Latest news with #DanielBonham
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brickbat: Pay per Link
The Oregon Senate Rules Committee voted 3–2 to advance a bill that would require big tech companies like Google and Meta to pay at least $104 million and $18 million annually, respectively, to Oregon newspapers and journalism programs for linking to their content, despite opposition from tech industry groups. Supporters, including some Oregon publishers, argue the bill is a lifeline for struggling local newsrooms, compensating them for content that tech giants profit from. Critics, including tech lobbyists and Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham, warn that companies might restrict Oregon news on their platforms, reducing traffic to news sites, and claim the bill could face legal challenges for violating constitutional laws. The bill now heads to the full Oregon Senate for a vote, with Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek indicating her support. The post Brickbat: Pay per Link appeared first on
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill repealing Wildfire Hazard Map passes Oregon Senate
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Senate unanimously passed a bill on Tuesday in an effort to repeal the state's controversial Wildfire Hazard Map. The Wildfire Hazard Map was created in 2021 under the bipartisan Senate Bill 762, which directed the Oregon Department of Forestry to map out fire-prone areas in the state. Under SB 762, homeowners living in areas that are at a high wildfire risk face stricter building codes and must reduce vegetation on their properties. A provision in 2023 disallows insurers to cancel or decline to renew homeowners' insurance policies or increase premiums. Despite this, the backlash against the Wildfire Hazard Map has persisted. Tribes battle PGE's plan to seize Willamette Falls land Now, with SB 83, lawmakers are aiming to eliminate the map, and the property maintenance rules, with the Democratic Majority Office noting the maps did not represent various individual property conditions 'and would have had consequences for land and building regulations.' 'We need Senate Bill 83 to heal the huge divide among Oregonians, triggered by a wildfire map that made no logical sense to thousands of affected people,' said Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee Chair Jeff Golden (D –Ashland). 'That divide was squarely in the way of building the broad-based collaboration we need to meet the wildfire crisis, which is far beyond what government on its own can solve.' While repealing the map, the bill also directs state agencies to create fire regulations that property owners can choose to follow, or municipal governments can adopt regulations to enforce at the local level. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now By voting to repeal the map, the committee also nullified requirements for sellers to disclose a property's classification on the map and that property owners in hazard zones follow certain construction rules for accessory dwelling units and replacement buildings. Under SB 83, two members will be added to Oregon's Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, including one member from the firefighting field, and a second from the insurance industry. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality to issue reports on community smoke monitoring and response and directs the Public Utility Commission to report on efforts to reduce wildfire risk from utility infrastructure. 'Today, we celebrate a hard-fought victory for rural Oregon,' said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). 'Senate Bill 83 repeals the most flawed and overreaching aspects of Senate Bill 762 from 2021, including the State Wildfire Hazard Map, while preserving the programs that genuinely protect property owners and reduce wildfire risks.' Washington limits armed forces from entering the state without governor's OK 'I'm delighted to see Senate Bill 83 pass the Senate,' added Sen. Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction). 'Many of my constituents and thousands of Oregonians have made it clear: they want the ability to protect their homes without being burdened by unfair regulations. Today's vote is a crucial step toward undoing the damage caused by this flawed policy and returning control to landowners.' 'This has been years in the making. With today's overwhelming bipartisan support for Senate Bill 83, we are one step closer to undoing the harm caused by Senate Bill 762's wildfire map,' said Sen. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford). 'I want to thank the thousands of residents who raised their voices to make this possible, as well as my colleagues for their support. I look forward to seeing Senate Bill 83 move swiftly through the House and be signed by Governor Kotek, bringing much-needed relief to our communities.' SB 83 passed the Senate unanimously and heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon bill extending unemployment to striking workers advances
