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Oregonians also planning suffrage centennial

Oregonians also planning suffrage centennial

Word filters north of the Oregon-Washington border that Oregonians, too, are busy organizing a big celebration for their state’s centennial of women gaining the right to vote.  (Hey, no smarty-mouth comments from chauvinists out there!). As faithful readers of From Our Corner know, Washington already is into the centennial, since our Legislature approved  suffrage in 19-aught-nine and the male voters approved it in November of 1910.  Washington’s celebration is led by the Women’s History Consortium, the Washington State Historical Society…

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Oregon gay-marriage advocates eye ballot

Oregon gay-marriage advocates eye ballot

As Washingtonians wrap up their balloting on expansion of domestic partnerships, south of the border in Oregon, advocates of same-sex marriage are launching a multi-year effort to overturn a state constitutional ban on gay marriage. The Oregonian newspaper’s coverage is here  and political blogger Jeff Mapes’ post is here . Washington is one of many states with a Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.  Referendum 71 on Tuesday’s statewide ballot is…

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South of the border: Oregonians to vote on taxes

South of the border: Oregonians to vote on taxes

The Washington elections will long be over by then, but come January, Oregonians will be voting on taxes. Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown certified two referenda to the Oregon ballot, giving voters the last word on $733 million worth of personal and corporate income tax hikes that were adopted by Salem earlier this year to help close a huge budget gap.  Washington lawmakers closed a $9 billion gap without general tax increases, but some majority Democrats say some modest…

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We work here, too

We work here, too

I was reminded today that libraries are places where people work – not just places where people come to hang out, find information, relax and meet friends, use a wireless connection, attend a story time, or much more. A message came across my computer screen today from the Oregon library email discussion list, Libs-Or, posted by Jane S. Kirby. The message pointed to the the Oregon OSHA web site which recently updated its information on Pandemic Influenza/H1N1 Influenza, http://www.orosha.org/subjects/pandemic.html. It…

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UPDATE: Taxes, the road not taken …

UPDATE: Taxes, the road not taken …

Remember the Oregon Legislature’s bold decision last month to boost taxes to help fill a multibillion-dollar budget gap?  Well, as predicted, the $733 million in personal and corporate tax hikes didn’t go over well with critics, who assailed the very idea of raising taxes during a deep recession. On Tuesday, a group called Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes filed referenda against the two tax bills.  They’re talking about spending $500k on the signature-gathering campaign. They need roughly 55,000 valid voter signatures by Sept. 25…

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Taxes: The road not taken …

Taxes: The road not taken …

It’s a tale of two states. Washington’s legislative session almost seems like ancient, painful history by now.  The Democratic-controlled Legislature and Democratic governor dealt with a $9 billion budget gap by spending cuts, hiring freezes and furloughs, federal dollars and various light-bulb snatches – but no general taxes, not even a referendum for funding popular programs like kids’ health and higher education. Nearly every facet of state government was cut or restrained.  Cuts take effect tomorrow.  Lawmakers finished on time, within 105…

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Oregon joins the online parade …

Oregon joins the online parade …

Oregon is joining Washington and a handful of other states in pioneering the use of online voter registration. In Salem, Oregon lawmakers have just sent their online bill to Governor Kulongoski for his signature. Secretary of State Kate Brown,who introduced the measure after conferring with Washington election officials, said in a statement  “Not only will this make registering to vote easier, safer and more secure, but will bring voter registration to where so many young people live: the online world.” The Oregon…

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