICE facility Rumors have spread since last week that the Trump administration is planning an outpost on Oregon's central coast.

I've been hearing all day about rumors that ICE wants to set up a new outpost on the Oregon coast. Newport officials say their airport is in the agency's sites. #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2025...