Two Democrats cited concerns about added costs to local governments already facing financial uncertainty before joining Republicans in voting against a bill that would make Oregon the first state in the country to extend unemployment to striking public employees. Senate Bill 916 passed 16-12 after a lengthy discussion Thursday on the Senate floor to move the bill to the House of Representatives. The bill would allow all striking workers to qualify for unemployment benefits after two weeks. They would have to pay back any unemployment benefits if they later received back pay for the time they were on strike. New Jersey and New York are the only states that currently allow striking workers to collect unemployment. The legislation also would extend unemployment to striking public employees in Oregon. The bill was introduced at the request of the AFL-CIO, a labor federation representing more than 300,000 workers at 288 unions. It received three public hearings, two informational meetings and hundreds of pieces of written testimony. Republicans submitted a 'minority report' proposing an alternate version of the bill. Their proposal would have implemented a four-week waiting period, required paying back benefits with interest if a worker received back pay and prohibited striking public employees from receiving benefits. The minority report also would have required unions to maintain 'adequate strike funds' to pay striking workers before members could access state benefits. Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, and other Republicans said the proposal would incentivize more frequent strikes. Bonham said Republicans believed the minority report protected 'the sanctity of this trusted institution' and the consideration of SB 916 contradicted messaging from Democrats and labor unions urging Republicans 'to get back to work' during the longest legislative walkout in history in 2023. 'I was told that Oregonians who do not show up to work, don't get paid,' he said. The motion to adopt the Republicans' proposal failed along party lines, 10-18. 'We cannot expect Oregonians working in unsafe conditions for inadequate pay to do nothing,' said Sen. Kathleen Taylor. D-Portland, chief sponsor of the bill. 'We have to ensure they can keep food on the table while they fight for change.' Taylor provided a flow chart of public employee unions' bargaining process which she said showed 210 days of negotiations are required by before they can strike. The Legislative Fiscal Office estimated the legislation would have minimal impact on the state budget, based on historical strike data of 1,196 employees going on strike for an average of 8.6 weeks per strike in the last 10 years. The office estimated benefits would total an additional $2.1 million in the 2025-27 biennium. As of December 2024, Oregon's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund had grown to $6.4 billion. Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, also spoke in support of the bill, saying Oregon businesses and the state's economy and communities thrive when workers do. 'The playing field is nowhere close to level between corporations and workers, and might I add non-profit hospitals,' Meek said. 'That's why I'm in support of this bill. To help level the playing field so that workers are not forced into a contract simply because they cannot afford to pay rent, to buy their groceries or pay for child care when they are out on strike.' Meek pointed to a presentation from the Oregon Employment Department during an informational hearing on the bill, which showed unemployment insurance benefits provide an average of $196 to $836 in weekly benefits. 'No one is getting rich going on strike,' he said. Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, who served on the Hillsboro School Board, said she had long been a champion of public employees and teachers in the state. But she questioned the legislation's potential impact on the financial stability of cities, counties and schools. Sollman also said actions by the Trump administration put into question the stability and survival funds critical for Oregon, which relies on about 32% of the state budget coming from the federal government. 'Now is not the time to be adding more uncertainty and more expenses, which Senate Bill 916 would certainly do,' she said. Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, expressed similar concerns. Golden said some Oregon cities and counties are 'teetering' on the edge of fiscal failure and the bill could mean another financial strain of unknown size if their unionized employees strike for more than two weeks. He addressed union members in the gallery, asking them not to task lawmakers with making Oregon a fairer economy "on the backs of our municipalities." 'No other state in the country allows public employees to receive unemployment benefits while on strike. Oregon would be the first. It makes sense to me that no other state has done this because all of them rely on municipal partners too,' Golden said. 'I would just ask if we want to be the first. I don't.' Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, said existing labor rules and laws protect workers in Oregon and opposition to the bill did not represent opposing workers. The bill rewarded workers voluntarily choosing not to go to work, Starr added. 'That's not what unemployment insurance is about,' he said. Bonham said after the bill passed that the legislation would reward political allies at the expense of small businesses, health care facilities and schools. The Oregon AFL-CIO applauded the bill's passage. 'This bill represents real progress for working people, those who've too often been left behind by policies that favor the wealthy and powerful,' Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor said in a statement. Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@ or on X @DianneLugo This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon bill extending unemployment striking workers advances
