PORTLAND- A room full of impassioned arguments and frustrated people was the scene at Tuesday night’s town hall at the St. John’s Community Center.

Focusing on the foreclosure crisis, the town hall was hosted by State Representative Tina Kotek, D-North Portland, and included a guest appearance by Congressman Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland.

SALEM- As anticipated earlier this month, State Economist Tom Potiowsky released his most recent revenue forecast today showing the state to have $1.269 billion less than what was expected at the end of the Legislative session in 2009.

Because of the allotment reductions made by the governor following the last revenue forecast, the total $1.269 billion shortfall translates into just a $377.5 million gap needing to be filled, said Senior Economist Josh Harwood.

SALEM- The Oregon Legislature announced last week the naming of the Joint Legislative Argument Committees on Ballot Measures 70, 71, and 72.

The committees, recently named by Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, and House Speaker Dave Hunt, D-Clackamas, were created for the purposes of drafting arguments in support of the ballot measures proposed by the Legislature.

PORTLAND- This mini documentary is part of a series on gun rights in Oregon. The Oregon Politico interviewed experts on both sides of the issue to get a complete understanding of the story.

CLICK TO SEE THE VIDEO

SALEM- As expected, the Legislative Emergency Board voted to restore $17.1 million in state funding to the Oregon Department of Human Services on Thursday.

In a press release sent out Thursday afternoon, Senate President Courtney, D-Salem, said, “We know it is absolutely the right thing to do to keep serving those who need help the most-especially our senior citizens and children with disabilities.

SALEM- Senate President Peter Courtney, D- Salem, and House Speaker Dave Hunt, D-Clackamas County, announced on Tuesday their intentions to use the week’s Emergency Board meeting to prevent cuts to senior in-home care and services for those people with disabilities.

During the Legislative Emergency Board meeting scheduled for Thursday morning, Hunt and Courtney expect to restore $17 million of the $158 million that the Oregon Department of Human Services was required to cut as part of the governor’s allotment process.

HILLSBORO- Oregon’s general elections have faced a second unexpected candidate withdrawal with the announcement Tuesday that incumbent candidate David Edwards will not be running for re-election in 2010.

In a press release sent out by the House Democrat’s Future PAC, Edwards cited his wife’s health as his main reason for dropping his bid.

SALEM- As of July 1, many employers no longer will be able to perform a credit history check of potential employees as part of their hiring process.

This is a result of the Job Applicant Fairness Act, Senate Bill 1045, which was passed in the most recent February session, spearheaded by Sen. Diane Rosenbaum and Rep. Tina Kotek. Oregon is the third state to enact such legislation, following Washington and Hawaii.

TUALATIN- In a release sent to the media on Thursday, small business owner Aaron Crowley announced his desire to run as the Republican candidate for the State House seat left vacant by Rep. Scott Bruun, now the GOP’s opponent for Congressman Kurt Schrader, D-Canby.

SALEM- With Hearing Room F’s speaker phone tuned into legislators across the state who were unable to attend Tuesday’s Emergency Board meeting, the Committee voted to grant $64,762,227 to the Oregon University System (OUS).

The Emergency Board Committee is a standing committee of the legislature that meets in the interim to give emergency funds to agencies who request additional funding.