Today's Oregon News: February 16, 2012

It's Thursday! Details of the Governor's counter-proposal on budget cuts have emerged this morning. The co-chairs of the budget writing committee have been described as "skeptical."

The Register Guard reports on signs of economic recovery in the state, and the Oregon Center for Public Policy looks at Oregon's economic growth compared to states with no income taxes. In case you missed it, the New York Times chimes in about the growing influence of ALEC (a corporate lobbying entity) on state legislatures.

RADIO: Otto Schell on KPOJ
KPOJ
Oregon PTA's Otto Schell was on AM620 KPOJ this morning to talk about Monday's Day of Action for a Strong Oregon rally. More on the event can be found here.

Legislature

Tap reserves to prevent prison closures, other cuts, Gov. John Kitzhaber asks Oregon budget writers
Oregonian
"Gov. John Kitzhaber is asking the Legislature to tap into the Oregon's dwindling reserve accounts to avoid closing prisons and cutting services he thinks would harm needy families and children.  Kitzhaber released details of his budget proposals this morning. He wants to spend $13 million from reserves to prevent closure of a Salem-area minimum security prison and other cuts to the corrections budget that would have put hundreds of inmates in temporary beds. The extra money also would avoid further cuts to a children's mental health program, reductions in welfare payments and a cut to Early Head Start."

Gov. John Kitzhaber offers alternative budget ideas to skeptical Oregon lawmakers
Oregonian
"Gov. John Kitzhaber has knocked a legislative budget deal off course, saying he doesn't agree with directives to jettison close to 300 middle managers and public affairs positions from state agencies and to close a Salem-area prison. The governor offered an alternative that avoids large-scale layoffs and closes no prisons. He suggested a host of potential sources of money to make the budget balance, including tapping into Oregon's reserve funds or reducing some college financial aid and cutting more money out of public schools."

Governor proposes cuts to balance state budget, but prisons and schools not affected
Oregonian
"Gov. John Kitzhaber released his counterproposal today to rebalance the two-year state budget, tapping reserves to avert closure of a Salem prison and offering different cuts in agency middle-management and front-line positions. His proposal was in response to the Legislature’s chief budget writers, who released a plan Feb. 1 that calls for closure of Santiam Correctional Institution and cutting $25 million in middle-management and public-affairs positions. Kitzhaber had already signaled Wednesday, as had some key legislators, that he opposed a plan to close multiple prisons."

Oregon House OKs bill targeting job-offer bias
KTVZ
"The Oregon Senate approved legislation Wednesday that would make Oregon the second state in the nation to prohibit discrimination against the unemployed in job announcements. With Oregon’s long-term unemployment rate stubbornly high, Senate Bill 1548 makes sure that applicants can’t be prohibited from applying for a job opening solely because they do not currently have a job, according to a news release from the Senate Majority Office. 'The passage of SB 1548 bans the practice of telling unemployed Oregonians they cannot apply for jobs that they desperately need,' said Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), chief sponsor of the bill."

Senate Republicans' bill to abolish state agencies fails to move
Oregonian
"Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, led a caucus charge today to get out of committee a bill that would create a new committee to oversee the end of state agencies."

OPINION: Paper mills in peril: Powerful forces sink plan to save Oregon jobs
Barbara Dudley, Guest Opinion, Oregonian
"The mantra of this legislative session has been "jobs, jobs, jobs." In the Capitol, one sees pins on lapels of Republicans and Democrats, lobbyists and legislators alike that simply say "JOBS." And yet a simple bill, House Bill 4142, aimed at protecting not just jobs, but well-paid green jobs, was killed this week by surprisingly virulent opposition from global corporations, including the notorious Koch Industries, financiers of right-wing super PACs."

Other Headlines

BLOG: High income taxes accompany stronger state economies
Chuck Sheketoff, Blue Oregon
"Pop quiz: If you compare Oregon’s economic growth from 2001 to 2010 to that of the nine states in the country that levy no personal income tax, how well did the Beaver State perform? Answer: Oregon topped them all."

Business climate expected to improve
Register Guard
"Most economic forecasters are predicting moderate economic growth in the United States this year, but with the threat that financial turmoil in Europe will ripple over to this country, economist Bill Conerly offered this advice to business and community leaders: Take the stance of a baseball player, ready to charge ahead and steal second base, or to dive back to first base, depending on the signs."

BLOG: Emily's List endorses Ellen Rosenblum for Attorney General and Kate Brown for Secretary of State in Oregon
Emily's List
"Today, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced its endorsement of Ellen Rosenblum and Kate Brown for statewide office in Oregon. 'We are excited to endorse two extraordinary women for statewide office in Oregon today,' said Jonathan Parker, Political Director of EMILY’s List. 'Coming off of Suzanne Bonamici’s inspiring special election victory in Oregon’s 1st Congressional District last month, Ellen Rosenblum and Kate Brown are the voices Oregon needs to keep up the momentum for strong pro-choice Democratic women.'"

Merkley: Election spending out of control
OPB News
"Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley says spending by the so-called super PACs is out of control this election season. Speaking on OPB's "Think Out Loud," the Democrat championed a proposed constitutional amendment that now has the backing of 22 Senators. It would give Congress the power to regulate the raising and spending of campaign funds. Merkley said, 'The Bill of Rights is about the rights of the people. It's not about those who are governing a financial organization to be able to commandeer the assets of that organization on behalf of their personal views.'"

In Case You Missed It

EDITORIAL: The big money behind state laws
New York Times
"It is no coincidence that so many state legislatures have spent the last year taking the same destructive actions: making it harder for minorities and other groups that support Democrats to vote, obstructing health care reform, weakening environmental regulations and breaking the spines of public- and private-sector unions. All of these efforts are being backed — in some cases, orchestrated — by a little-known conservative organization financed by millions of corporate dollars. The American Legislative Exchange Council was founded in 1973 by the right-wing activist Paul Weyrich; its big funders include Exxon Mobil, the Olin and Scaife families and foundations tied to Koch Industries. Many of the largest corporations are represented on its board."