Skip to main content
On a summery Friday, Gov. Kate Brown presented a sunny State of the State address that was short on news, perhaps because Brown is surfing a giant economic wave likely to usher her into re-election this fall.
Brown touched on the new Office of Small Business Assistance and the opportunity for voters to track their ballots like they can track Fed Ex packages. She also noted modest tweaks to ethics laws.
But she's clearly well aware that it's all about the economy, stupid.
Brown touched on three accomplishments popular with the state's Democratic voters: the aggressive minimum wage increase she signed into law earlier this year; a renewable energy bill that will increase the portion of wind and solar electricity produced in Oregon; and, more subtly, her tough stance on the crew that occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for 41 days.
That approach may not please Ammon Bundy's supporters, but it's plenty good for the Willamette Valley voters Brown needs to please.
Updated at 1:45 pm:
Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli issued a statement in response to Brown's speech.
Willamette Week