News U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore) didn't waste any time trying to squeeze more money of lobbyists and special interest grous following his easy re-election win Nov. 6. According to the Huffington Post, Schrader, who represents Oregon's 5th District, held a $2,500-to-$5,000 per person golf weekend outing last weekend. The website Political Party Time reports Schrader held the event at Bandon Dunes ...   More

Cover Story Portland, you have a gambling problem. We’re telling you this as a friend. For too many years, the voters of this city have rolled the dice on engaging but tro   More

News A Lake Oswego resident named Karen Bowerman filed Jan. 13 to run in May's Republican primary in Oregon's Fifth Congressional District. Bowerman, whose bio says she spent more than 30 years in the California university system, is a new face in Oregon's political scene. She will seek to do what better known Republicans, including Lake Oswego businessman Mike Erickson in 2006 and 2008 and former State ...   More

News U.S. Reps. Kurt Schrader and David Wu (both D-Ore.) say they're both OK with President Obama's decision to have U.S. forces be part of an international offensive against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. But both Democratic lawmakers stress that their support for the decision by a Democratic president has a short time line.“I support [Obama’s] effort to support the democratic movement in Libya with ...   More

News Although last night's results are not final, it appears that Democratic super-majorities in both houses (36 to 24 in the House and 18 to 12 in the Senate) will morph into deadlocks in both chambers. The Oregon House has never before been deadlocked. The Oregon Senate has been tied 15-15 just two times since Oregon became a state (1957, 2003). In the 2003 legislative session, Republicans and ...   More

News U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenuaer (D-Ore.) has become the third House Democrat from Oregon to oppose President Obama's tax deal. In urging the president to in essence show some backbone in dealings with Republicans, Blumenauer joins with Reps. Peter DeFazio and David Wu as opponents of Obama's deal with the GOP. UPDATE: And U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader has become the fourth of Oregon's four House Democrats ...   More

News For those of us who are so sickened watching the slow death of comprehensive health-care reform that we may have to see a doctor ourselves, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and other progressive House members have provided some welcome relief. Blumenauer and 56 other House lawmakers signed a letter last week saying they won't support any health-care legislation that doesn't include a strong ...   More

News Vice President Joe Biden is coming to town next month to raise money for U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby), who faces a tough re-election against state Rep. Scott Bruun (R-West Linn) in Oregon's Fifth Congressional District . Here are the financial details of the July 8 fundraiser: Reception: $200 per person Host: $5,000 per person Hosts are invited to a special VIP reception For ...   More

News Today's rain didn't stop Portland-area postal employees from gathering to protest a Postal Service proposal to end Saturday mail delivery. About 40 sign-toting letter carriers and other employees chanted “Your mail, your service, six days a week” as they marched on the sidewalk this afternoon outside Portland's main post office on Northwest Hoyt Street. The proposed end to Saturday ...   More

News We've got a call in to the office of U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) to ask what was going through his mind when he was presiding over the U.S. House and Democratic colleague Anthony Weiner of New York ripped into Republicans over medical care for 9/11 responders. Junior members of the majority party usually rotate in the presiding chair during most House sessions. And Schrader's turn yesterday ...   More