Latest news with #Merkley
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Record-breaking heat likely to hit Portland. Here's what to know
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Summer heat continues to build on Friday as Portland prepares for possible record-breaking temps over the weekend. Mostly sunny skies during the afternoon hours on Friday will help Portland area temperatures to warm into the mid-80s. Even warmer conditions are likely as a ridge of pressure builds over the western half of the country. Tillamook opens first owned-and-operated facility outside of Oregon Knowing the signs of heat-related illnesses is a must as Portland sees some of the hottest temperatures of the year this weekend. Taking breaks in air-conditioned locations and finding shade is a must. Limit your time outside during the middle of the day and wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing. The Portland Rose Festival will be ending on a hot note as the final few days of CityFair come to a close. The Grand Floral Parade will be dry and sunny. Wearing sunscreen is advised! Merkley leads bill protecting LGBTQ from 'hateful' Trump policies The threat of wildfires grows across the Pacific Northwest through the weekend as drought conditions grow and temperatures warm. The number of rain-free days will continue to add up across western Oregon and southwest Washington through the end of next week. Retired football star Jason Kelce gives shoutout to 'incredible' Oregon restaurant Rain remains absent as sunny and hot continues are helping to dry and warm much of the Pacific Northwest as June continues forward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Merkley, Balint look to block funding for Trump transgender orders
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) are seeking to block funding for President Trump's executive orders that affect the transgender community via a new bill. The 'No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act,' which both Merkley and Balint introduced in their respective chambers on Wednesday, aims 'to repeal certain executive orders targeting LGBTQI+ individuals,' according to the text of the Senate version. The bill also calls for federal funds to not 'be used to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out' specific executive orders from Trump including one he signed shortly after returning to the presidency to recognize male and female as the only two sexes and another order with an aim to stop transgender people from serving openly in the military. 'Freedom is the right to safely live as your authentic self without fear of harassment, discrimination, or violence,' Merkley said in a Thursday press release. 'President Trump and Republicans are attacking our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, and family members by rubberstamping discrimination in every aspect of daily life.' Balint, who is the first openly gay person to be elected to Congress from Vermont, said in the press release that the president 'cannot take away our rights or our health care just with the stroke of a pen.' 'I'm standing with Senator Merkley and my colleagues to show the Trump administration that their hate and dehumanizing rhetoric targeting queer Americans doesn't intimidate us. We won't back down when it comes to protecting our rights,' she added. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Merkley, Balint look to block funding for Trump transgender orders
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) are seeking to block funding for President Trump's executive orders that affect the transgender community via a new bill. The 'No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act,' which both Merkley and Balint introduced in their respective chambers on Wednesday, aims 'to repeal certain executive orders targeting LGBTQI+ individuals,' according to the text of the Senate version. The bill also calls for federal funds to not 'be used to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out' specific executive orders from Trump including one he signed shortly after returning to the presidency to recognize male and female as the only two sexes and another order with an aim to stop transgender people from serving openly in the military. 'Freedom is the right to safely live as your authentic self without fear of harassment, discrimination, or violence,' Merkley said in a Thursday press release. 'President Trump and Republicans are attacking our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, and family members by rubberstamping discrimination in every aspect of daily life.' Balint, who is the first openly gay person to be elected to Congress from Vermont, said in the press release that the president 'cannot take away our rights or our health care just with the stroke of a pen.' 'I'm standing with Senator Merkley and my colleagues to show the Trump administration that their hate and dehumanizing rhetoric targeting queer Americans doesn't intimidate us. We won't back down when it comes to protecting our rights,' she added. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Merkley leads bill protecting LGBTQ from ‘hateful' Trump policies
