POLITICS & ELECTIONS

Oregon and national election and politics news from The Oregonian

A look at who has made the list and who is being talked about for jobs that are still open:

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED:

TREASURY SECRETARY: Timothy Geithner, president of Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

SECRETARY OF STATE: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Eric Holder, former deputy attorney general.

DEFENSE SECRETARY: Robert Gates, a holdover from Bush administration.

Continue reading "Name by name, Obama's Cabinet taking shape" »

Portland police commanding officers won a 7.5 percent wage increase, effective Jan. 1, in exchange for giving up executive leave, an extra two to three weeks of pay a year that was intended to reward bosses for outstanding work but was routinely granted to all who sought it.

The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the deal, boosting the pay of 42 lieutenants, captains and commanders.

Continue reading "Portland police commanders win 7.5% pay raise" »

A year ago, City Commissioner Dan Saltzman unveiled a sweeping, green-building policy -- a package of fees, inspections and rebates for homes, offices and shopping centers. He announced it in Chicago, at a giant environmental-building conference, intending to polish Portland's image as a leader in all things green.

Upon returning home, however, a firestorm of resistance singed the commissioner and nearly torched the entire policy. Saltzman retreated, forming committees -- adding the Realtors and homebuilders who were left out of initial discussions -- to rework the policy.

Continue reading "Saltzman offers scaled-back green building policy" »

Sure, thanks to Republican Sen. Gordon Smith's cheeky re-election ads, most Oregonians will probably associate the new statehouse furniture with legislative extravagance and waste.

But for the 140-odd inmates who designed, built and delivered the solid wood office sets, those credenzas, desks and wardrobes mean so much more.

And on Wednesday, they received individually signed certificates of appreciation and heartfelt thanks for their hard work from a bipartisan trio of legislators.

Continue reading "Prison inmates get thanks for new Capitol furniture" »

Talk of banning animals from the Oregon State Capitol prompted this "doggerel" from Hershey, a mixed shepherd who lives with Gov. Ted Kulongoski:

There once was a dog from Mahonia

Who said, "This rule is bolonia!

But I don't really care

'Coz the Governor's not there.

He's housed at the Librarionia.

Asked if she had any problem if we shared this on the Oregonian's politics blog, Hershey (through First Lady Mary Oberst) said: "As long as it's clear that I don't really have a bone to pick with the legislators who proposed the rule..."

WASHINGTON -- Like a nicotine addiction that's hard to kick, the U.S. Supreme Court heard an Oregon tobacco case for the third time today, with the court once again trying to bring to conclusion a 10-year battle in which cigarette-maker Philip Morris was ordered to pay $79 million in damages to the widow of a Portland janitor.

Continue reading "Supreme Court hears Oregon tobacco case - again" »

Gov. Ted Kulongoski got a chance to lobby President-elect Barack Obama today on his proposal to use billions in federal stimulus dollars to fix up university campuses across the nation.

Kulongoski was among 48 U.S. governors who attended a roundtable discussion with Obama in Philedelphia. Topic: How to jolt the economy back to life.

Most of the talk centered on transportation projects, which is where Obama is leaning, as a means of putting people back to work on highways, bridges and mass transit construction. But Kulongoski made the case that a federal program to deal with the growing backlog of crumbling university buildings would create jobs more quickly.

Continue reading "Kulongoski pushes his university fix-up plan directly to Obama" »

Bill Sizemore was released from the Multnomah County jail early Tuesday afternoon after he complied with a judge's order to file state and federal tax forms for a Nevada charitable foundation that he controls.

Smiling broadly, the 57-year-old ballot initiative activist embraced his wife, Cindy, and two of their daughters as he emerged from a hallway leading to the jail portion of the Multnomah County Justice Center.

Continue reading "Sizemore signs tax forms, walks out of county jail" »

SALEM -- Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says he thinks it's "extremely doubtful" he'll be picked to be interior secretary in the Obama administration.

The popular former governor has been mentioned as a candidate for the Interior Department post or other jobs in the Obama administration.

Continue reading "Kitzhaber says its unlikely he'll join Obama administration" »

SALEM -- Now that Oregon's Capitol offices have new carpet and couches, some people say it's time to replace the "frat house" atmosphere that sometimes prevails with a decorum that's, well, more professional.

First to go: Fido.

That's right.

Legislative leaders have asked staff members to draft a policy that would shut all but certified service animals out of the statehouse.

Continue reading "Lawmakers seek ban on dogs at Capitol" »

SALEM -- Gov. Ted Kulongoski released a proposed two-year state budget Monday that calls for close to $2 billion in new taxes and fees but still cuts tens of thousands of elderly and low-income residents from state programs.

The new money would pay for transportation construction projects, put thousands more children and adults under the Oregon Health Plan and boost spending on college tuition grants.

The governor also proposed a new round of tax breaks for companies that invest in alternative and renewable energy projects and for people who buy plug-in hybrid cars or electric cars.

Continue reading "Proposed Oregon budget looks to future, cuts some current programs" »

Veteran ballot initiative activist Bill Sizemore was handcuffed and jailed Monday after a Multnomah County judge found him in contempt of court for a fourth time in his long-running legal battle with two Oregon teachers unions.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Janice R. Wilson ordered Sizemore jailed until he signed and filed federal and state tax forms that charitable organizations are required to complete to maintain their tax-exempt status.

Continue reading "Bill Sizemore jailed for contempt of court" »