tina kotek
Posted inOpinion

Of Walkouts and Roadmaps: New ‘Prosperity Officer’ Hails from Central Oregon

Tim Knopp, the former Bend senator disqualified from running for re-election after leading the longest walkout in state history, is now being tapped to bring Oregon back from the economic brink. It’s hard not to see the irony.
by The Source Editorial Board

If you’ve been paying attention to state politics in recent months, then you know that the state’s economy has been a big topic.  Perhaps most eye-popping for some state leaders was Oregon’s ranking in a 2025 CNBC poll, which placed the state 39th among its Top States for Business. Oregon ranked 28th in the poll in 2024, and 21st in […]

Posted inNews

Fagone

Oregon’s second-highest elected official resigned after her side gig with a cannabis company prompted questions about ethical violations
Avatar photo by Jack Harvel

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced she’s resigning from her office effective May 8. Fagan faces an ethics investigation and calls to resign from state Republican leaders after Willamette Week reported Fagan worked as a consultant for the cannabis dispensary chain La Mota. Fagan’s office oversees the Oregon Audits Division, which recently released an […]

Posted inNews

Solutions to the Housing Crisis

If the market won’t fix this mess, is it time for the state and local governments to step in?
Laurel Brauns

The year 2019 was a successful year for advocates of more affordable and equitable housing policies in Oregon. Oregon legislators passed the first state-wide rent control bill in the nation. They also put an end to single-family zoning throughout the state. Bend took the lead on this policy by allowing du-, tri- and four-plexes throughout […]

Posted inNews

Rent Control Bill Clears First Hurdle

Senate Bill 608 now heads to the Oregon House
Chris Miller

On Feb. 12, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 608—also known as the statewide rent control bill—17 votes to 11. All but one of the no votes was Republican, including Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend). Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) also voted against the bill. Two Republican members of the Senate didn’t vote. If SB 608 passes the […]

Posted inOpinion

The Legislature Misstepped in a Sexual Harassment Scandal. Companies and Organizations Can Do Better

The Source Staff

Editor’s note: This version has been altered from the original version. In the original print version, the text in the third paragraph alluded to Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) being party to contemplations among Republican leadership of a lawsuit against Sen. Sara Gelser. Knopp and Gelser confirmed today that Knopp was not party to that contemplation. […]

Posted inNews

Buehler Calls on Leaders to Step Down

BOLI complaint against Kotek, Courtney sparks gubernatorial candidate’s call to action
Chris Miller

On Aug. 1, gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler (R-Bend) called upon Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) and House Speaker Tina Kotek, (D-Portland) to step down in the wake of an official complaint the two Democrats mishandled sexual harassment complaints at the Capitol. “Accountability and change begins with the people in charge who failed to prevent, failed […]

Posted inNews

PAC withdraws support of local House candidate

Avatar photo Nicole Vulcan

FuturePAC, a campaign committee for Democrats in the Oregon House, has withdrawn support for Nathan Boddie, the Bend city councilor who’s running on the Democratic ticket for Bend’s House District 54. In a statement released Tuesday, FuturePAC said the decision comes in response to “serious allegations of inappropriate behavior.” Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek stated […]

Posted inNews

Oregon Legislature Adjourns

Minimum wage increase is hallmark of 2016 legislative session
Sherron Lumley

SALEM – The Oregon Legislature adjourned the 2016 legislative session “sine die” yesterday, three days before the March 6 constitutional deadline for adjournment.   House Speaker Tina Kotek (D – N/NE Portland) released the following statement: “It has been an honor to serve Oregonians as the Speaker of our House of Representatives. Our elected leaders stepped […]

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