I haven’t heard of anyone in the Legislature who supports Measure 118 on the Nov. 5 ballot. The initiative would increase business taxes in order to give most Oregonians an annual tax rebate estimated at $750.

During a virtual town hall last month, several Portland-area lawmakers denounced the proposal, which was going through the signature verification process as Initiative Petition 17. Rep. Lisa Reynolds, D-Beaverton, called it “a totally twisted version of the kicker.”

“It’s another example of out-of-state monied interests using Oregon’s low bar to get something on the ballot to create an experiment here in Oregon,” she said. “It happened with Measure 110, which we had to roll back after a lot of gnashing of teeth. And so there will be very concerted efforts by many people, including elected officials, to defeat IP 17.”

Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, added, “If there is a legislator supporting it, they’re supporting it very quietly.”

Opponents are not quiet. Led by Oregon Business & Industry, a lengthy list of groups created a coalition against the measure, contending it would implement the largest tax increase in state history. 

Oregon Senate Republicans issued a press release Wednesday unanimously opposing the measure and thanking Gov. Tina Kotek for also opposing it. The Taxpayers Association of Oregon put it this way last week: “The tax is so bad, even Gov. Kotek is against it. That’s bad.”

No phones in schools: A bipartisan quintet of lawmakers will introduce a bill in the 2025 Legislature to prohibit students’ cellphone use from the beginning of the school day to the end. Reynolds told me the bill likely will include some exceptions.

Besides Reynolds, a pediatrician, the chief sponsors will be Reps. Emerson Levy, D-Bend; Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville; Kim Wallan, R-Medford; and Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point.

“We have created quite a toxic culture for phone use in children and adolescents. And if the schools need to be the ones to step up to the plate, then so be it,” McIntire, who also serves on her local school board, told me. “Our schools will also need to prove they can and will communicate with parents.”

On the road again: Summer is a popular time for political road trips. 

For example, Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, recently hosted town halls in Yachats, Florence, Reedsport, Charleston, Lakeside and Coos Bay, as well inland parts of his district. Rep. Boomer Wright, R-Reedsport, joined him for some events.

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-6th Congressional District, conducted a “Life After Measure 110” listening tour. Along with three other journalists, I sat in on her meeting with Polk County officials and talked with her afterward.

 Several things stood out during a wide-ranging discussion that covered law enforcement, treatment, housing, transportation and other factors.

District Attorney Aaron Felton said that after Oregon voters decriminalized minor drug possession, “A lot of our law enforcement people, in just a very short amount of time, have lost the ability and the skillset to do drug enforcement.”

Officials described the county and local agencies as being consistent and collaborative in confronting the fentanyl crisis and implementing this year’s Measure 110 reforms. “Polk County moves together all the way through,” Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst said.

 Afterward, Salinas contrasted mostly rural Polk County with mostly urban Multnomah County.

“I think that coordination certainly in Polk County seems to be taking place,” she said. “For a number of years and even still today, I think the largest county in Oregon seems to be the poster child for sometimes how not to do things.”

The final stop on Salinas’ tour was taking place Thursday afternoon in neighboring Yamhill County. In sharp contrast with Polk officials’ openness, the Yamhill session and recent ones in Marion and Washington counties were off-limits to the press. Participants simply held media availabilities afterward.