Willamette Week - Politics http://www.wweek.com/portland/articles.sec-125-1-politics.html Sat, 26 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT+7 en hourly 1 Brown’s Labored Credibility - A legal opinion shows the Secretary of State mishandled the labor commissioner’s race. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-18988-brown%E2%80%99s_labored_credibility_a_legal_opinion_shows_the_secretary_of_state_mishandled_the_labo.html State Sen. Bruce Starr (R-Hillsboro) has cause to be irate. Starr is running for state labor commissioner, a nonpartisan race that suddenly appears partisan.]]> Senator of Fortune - A lawsuit lifts the curtain on Sen. Brian Boquist’s military deals—and how Republicans may be benefiting. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-18791-senator_of_fortune_a_lawsuit_lifts_the_curtain_on_sen_brian_boquist%E2%80%99s_military_deals%E2%80%9.html State Sen. Brian Boquist (R-Dallas) may be the most adventurous lawmaker in Salem. He’s described his best-known business, International Charter Inc. of Oregon, as a humanitarian organization,]]> Not What the Doctors Ordered - Physicians who treat medicaid patients join forces against Kitzhaber’s health reforms. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-18239-not_what_the_doctors_ordered_physicians_who_treat_medicaid_patients_join_forces_against_kitzhaber%E2.html The biggest bet Gov. John Kitzhaber has placed in his third term is that he can save Oregon billions by shaking up the way the state pays for medical care. Right now, Oregon pays the medical bill]]> Reversal of Fortune - In the fight for the Oregon House, Dems usually raise more money than Republicans—but not this year. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-18189-reversal_of_fortune_in_the_fight_for_the_oregon_house_dems_usually_raise_more_money_than_republicans.html Maybe money can’t buy you love—legally, anyway—but it helps when trying to sway voters. For much of the past decade, Oregon House Democrats have out-raised
]]> Pedaling By Her Own Rules - A 2003 police report says Eileen Brady told an officer to back off because she had ‘close friends’ at city hall. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-18015-pedaling_by_her_own_rules_a_2003_police_report_says_eileen_brady_told_an_officer_to_back_off_because.html Eight years ago, Eileen Brady ignored a police officer’s order to walk her bike through Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
]]> Playing the Wired Card - Jefferson Smith starts the marathon mayor’s race half-blind and stumbling. Here’s why he could still catch up. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17990-playing_the_wired_card_jefferson_smith_starts_the_marathon_mayor%E2%80%99s_race_half_blind_and_stumb.html State Rep. Jefferson Smith’s campaign for mayor isn’t off to an awe-inspiring start.
]]> Political Courtship - Candidates to replace state Rep. Ben Cannon woo precinct committee persons, who will pick finalists. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17991-political_courtship_candidates_to_replace_state_rep_ben_cannon_woo_precinct_committee_persons_who_wi.html In the past few weeks, Peter Geiger has played host in his backyard to two people who want to win a seat in the Oregon Legislature.
]]> Not Paying His Dues - Labor Commish Brad Avakian, now running for congress, has a record of paying taxes late—and hitting up lobbyists for a job. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17967-not_paying_his_dues_labor_commish_brad_avakian_now_running_for_congress_has_a_record_of_paying_taxes.html Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian may be the toughest candidate to beat...]]> The Campaign Cash Trail - Financial reports for the mayor’s race show key differences between Charlie Hales and Eileen Brady. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17968-the_campaign_cash_trail_financial_reports_for_the_mayor%E2%80%99s_race_show_key_differences_between_.html Even the joyless, pitiful souls who spent this summer paying attention to a City Hall election...]]> The Enduring Book of Mark - The death of former U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield reminds Oregon why he still matters. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17832-the_enduring_book_of_mark_the_death_of_former_us_sen_mark_hatfield_reminds_oregon_why_he_still_matte.html The timing was fitting: One week after the far right wing of the Republican Party held the economy hostage...]]> Switch Hitter - Big Business borrows Big Labor’s political brain. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17703-switch_hitter_big_business_borrows_big_labor%E2%80%99s_political_brain.html No political advocacy group in the state has enjoyed greater success than Our Oregon in recent years. In 2010, Our Oregon engineered the passage of Measures 66 and 67, two income-tax hikes that bucke]]> Giving Us Flack - Portland’s $7 million, publicly funded PR Industrial Complex takes news for a spin. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17536-giving_us_flack_portland%E2%80%99s_%247_million_publicly_funded_pr_industrial_complex_takes_news_for.html Earlier this month, Metro had some good news to get out. The Portland-area regional government was turning 100 acres in Happy Valley into the Scouter Mountain Natural Area—a Boy Scout camp and ad]]> Perfectly Legal - How one lawmaker uses campaign money to subsidize his mortgage, pay his bar tabs and explore Canada. