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Oregon Democrats weigh competing proposals to cap political donations

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Oregon Democrats weigh competing proposals to cap political donations


New proposals launched within the state Senate final week would set strict limits to quell the exorbitant spending in Oregon elections — with out the identical loopholes included in different payments launched by prime Democrats this session.

Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, launched two amendments to Senate Invoice 500 mirroring 2024 poll initiatives penned by Trustworthy Elections Oregon and the League of Ladies Voters. These teams search stringent limits on political donations and transparency in political promoting. The amendments aren’t but revealed on the Legislature web site.

Oregon is one among only a handful of states that enables donors to offer limitless sums of cash to political campaigns. The state noticed the results of that final fall when donors spent record-breaking sums within the three-way race for governor and poured an unimaginable amount of money into races for the state Home and Senate.

Democratic leaders have pledged to move marketing campaign finance limits this session after scrapping makes an attempt to deal with the difficulty in earlier years. Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek pledged to cap political donations whereas on the marketing campaign path final yr. Home Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, has publicly urged motion this yr. Nonetheless, it stays unclear whether or not a invoice to restrict contributions will recover from the end line.

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Kotek’s plan, Home Invoice 3455, would enable people, firms, unions and different entities to donate as much as $1,000 per main or common election cycle to candidates for state places of work, resembling governor or labor commissioner, and as much as $500 to candidates for the Legislature. Rayfield has launched a separate proposal, Home Invoice 2003, that may restrict contributions to $3,000 for a candidate for state workplace, $2,000 for a state Senate candidate and $1,500 for a state Home candidate.

Each proposals would enable unions, firms, restricted legal responsibility corporations, golf equipment and different entities to proceed donating on to campaigns. Each payments have been referred to the Home Committee on Guidelines and neither has had a listening to.

“Home Invoice 2003 is the results of a years-long means of collaboration with a various set of stakeholders,” Andrew Rogers, a spokesperson for Rayfield, mentioned in an e mail.

Nonetheless, Trustworthy Elections opposes each payments, which they are saying have important loopholes. Dan Meek, an lawyer who works with Trustworthy Elections to restrict cash in politics, mentioned Rayfield’s workplace hasn’t engaged with advocates as a lot as they’d like this spring. Meek mentioned he and different advocates met with Rayfield’s employees as soon as final month.

The group has bypassed state lawmakers by searching for to convey two proposals in entrance of voters in 2024. It plans to start gathering signatures for one of many proposals, which might set contribution limits and require political advertisers to disclose their true funding sources, after the state Supreme Court docket resolved a poll title dispute within the group’s favor, lawyer Jason Kafoury instructed The Oregonian/OregonLive.

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Golden, who has labored intently with Trustworthy Elections, agreed to introduce two amendments final week that mirror the group’s poll initiatives.

Kafoury mentioned Trustworthy Elections will nonetheless place the proposals on the 2024 poll if lawmakers are unable “to succeed in a deal that we think about to be actual marketing campaign reform.”

If handed, Golden’s invoice would stop firms, unions, restricted legal responsibility corporations and different entities from immediately contributing to campaigns. Solely people and sure sorts of entities, resembling political motion committees and small donor committees, might donate to candidates.

Donors might give not more than $2,000 to candidates for governor and different state places of work and $1,000 for state Home or Senate candidates per election cycle. Statewide candidates couldn’t settle for greater than a mixed $50,000 from committees managed by a single political get together, with a decrease restrict of $10,000 for Legislature races.

The proposal would incentivize using small donor committees that increase cash from people contributing underneath $251 per yr. The committees could be capped at donating not more than $20,000 to a gubernatorial candidate, for instance, which is ten occasions the restrict that the invoice units for different political motion committees that contribute cash to a number of candidates.

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The proposals submitted by Rayfield and Kotek additionally contain using small donor committees however neither presently consists of limits for the way a lot these committees would be capable of donate. Rayfield’s invoice additionally doesn’t presently set a restrict for donations of paid employees time that may be made to candidates. Rogers didn’t say when the invoice could also be amended so as to add limits in each these circumstances.

Golden’s proposals additionally embrace a public marketing campaign financing system modeled on Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program and guidelines requiring political advertisers to reveal their funding sources. Golden’s proposals are practically equivalent to the poll measures written by Trustworthy Elections, however he says he could have to “tweak” them to construct help.

In an interview, Golden mentioned he’s sponsoring the invoice as a result of the present legislative session is the “final greatest probability” for lawmakers to move marketing campaign finance reforms themselves.

“And if we will’t put one thing critical collectively, the activists will put one thing critical on the poll,” he mentioned. “And perhaps that’s how this all seems.”

Advocates lauded Golden for sponsoring their plans.

