Governor Kulongoski urges President to consult with governors on strategy In a letter sent Wednesday, Governor Ted Kulongoski expressed his "strong" opposition to the President's proposal to increase troop levels in Iraq as part of his revised strategy. The Governor highlighted that any increase in troops could ultimately impact Oregon's National Guard troops here at home who have already served and the length of deployment for those currently serving overseas.    Governor Kulongoski and Colonel Mike Caldwell talk with ... [full story]

Urges Adoption of Proposal to Shift Funds to Alternative Energy Development  Wednesday, in advance of yesterday’s floor debate, Governor Ted Kulongoski urged the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and Oregon’s Congressional delegation to adopt H.R. 6, which would reallocate $13 billion in federal oil and gas industry subsidies towards investments in renewable energy technologies. “Last year’s Energy Bill was a handout to the oil and gas industry at a time when our country should have ... [full story]

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced legislation yesterday that would give every American the same kind of coverage that Members of Congress receive for the same amount being spent on health care today. Under the legislation, all Americans -– including the 46 million uninsured -– would be covered by health care insurance for no more than is spent today. The legislation also contains tough cost containment and according to ... [full story]

Coming off the most encouraging results ever, Oregon this month begins a new round of unannounced visits to the state's tobacco retailers to check compliance with laws forbidding sales to minors. In the 2006 inspections, clerks at 11 percent of the 489 retailers visited sold to minors, the state's lowest recorded rate in the 12 years of the program and less than a third of the rates recorded during the first two years of inspections, ... [full story]

U.S. Army Sgt. Sean Patrick Fennerty of Portland, Oregon has been killed in Iraq, the Oregon Military Department announced this week. Sgt. Fennerty, 25, was killed Saturday while conducting combat operations against anti-Iraqi forces in the Al Anbar Provice of Iraq when the M1124 high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle he was in was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) or roadside bomb.   U.S. Army Sgt. Sean Patrick Fennerty of Portland, Oregon was killed in ... [full story]

“Bayer must register clinical trials and post study results on a national public registry” The settlement requires the drug manufacturing giant to register its clinical trials on a national website and post the study results.  Registration of clinical studies and timely posting of study results ensures that all material information from clinical trials are made available to doctors and consumers, not just studies with positive outcomes. The judgment admits no law violation. Bayer introduced Baycol, ... [full story]

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez on Wednesday announced a $2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Pendleton, Oregon.  The investment will help build water, sewer, utility and road infrastructure to serve the Coyote Business Park.  The investment is expected to create 200 jobs and generate $10 million in private investment. “President Bush and I are committed to partnering with communities to promote innovation and competitiveness.  ... [full story]

Kulongoski Urges Legislature to act on his 2007 agenda for energy independence as first step SALEM, OREGON – This week Governor Ted Kulongoski promised to build on his administration’s efforts to combat the causes of global warming in Oregon and neighboring states, and to link those efforts to his energy independence agenda for the development of home grown power sources that are clean, secure and sustainable.  The Governor met with members of three working groups he appointed, ... [full story]

(SALEM)  Oregon State Representative Donna Nelson (R-McMinnville) has received overwhelming support for HB 2459, the bill to make English Oregon’s official language. Phone calls and e-mails to the Representative have been almost universally positive, providing feedback from all over the state. “I’m getting calls from Pendleton to Medford to Tillamook,” said Representative Nelson. “I’m grateful to hear from so many Oregonians -– and I encourage everyone calling in from outside my legislative district to let their ... [full story]

Statement of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) in response to President George W. Bush’s State of the Union speech: "At community meetings from Oregon to Maine, two topics dominate: Iraq and health care. I want to work in a bipartisan manner on both issues and I want to keep my door open to the Bush Administration on both of these issues. "Thus far, the President has not convinced me that overstretching our military even further ... [full story]

U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio, (D-Oregon) this week responded to President Bush's State of the Union address. Following are DeFazio's remarks regarding Iraq, energy, healthcare, budget, taxes, immigration, military, and social security reform:"American voters sent a clear message for change last November that the president's failed policies on Iraq, the economy, energy policy, and health care, are no longer acceptable. Tonight's speech proves the president was not listening. He offers no substantial changes to the American ... [full story]

U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) released the following statement Tuesday evening reacting to the President’s State of the Union Address: “It is very important that the President focused on several key issues that families face every day,” Smith said.  “We need better forms of energy production that won’t strap the family budget, but will power our cars and heat our homes efficiently.  Equally important is the President's emphasis on healthcare.  I am pushing to see ... [full story]

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) on Thursday issued a proposed order to Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Inc., granting a certificate of need for a 138-bed general acute care hospital to be located in Hillsboro at 19400 N.W. Evergreen Parkway. This 15-acre site is the current location of Kaiser's Sunset Medical Office Building. The capital expenditure for this project is estimated to be $280 million. Project approval is contingent on two conditions: ·         Kaiser must ... [full story]