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – In an effort to protect the LGBTQ+ community from 'hateful' policies under the Trump administration, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is leading a bill, that he says, will counter anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders. The No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act, which Merkley introduced alongside Congresswoman Becca Balint (D-VT), would ensure that executive orders targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other Americans have no effect while also ensuring no federal funds are used to carry out those orders. The lawmakers said the bill takes aim at several executive orders issued by President Donald Trump, including an order signed on Trump's first day back in office that calls for the federal government to define sex as male or female — and for those sexes to be reflected on official documents such as passports. Class action lawsuit accuses Grocery Outlet of deceptive pricing in Oregon stores As reported by , the order rejects the idea that someone could transition to another gender or could identify as something other than male or female. The executive order states 'Across the country, ideologues who deny the biological reality of sex have increasingly used legal and other socially coercive means to permit men to self-identify as women and gain access to intimate single-sex spaces and activities designed for women, from women's domestic abuse shelters to women's workplace showers.' However, reports that the order is at odds with statements from transgender Americans who say they try to use those spaces to align with their identity and not to ''gain access to intimate single-sex spaces and activities designed for women.'' British man posed as billionaire, tricked Portlander in $1.9 million online romance scheme Merkley and Balint said their bill also takes aim at an executive order to reinstate a ban on transgender people entering the military, an order to prevent transgender youth from receiving along with an order banning transgender students from participating in school sports. 'Freedom is the right to safely live as your authentic self without fear of harassment, discrimination, or violence,' Sen. Merkley said in a press release announcing the bill. 'President Trump and Republicans are attacking our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, and family members by rubberstamping discrimination in every aspect of daily life. As we mark Pride Month this year, we say 'hell no' to this hate and honor those who have fought for LGBTQ+ equality by never giving up on the vision of America as a land of freedom for all.' 'Trump cannot take away our rights or our health care just with the stroke of a pen. I'm standing with Senator Merkley and my colleagues to show the Trump administration that their hate and dehumanizing rhetoric targeting queer Americans doesn't intimidate us. We won't back down when it comes to protecting our rights. No matter how much they try to erase us and our history, LGBTQI+ people are valued members of every community across this country,' Rep. Balint added. The bill is co-sponsored by several lawmakers including Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) along with Representatives Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD-06). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wyden, Merkley join effort creating binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley helped reintroduce a bill on Thursday that would create a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices. The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a binding code of conduct and create a system to investigate alleged violations of the code and other laws. Democratic lawmakers behind the bill note that Congress, the executive branch, all lower federal courts and every state supreme court all have ethics guidelines and rules enforcing them. Residents appeal Oaks Amusement Park's plan to install 135-foot Drop Tower ride Led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA), the SCERT Act would improve disclosure laws when a justice has a connection to a party, or a brief filed in the court, the lawmakers said. Additionally, they argue the bill would end the practice of justices determining their own conflicts of interest and would require justices to explain their recusal decisions to the public. 'All Supreme Court justices should be held to a binding code of ethics, just like all other federal judges, the executive branch, and Members of Congress,' said Sen. Merkley. The senator pointed to the Federalist Society, a conservative organization that has influenced Supreme Court nominations, as reported by . Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'Thanks to the Federalist Society, the highest court in the land has become compromised, pushing a right-wing, corporate viewpoint above all else,' Merkley said. 'To restore a government in service of the people—not the powerful—it's clear we need to pass the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.' Other provisions in the bill would require the court the adopt disclosure rules for gifts, travel and income received by justices and law clerks and would restrict what gifts they can accept to be as restrictive as rules for members of Congress. Additionally, the bill includes new recusal requirements for a party's lobbying or spending to campaign for a judge's confirmation. The bill would also require the Federal Judicial Center to study and report to Congress if the Supreme Court is complying with recusal requirements. Portland has the worst housing crisis outlook, LendingTree finds 'It's imperative the U.S. Judicial Branch serve its Constitutional duty to uphold laws set by Congress, not accept lavish gifts from constituents scheming to curry favor with the court,' Wyden added. 'I've been watchdogging Clarence Thomas' unethical acceptance of gifts and sounding the alarm that he and any other judge who won't recuse themselves in cases where they have a vested interest are compromising their oaths to defend the Constitution. If they won't recuse themselves, we must prevent any egregious breach of ethics by passing the Supreme Court Ethics, Recuse and Transparency Act.' The bill comes after reporting from ProPublica and The New York Times revealed Justice Clarence Thomas' record of accepting undisclosed gifts from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow. Democratic lawmakers backing the SCERT Act also pointed to reporting from ProPublica finding Justice Samuel Alito accepted private jet travel and an all-expenses-paid vacation from a hedge fund billionaire who gave more than $80 million to Republican organizations and had businesses before the high court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