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon GOP leader cites false examples of government waste from parody X account
Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, talks during a legislative preview on Jan. 16, 2025, while Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, and Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-Portland, watch. (Photo by Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Oregon's Senate Republican leader shared debunked claims from a social media parody account about federal government spending in a state-issued email newsletter decrying 'fear-mongering and misinformation.' Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, dedicated the first 400 words of his official legislative newsletter on Monday night to 'cutting through the rhetoric' on several of President Donald Trump's recent executive orders. 'There has been a lot of fear-mongering and misinformation on Trump's recent executive orders,' Bonham wrote. 'While I am not surprised, the rhetoric is absolutely counterintuitive to having intellectually honest policy discussions. Agree or disagree, seeking truth around these policy decisions is important.' He proceeded to describe examples of 'gross mismanagement' uncovered by Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service, a commission Trump created to slash federal spending. Bonham's examples included more than half a billion dollars spent on sushi, hundreds of thousands on coffee and thousands on paper coffee cups — but those examples, which have spread like wildfire on conservative social media, aren't real. They originated with a Jan. 24, 2025, post on X, Musk's social media company, by a user named 'Not Elon Musk' that is clearly marked and reads as a parody account: 'Good morning X! My experience with DOGE has been totally wild so far. I told you yesterday about the $600 million per year the Pentagon was spending on Sushi… Well, I just found another wild one! The Air Force was spending $1,280 per paper coffee cup! Like literally those ones you find at the office. $1280!!! We also found that $230k per month was being spent by the IRS on Starbucks Cinammon Roast K Cups, but everyone was working from home! Anyway, back to work! Have a great day!' Right-wing users spread those claims around the internet, posting on Facebook and TikTok but without the parody disclaimer. And on Monday they made it to Bonham's newsletter. In an email to the Capital Chronicle, Bonham said he didn't know those claims originated from a parody account. He said they're minor compared to billions 'squandered' by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which handles most overseas humanitarian aid. 'I'm not without fault, but I definitely didn't pull it from a parody account,' he said. 'Those examples were all over the internet — shared widely. Your question feels like a smoke and mirror attempt to not cover the real issue — the gross mismanagement of spending.' The Air Force does have a history with expensive coffee cups, but they weren't paper cups: In 2018, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, pressed the agency for answers on why it spent nearly $1,300 apiece on special reheatable coffee cups that plugged into airplanes. The Air Force used them to heat coffee and soup on long flights and stopped buying them under congressional scrutiny in 2018, the Air Force Times reported. After questions from the Capital Chronicle, Bonham sent his constituents a second newsletter on Wednesday morning, noting that he received questions about his analysis of federal spending. Moving forward, he wrote, he'll use official government sources like and the Government Accountability Office, as well as the nonprofit fiscally conservative watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste. And this time, as Bonham decried spending he disagreed with — money for trans health care in Guatemala, purchases of Politico Pro's legislation tracking and policy newsletters, and 'improper' payments of the wrong amount or made to the wrong person — he cited his sources. 'The more I research the worse it gets,' he wrote. 'On a positive note, while people are questioning sources of certain waste examples, more attention is brought to this glaring issue — and our nation will be better for it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate Republican leader pitches increased state scrutiny of Oregon Food Bank
Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, talks during a legislative preview on Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo by Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) For years, legislative Republicans have argued that the Oregon Food Bank strayed from its mission of eliminating hunger by weighing in on political debates. On Tuesday, the top Republican in the Oregon Senate made his case for increased legislative scrutiny of the food bank and other nonprofit organizations that receive state funding. Sen. Daniel Bonham's Senate Bill 644, which would create a legislative committee to audit the food bank, had a skeptical reception in the Senate Human Services Committee. Democrats who make up the majority on that committee and in the Legislature questioned the need for that bill, as the food bank already publishes annual financial audits and it would cost the state to conduct the audit. Bonham's proposal reflects growing tensions between the food bank and Republicans, most of whom voted against sending $7.5 million to the food bank in 2023 when the federal government ended its pandemic-era temporary increase to food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Republicans objected to a food bank statement opposing the war in Gaza and support for hot-button bills on agricultural overtime and climate change. And most personally for Bonham, the food bank strongly opposed recent legislative walkouts — including one in 2023 that led to Bonham and other Republicans being barred from running for reelection. As the food bank laid out in its blog in 2019, 2020 and 2023, those walkouts delayed or outright blocked the Legislature from passing bills or approving spending. But Republicans have argued that the food bank went too far. 