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17463-perfectly_legal_how_one_lawmaker_uses_campaign_money_to_subsidize_his_mortgage_pay_his_bar_tabs_and_.html When elected officials provided their statements of economic interest to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission last month]]> Tea Party vs. Unions - Two groups, one public square. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17381-tea_party_vs_unions_two_groups_one_public_square.html Portland’s living room—a.k.a. Pioneer Courthouse Square—hosted two very different guests last weekend less than 24 hours apart. On a rainy Friday evening, April 15, the Oregon tea party held c]]> Ta-Ta, Transparency - Elections “clean-up” bill would create a gaping loophole. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17315-ta_ta_transparency_elections_%E2%80%9Cclean_up%E2%80%9D_bill_would_create_a_gaping_loophole.html Oregon is the Wild West when it comes to campaign contributions, and there’s a bill shooting through the Legislature that would make a bad situation worse. ]]> House Of David - David Wu doesn’t live in the 1st Congressional District. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17279-house_of_david_david_wu_doesn%E2%80%99t_live_in_the_1st_congressional_district.html Last year, when U.S. Rep. David Wu crashed his rental car into a parked vehicle in Northwest Portland, he gave a police officer the home address of a close friend rather than the address on his Oreg]]> Asleep At The Wheel - David Wu totaled a parked car in 2010 and blamed it on his hectic travel schedule. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17231-asleep_at_the_wheel_david_wu_totaled_a_parked_car_in_2010_and_blamed_it_on_his_hectic_travel_schedul.html U.S. Rep. David Wu crashed his car into a Ford Focus parked on a residential street in Portland’s Forest Heights neighborhood last year]]> Wu’s World - Police reports detail one set of problems in the congressman’s marriage. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17024-wu%E2%80%99s_world_police_reports_detail_one_set_of_problems_in_the_congressman%E2%80%99s_marriage.html U.S. Rep. David Wu tried to explain his odd behavior in the run-up to the November election during interviews last weekend with several local television and radio stations. One week after Wu’s u]]> Blowing In The Wind - Why the bag bill sails forward despite significant weaknesses. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-16963-blowing_in_the_wind_why_the_bag_bill_sails_forward_despite_significant_weaknesses.html Anybody who has ever watched a tree-bound plastic bag flapping in the Columbia Gorge wind or glimpsed one bobbing in a coastal wave ]]> Extra Credit - While the county struggled, commissioners spent money on professional fees, travel and their favorite charities. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-16967-extra_credit_while_the_county_struggled_commissioners_spent_money_on_professional_fees_travel_and_th.html In his first “State of the County” speech, Multnomah County Chairman Jeff Cogen recently described his government’s financial woes. ]]> Soup’s Off - A new bill would outlaw the shark-fin trade in Oregon. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-16926-soup%E2%80%99s_off_a_new_bill_would_outlaw_the_shark_fin_trade_in_oregon.html Oregon could become the second state in the United States to outlaw the grisly trade of shark fins that go into Asian delicacy soups selling for ]]> John Q. Public - Records issues put spotlight on Kroger. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-16890-john_q_public_records_issues_put_spotlight_on_kroger.html Attorney General John Kroger is pushing the most ambitious rewrite of Oregon’s Public Records Law in three decades. But one aspect of his legislation may get him crosswise with Treasurer Ted Wheeler, a fellow Democrat and political rival.]]> The Rite Stuff - Here’s a Catholic priest-to-gay groom story that same-sex marriage advocates ought to tell. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-16850-the_rite_stuff_here%E2%80%99s_a_catholic_priest_to_gay_groom_story_that_same_sex_marriage_advocates_.html

 Jim Stephens first spotted Darold Slack on June 16, 2008, standing in the crowd at the Portland Pride Parade.

]]> Coverage For All - Is single-payer health care the cure for Oregon? http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-16851-coverage_for_all_is_single_payer_health_care_the_cure_for_oregon.html

 State Rep. Michael Dembrow wants to establish in Oregon what the White House and Congress couldn’t do in last year’s healthcare reform effort: single-payer health care.

]]> The Money Race - The 500-pound gorilla and other mega-donors in the governor’s race. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-12601-the_money_race_the_500_pound_gorilla_and_other_mega_donors_in_the_governor%E2%80%99s_race.html Quick Picks - A Voter Cheat Sheet of WW’s Endorsements. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-12605-quick_picks_a_voter_cheat_sheet_of_ww%E2%80%99s_endorsements.html