For the past 15 years I've chosen the issue of our world's population as my activism focus. This has led to leadership in Population Connection (formerly ZPG - Zero Population Growth) as well as activities on behalf of other groups such as the Population Media Center, VHEMT, Planned Parentho...

Oregon's current gas tax is $.24 a gallon, unchanged since 1993.  Had it kept pace with inflation, the tax would be $.35 a gallon--about what it is in Washington (37.5 cents) and California (35.3 cents).  Oregon Dems would like to raise the tax but naturally, everyone's going cra...

By Representative Nick Kahl (D-Rockwood). In Jeffrey Jeremy Wright’s post, “Why progressives should support the MLS to PDX proposal,� he supposed that to challenge the use of urban renewal dollars in this instance is to challenge the validity of urban renewal itself. Well, I am offering a chal...

One: If you're sitting around this weekend in awe of the western Oregon March snowfall, perhaps the issue of global climate change will enter your mind. Or maybe it won't because you'll just be too damn cold to care. Either way, Cascade Policy Institute is schlepping Patrick Michaels (a guy who want...

One: If you're sitting around this weekend in awe of the western Oregon March snowfall, perhaps the issue of global climate change will enter your mind. Or maybe it won't because you'll just be too damn cold to care. Either way, Cascade Policy Institute is schlepping Patrick Michaels (a guy who want...

In yet another installment of his series looking at possible 2010 gubernatorial candidates, the O's Jeff Mapes talks to Steve Novick. [Novick] appears ready to test his political appeal in the signature statewide contest of 2010: the race for governor. "There are a few more things that need to fall ...

In yet another installment of his series looking at possible 2010 gubernatorial candidates, the O's Jeff Mapes talks to Steve Novick. [Novick] appears ready to test his political appeal in the signature statewide contest of 2010: the race for governor. "There are a few more things that need to fall ...

Yesterday, the Oregon Legislature completed its work in closing the giant $855 million budget hole for the last few months of this biennium. How did they do it? From the O: To fill the $855 million hole, lawmakers agreed to spend about $405 million of the federal stimulus money set aside for Oregon,...

Yesterday, the Oregon Legislature completed its work in closing the giant $855 million budget hole for the last few months of this biennium. How did they do it? From the O: To fill the $855 million hole, lawmakers agreed to spend about $405 million of the federal stimulus money set aside for Oregon,...

Last night I schlepped myself down to Backspace in Portland to take in Brewhaha, the latest quirky and fun Bus Project voter education program. The event featured a series of throw down debates between folks representing a variety of Oregon budget issues that may see the ax fall their way. An NCAA B...