'I think what flagged this for me was seeing my face on the back of a full-page Sunday Oregonian ad, that I know cost $17,000, sponsored by the Oregon Food Bank,' Bonham said. 'And I thought, 'Wow, our tax dollars hard at work telling Republicans to get back to work on a bill that, quite frankly, would have raised the cost of living for every Oregonian by $1,200.' How does that align with this core mission that they put forward?' The Food Bank's stated mission is to 'to eliminate hunger and its root causes,' and it refers to root causes when it weighs in on legislation that may not immediately appear connected to feeding people. In 2023, for instance, it supported the abortion and transgender care bill that Senate Republicans including Bonham walked out to protest, reasoning that a lack of access to reproductive health care leads to increased hunger and poverty. Andrea Williams, president of the Oregon Food Bank, said the organization knows that food distribution alone — it gave out more than 91 million meals in 2024 — won't eliminate hunger. Williams brought printed copies of the food bank's annual financial audits, which are also on its website. In 2023, for instance, the Oregon Food Bank reported spending more than $90 million on food programs and $3 million on advocacy, out of a nearly $112 million total budget. It received more than $20 million in government funding, including the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Oregon Hunger Response Fund. None of that government funding was used for advocacy, Williams said. She said she believed it was right and fair to comply with legally required audits, but that Bonham's proposal would create a 'duplicative and frivolous audit' that would take resources from the food bank's mission when hunger is on the rise. 'Furthermore, we believe it would set an unfortunate and damaging precedent that if an organization lawfully advocates for policies and legislation on behalf of the people they serve, they risk a retaliatory and onerous audit by the legislature,' Williams said. Sandy Chung, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, said the state risked lawsuits if Bonham's 'dubious and undemocratic' bill passed. For instance, she said, the ACLU recently represented the National Rifle Association in a successful U.S. Supreme Court case against a New York state regulator who tried to coerce banks and insurance companies to deny financial services to the pro-gun group. 'We see it as fundamentally undemocratic, a dangerous abuse of power and likely unconstitutional to target a nonprofit organization with an audit because of its political speech,' Chung said. After Chung laid out some of the ACLU's concerns in a written statement on Monday, Bonham said he would introduce an amendment to broaden the scope of the bill to include more nonprofit organizations. But that, according to Jim White, executive director of the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, would likely cost the state millions of dollars. That's because thousands of nonprofits receive state funding, and the average cost of an audit is between $15,000 and $20,000. Hiring third-party certified public accountants to conduct audits would cost more. White added that the legislation could have a chilling effect on nonprofit organizations in Oregon. '(It) would send a really bad message to nonprofits that they should not practice their legal right to engage in the democratic process because they might get audited by a legislative committee,' White said. 'Nonprofits should not live in fear of legislative committee audits if they disagree on policy put forward by the Legislature.' The bill isn't likely to advance in the Legislature. Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene and an attorney, said he couldn't imagine supporting it. 'It seems to me that this is an attempt to set up for vindictiveness against nonprofits that someone may disagree with their philosophy or how they have done stuff,' he said. 'Clearly, this organization, based on the testimony I've heard today, has made it very clear they are following all the rules, all the regulations, following all the requirements of the state of Oregon.' And committee chair Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis, said she wanted to have a debate and discussion but didn't think an audit was the right way to do that. Instead, she said, lawmakers should talk about nonprofits' use of state money when they're deciding what to include in the budget. 'I think that we have to welcome that conversation, have the opportunity to get clarification, to point to where information is available to folks,' she said. 'And I hope as we move through the session we can give space to each other to have these conversations, to disagree with one another, and then figure out what we do in terms of policy, through that voice of debate.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
