Dirk Vanderhart

In the last month, Oregon state lawmakers bought a waterfall, spent big to help a billionaire renovate the Moda Center, and spent an inordinate amount of time debating a gas tax that most believe will end up going nowhere. The 2026 legislative session is ... See more

As they blocked a series of congressional tax breaks last month, Oregon’s legislative Democrats offered aggrieved business groups a consolation prize: The party would create an entirely new tax credit for businesses that hire new workers – up to $1,000 fo... See more

Oregon lawmakers are a vote away from sending a major infusion of state money to Portland’s Moda Center, after the state Senate approved the move Wednesday. In a bipartisan 24-6 vote, senators passed Senate Bill 1501, a proposal to spend $365 million to r... See more

After failing in the Capitol to stop Democrats from changing the date of a contentious gas tax vote, Republican lawmakers are looking to the courthouse. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday against Secretary of State Tobias Read, two GOP legislators joined dozens o... See more

Oregon’s gas-tax reckoning is about to arrive six months early — at least, if the courts don’t intervene. The state House of Representatives gave final approval Monday to Senate Bill 1599, the most hotly-debated bill of this year’s session. By a 31-20 vot... See more