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“It’s nice to see Senator Golden providing another that would create significant limits and doesn’t create a strategy to bypass that,” mentioned Kate Titus, govt director of Widespread Trigger Oregon, which companions with Trustworthy Elections.

Nonetheless, she famous that previous negotiations with Democrats have fallen quick. Two measures fell by the wayside in 2021: Home Invoice 3343, sponsored by now-U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, and Home Invoice 2680, a weaker proposal spearheaded by Rayfield.

Reform efforts additionally failed final yr. As well as, Democratic Secretary of State Shemia Fagan disqualified 2022 poll initiatives penned by the great governance advocates that may have established marketing campaign spending limits and disclosure guidelines as a result of she mentioned the proposals ought to have included your complete textual content of the legal guidelines that may be modified, not simply the sections to be amended.

Oregon voters have repeatedly authorised contribution limits previously. However courts had persistently overturned these guidelines, till the state Supreme Court docket reversed earlier precedent in April 2020 and located that contribution limits are constitutional. Nonetheless, Fagan, the secretary of state, and Lawyer Normal Ellen Rosenblum concluded that the Supreme Court docket ruling didn’t revive contribution limits that voters authorised in 2006. Each Fagan and Rosenblum have refused to elucidate their reasoning.

When requested if he expects that lawmakers will lastly move marketing campaign finance limits this session, Rayfield instructed reporters final week he was assessing the political panorama in talks with lawmakers and advocates.

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“I don’t have a terrific reply for you now on whether or not we’re going to have the ability to discover alignment between all of the totally different voices,” Rayfield mentioned.

— Grant Stringer; gstringer@oregonlive.com



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Oregon

Powerball ticket worth $328.5 million sold in Oregon

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Powerball ticket worth 8.5 million sold in Oregon


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The first Powerball jackpot of 2025 was sold in Oregon and is worth $328.5 million, according to lottery officials.

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The winner purchased the winning ticket in Beaverton on Thursday, Jan. 17, the Oregon Lottery said. The retail location will not be revealed until a winner has come forward.

The winning numbers for the Saturday drawing were: 14, 31, 35, 64 and 69 and Powerball 23.

The winner has a year to claim their prize, Oregon Lottery spokesperson Melanie Mesaros said. After the winning ticket is presented, “it will take time before a winner can be identified due to security and payment processes.”

Oregon lottery winners, with few exceptions, cannot remain anonymous, Mesaros said.

The winner will have a choice between an annuitized prize of $328.5 million or a lump-sum payment of $146.4 million, according to lottery officials, which are both options before taxes.

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Last year, the largest Powerball prize won in Oregon — a $1.3 billion jackpot — was split between a Portland man, his wife, and friend.

Before Saturday, the most recent Powerball jackpot was sold in December in New York and was worth $256 million.

Powerball is a multi-state jackpot operated by 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Fernando Cervantes Jr., a news reporter for USA TODAY, contributed to this story.

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Cherrill Crosby is the executive editor of the Statesman Journal and The Register-Guard. Reach her at crosbyc@gannett.com



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Oregon’s Dan Lanning visits 5-star recruit Cantwell, top TE Premer during Midwest run

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Oregon’s Dan Lanning visits 5-star recruit Cantwell, top TE Premer during Midwest run


Oregon head football coach Dan Lanning has been a busy man.

But when you’re the man tasked with running one of the top college football programs in the country, burning jet fuel to shake hands and take photos is a big part of the gig. And Lanning was doing plenty of that last week.

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Lanning returned home last week on a two-day tear recruiting some of the top 2026 prospects in the country.

Lanning’s known stops included Lee’s Summit on Jan. 16, where the Tigers have 2027 interior line prospect Zach Harsha (6-5, 260) and 2028 tight end Max Trillo (6-4, 225).

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He was even busier the following day. He had stops at Raymore-Peculiar, where he visited with and offered four-star uncommitted running back DeZephen Walker (6-0, 205) who is believed to be heavily considering Kansas and Nebraska.

Raymore-Peculiar running back DeZephen Walker

Raymore-Peculiar running back DeZephen Walker. / Photo by David Smith, SBLive

He also headed to Illinois, where he swung by Lincoln-Way East to visit with quarterback Jonas Williams, who agreed with the Ducks on Aug. 3, 2024,

A trip to the Springfield, Mo. area was also on the docket, as Lanning traveled to Nixa High School to again meet with the country’s No. 1 2026 offensive lineman, Jackson Cantwell, on Jan. 16. The 6-8, 315 offensive tackle has offers from just about everyone in the country, though he has spoken highly of Lanning and his relationship with the Ducks coach – making Oregon one of the favorites for his services.

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Cantwell was honored by the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 18 during their AFC Divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans after he was selected to represent the Chiefs at the ‘Nike Ones’ showcase during Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans.

