Opinion

Capital Chatter: A talk with Mike McLane

Mike McLane has moved from writing state laws to interpreting those laws. Until last month, McLane was a…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: What happens to ‘dead’ climate bill?

What happens next with House Bill 2020, the climate change bill? In one sense, nothing. The bill is…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: Dembrow speaks with his base

The questions came carefully and concisely: About the demise of Oregon’s climate change legislation. About Republican senators walking…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: The case of Brian Boquist

One of the strangest episodes in Oregon legislative history continues to unfold, now that Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas,…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: Self-deception reigns in politics

Dear Readers, I’m stepping away from Oregon capital politics for a few paragraphs — we all need relief…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: The real reason that HB 2020 failed

Gov. Kate Brown announced on Monday that she would issue executive decrees, if necessary, to curb greenhouse gas…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: Impasse exemplifies the rural-urban divide

The ongoing impasse between rural senators (mostly Republicans) and urban senators (Democrats) takes me back to an interview…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: Q&A on the Republican walkout

Only a few days ago, it seemed preposterous. Yet indeed, the Oregon Senate Republicans left town — supposedly…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: The legislative theater always ends the same

If a theatrical play were written about the past few days in the Oregon Capitol, it would be…

Opinion

Capital Chatter: Weird politics pervades final weeks

It’s June. That is long-timers’ explanation for the political weirdness that pervades the Oregon Capitol as tired lawmakers,…

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