An OJP analysis of five recent years’ spending figures show that Oregon falls roughly in the middle of the other six states cited by ODOT.

The poor returns could have been averted if Oregon had simply invested the funds in accordance with the guidance for which it pays its outside experts handsomely.

The two groups, who often fall on opposite sides of the political spectrum, are together pursuing a tax increase that would benefit them both.

The agency will continue paying Todd Davidson handsomely in retirement.

Todd Davidson ran the state tourism agency for three decades while making one of the highest salaries in state government.

Hotel and travel marketing groups oppose a House bill that would let public dollars earmarked for tourism promotion be diverted to pay for increased burdens on public safety and roads.

Lawmakers’ limited authority of such quasi-public agencies—all of which depend on a tax of some sort granted to them by the Legislature and the governor—has come into sharp focus.

But nobody’s minding the state agency that promotes Oregon tourism.

While the timing appeared sudden, it came five weeks after the Oregon Journalism Project first contacted Travel Oregon about an investigation.