Lanning concluded his trip with a little basketball in Hutchinson, Kan., where he watched Great Bend tight end Ian Premer (6-6, 215) – the top tight end in the 2026 class – take on Hutchinson. Premer, a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball, impressed with 22 points in the game.

The Midwest swing adds to a busy month for Lanning, who also has been spotted with Utah No. 1 athlete Salasi Moa and recently secured a visit with top 2026 quarterback and Nashville native Jared Curtis.

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People with disabilities are extra vulnerable in major disasters like wildfires, says Oregon advocate

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People with disabilities are extra vulnerable in major disasters like wildfires, says Oregon advocate


FILE – Scorched wheelchairs rest outside Cypress Meadows Post-Acute, a nursing home leveled by the Camp Fire on Dec. 4, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. The staff was able to safely evacuate all 91 patients.

Noah Berger / AP

Jake Cornett, Executive Director and CEO of the advocacy group Disability Rights Oregon, says he will forever be haunted by Ashlyn Maddox’s death during the 2021 Oregon heat wave.

The Portland woman, 36, was disabled and living in a group foster home. She was dropped off by a medical transport company, but the company didn’t make sure she made it safely into her air-conditioned home. She ended up wandering around for hours in the heat, and died only 50 feet from safety.

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Cornett says, “These deaths are preventable with the right planning, the right strategy for mitigation, the right preparedness and a response plan that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and respects the needs of people with disabilities.”

Jake Cornett, executive director and CEO of Disability Rights Oregon.

Jake Cornett, executive director and CEO of Disability Rights Oregon.

Courtesy of Ramsey Cox

Cornett spoke with “All Things Considered” host Geoff Norcross about Oregon’s ability to help people with disabilities during a natural disaster, such as the deadly wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.


Geoff Norcross: If we were to transport those fires in Southern California here, would we see a similar catastrophe for people with disabilities?

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Jake Cornett: Surely, we fear that the same disasters we’ve seen play out in the catastrophes in the lives of people with disabilities in LA would play out right here in Oregon as well. And I don’t think this is just a theoretical question. It’s only a matter of time before we have major wildfires along Highway 20, very close by in Portland and in other major cities throughout our state.

Norcross: What is the obligation of local governments to provide for people with disabilities when disaster strikes? I guess I’m asking if the Americans with Disabilities Act applies here.

Cornett: Absolutely. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that cities, counties, the state and the federal government are taking into account what the needs are of people with disabilities, and providing accommodations for those needs when engaging in disaster planning.

Norcross: Getting information out to people quickly in a disaster is so critical, especially for something that’s as fast-moving as the LA wildfires. For people who are deaf or blind, can you talk about how that’s extra complicated?

Cornett: Absolutely. You know, emergency response notification systems that happen on your phone are a great tool if you have a phone, or if you have the technology to make your phone provide you the information you need. And that’s particularly important for folks who are blind.

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I think about a blind person who may not have the same visual access to information as others. If police run around your neighborhood and put a notice on your door that says “get out of town, there’s an evacuation order, you’re under wildfire threat,” that notice on your door might not be enough because you can’t access that information.

And this is where cities, counties and the state really have an obligation to adjust to how they communicate so that it’s effective for all people with disabilities.

Norcross: And again, when you say obligation, you mean a legal obligation, not just because it’s the right thing to do.

Cornett: Absolutely. There’s a legal obligation to do that under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Norcross: Even if an evacuation order gets to affected people quickly, there’s this expectation that most people will get in their car and they will leave. How does that expectation leave people with disabilities in even greater danger?

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Cornett: Yeah, that’s another huge issue for people with disabilities, especially when it happens quickly like the LA fires. People think evacuating is getting in the car, driving quickly away to safety.

But many people with disabilities don’t have access to a car, or they can’t physically drive a vehicle. They’re totally reliant on others to transport them to safety. So just providing that notice is not an adequate way to ensure that we are saving the lives of people with disabilities in the way it needs to be done.

Norcross: Is there an event here in Oregon that you can point to that shows us how situated we are to help people with disabilities when disaster strikes, good or bad?

Cornett: Here in Oregon, we’ve seen hundreds die or have serious injuries because of heat in the past few years. Climate change is real. We live in a warming environment, and it’s having a really disproportionate impact on seniors, on people with disabilities and people with underlying medical conditions.

And I’ll forever be haunted by a story of a 30-something year old woman who was dropped off by a medical transport company, but didn’t wait in their air-conditioned van to make sure that she got inside her home where there was air conditioning. Instead, they took off. She wandered around for hours before dying of heat, just 50 feet from her adult foster home.

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These deaths are preventable with the right planning, the right strategy for mitigation, the right preparedness, and a response plan that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and respects the needs of people with disabilities.



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