Here’s a round-up of what’s happened this week in local and state politics:
Top Portland-Multnomah County Homelessness Job Picked
It’s one of the hardest high-profile local jobs. County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Mayor Ted Wheeler have picked a professional with massive political and administrative experience to lead the joint office on homeless services. Kaiser Permanente executive Dan Field previously worked for former Portland Mayor Vera Katz as well as Gov. John Kitzhaber (during his time in the legislature). [Oregonian]
Yes on Semiconductors
The Legislature passed a package to fund the semiconductor industry and give the governor extraordinary powers to convert some farmland into industrial space as needed. That may give the state a good shot at leveraging federal dollars from the Biden Administration’s program to build American semiconductor factories. Now the Legislature will move on to considering a tax break for chip companies that invest in research in the state too. [OPB]
Oregon Alcohol Tax Died
One of the bills that failed to get a hearing before the legislative deadline was a proposal to raise the taxes on beer, cider, and wine. Advocates pushed a tax as a public health measure to address Oregon’s drinking problems. Beer and wine taxes haven’t been raised since 1977 and 1983, respectively. [Willamette Week]
