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Reposted by Dirk VanderHart

Alex Zielinski @alexzee.bsky.social · 4d

President Donald Trump is sending 300 California National Guard members to Oregon after a judge blocked the administration from deploying that state’s guard to Portland, according to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

apnews.com/article/nati...

California governor says Trump is sending 300 California National Guard members to Oregon

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the Trump administration is sending 300 California National Guard members to Oregon.

apnews.com

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · 6d

Way before Tom Dundon was the potential savior of one of Oregon's most beloved institutions, the state accused him of being a car loan shark. (My words not theirs.)

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Before Tom Dundon agreed to buy the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon accused the company he created of predatory lending

In 2020, Oregon sued Tom Dundon’s former company for allegedly preying on Oregonians through high-interest car loans they couldn’t afford in a case involving more than 265,000 borrowers nationwide.

www.opb.org

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · 23d

New: According to staff, the Senate floor session scheduled for tomorrow is likely to be delayed again -- by perhaps weeks -- because Sen Chris Gorsek can't make it to the Capitol.

Gorsek has been battling health problems, but is needed to pass a tax package. #orleg #orpol

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 9

Just last week, Hartman was the lone House Democrat to vote against a transportation funding bill proposed by Gov Tina Kotek. #orleg #orpol

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Gov. Tina Kotek’s transportation funding package clears Oregon House, moves to Senate

The tax bill needed help from a moderate Republican to make it over the finish line Monday.

www.opb.org

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 9

Notable #orleg news. State Rep. Annessa Hartman, D-Gladstone, says she won't run for re-election. Instead she's seeking a seat on the Clackamas County Commission.

Hartman does not have many positive things to say about legislative politics in her announcement.

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 5

NEW: State Rep. Cyrus Javadi is now a Democrat.

After a decisive vote in favor of Gov. Tina Kotek's transportation tax package on Monday, Javadi will seek reelection next year as a member of the majority party. #orpol #orleg

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Oregon state Rep. Cyrus Javadi switched political teams, registers as a Democrat

The move comes after Javadi took a tax vote this week that infuriated some Republicans.

www.opb.org

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 3

New: A vote on the Gov Tina Kotek's transportation package is expected to be delayed by two weeks, with Sen. Chris Gorsek out for health reasons. #orleg

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Oregon Democrats put special session on hold amid key senator’s absence

Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, is unable to come to the Capitol because of unspecified health struggles. His vote may be needed to pass Gov. Tina Kotek’s transportation funding bill.

www.opb.org

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 2

Dems had expected to share their plans for next steps at 4pm. That got pushed back by a couple hours. Everything I am hearing at this point indicates the vote is being delayed by a week or longer. #orleg

Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 2

That changes if Democrats can find an 18th vote somewhere else. But it would need to come from a Republican, and they haven't been big fans of Gov. Tina Kotek's tax proposal. #orleg #orpol

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 2

There are a LOT of rumors in Salem right now, but this much feels clear: The Senate is not likely to vote on the transportation bill tomorrow -- and maybe not until well after.

Sen Chris Gorsek, whose vote Dems may need, is unable to attend for health reasons. #orleg

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 2

The Oregon Senate just met briefly. Democrats did not attempt to force a vote on HB 3991, the governor's transportation funding bill. Under normal procedural rules (which Republicans are insisting on) tomorrow is the first day it can get a vote. #orleg #orpol

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 1

Yes. There's a requirement that EV owners join the state's OreGo program.

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 1

Final vote goes as expected. HB 3991 passes 36-12. One Republicans, Cyrus Javadi, needed to get it across. The bill moves to the Senate, where a transportation package ran into trouble during the regular session.

House is adjourning #orleg

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 1

As @jmshumway.bsky.social notes: another Dem has arrived in the Capitol.

Rep Hoa Nguyen, D-Portland, appears likely to provide the 36th vote needed to pass the package. She has been absent for much of the year as she receives treatment for cancer.

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Reposted by Dirk VanderHart

Oregon Capital Chronicle @oregoncapitalchronicle.com · Sep 1

As Hartman said she would vote against the measure, Rep. Hoa Nguyen, who is undergoing cancer treatment and wasn't here earlier, came to the floor. It takes 36 votes to pass any tax measure, and there are 36 Democrats. Javadi, the only R to support the measure, could cancel out Hartman. #orleg

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 1

Rep Annessa Hartman, a Dem, makes clear that she will be voting no on the transporation funding bill. Which raises the question of what additional Republican vote Democrats have in hand. As I mentioned, the earlier, related budget bill got 35 votes.

36 are necessary. #orpol

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 1

Notable vote on a precursor to the big road tax bill. It's just a companion budget bill, and doesn't need the 3/5 majority of a tax hike.

And it doesn't get it.

Rep. Cyrus Javadi (R) votes for it, but Rep. Annessa Hartman (D) opposes. Gets 35 instead of 36 votes. #orleg

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 1

ICYMI: Republicans won small concessions from Democrats in a committee hearing yesterday. #orleg

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Oregon road funding bill, slightly slimmer, moves forward

Democrats agreed to slash some funding they’d sought for public transit, and Gov. Tina Kotek remained scarce.

www.opb.org

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Sep 1

The Oregon House is back in session to vote on
@GovTinaKotek's transportation funding bill.

And Republicans, who hate the bill, agree to suspend the rule requiring it to be read in full. So this will be somewhat efficient? #orleg #orpol

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Aug 31

Meanwhile, @GovTinaKotek is catching flack from Republicans for not showing up to a committee hearing on her bill, after calling a special session on Labor Day Weekend. An aide declines to say where Kotek is, says she expects the gov is watching. #orpol

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Aug 31

The amendment is one of roughly a dozen that have been suggested to modify HB 3991, the transportation funding bill that Kotek introduced.

Fahey's involvement suggests it has legs. Unclear if it's enough to get Republicans to grant quorum in the House today. #orleg #orpol

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Aug 31

Oregon Dems are signaling they will back off on some of their funding ambitions as they negotiate with Republicans.

Gov. Tina Kotek proposed doubling a 0.1% payroll tax for transit. Now Speaker Julie Fahey has an amendment that would sunset the increase after 2 yrs. #orleg

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Aug 27

The GOP's "Big Beautiful Bill" doesn't just include federal tax cuts. Because Oregon automatically adopts the federal code, it could blow a $373M hole in Oregon's budget. #orpol #orleg

www.opb.org/article/2025...

Federal tax cuts could blow a $373 million hole in Oregon’s new budget, economists say

The revenue forecast presents a choice for state leaders: Cut spending or effectively raise taxes.

www.opb.org

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Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Aug 25

Here they are. Expect this to grow ahead of the 3pm hearing.

olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025I1/C...

Transportation Funding Joint 2025-2026 Interim - Oregon Legislative Information System

olis.oregonlegislature.gov

Dirk VanderHart @dirquez.bsky.social · Aug 25

More than 1750 pieces of testimony have already been filed ahead of a public hearing today on @GovTinaKotek's bill to raise taxes to fund ODOT/transit.

No idea the overall makeup, but each one of the dozens I've checked have been opposed. #orleg #orpol

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