Oregon: Peter Defazio

On Thursday, the Portland Tribune reported on Capitol rumors that Portland City Commissioner (and BlueOregon contributor) Randy Leonard may be a candidate for Governor in 2010: When Sources Say made a recent trip to the Oregon Capitol, we were surprised – no, make that shocked – to learn that some legislators and lobbyists consider city Commissioner Randy Leonard a viable Democratic candidate for Oregon governor in 2010, when Gov. Ted Kulongoski finishes his second term. Leonard was mentioned right up there with such other high-profile possible contenders as Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio, former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and left-leaning political...

By Congressman Peter DeFazio. When the House passed the stimulus package two weeks ago, I cast a reluctant yes but only after an amendment to add $3 billion for transit was accepted. That was progress. But I said at the time the bill needed changes in the Senate and conference committee before I would support final passage. I particularly opposed the $300 billion in tax cuts added at the outset to capture Republican support and votes that didn’t materialize. Last year, we did $160 billion in tax cuts for the Bush “recovery plan”. We received a quarter of one percent...

The stimulus package won final passage in the U.S. House today - passing 246 to 183. It didn't get a single Republican vote. Also voting against the bill were seven Democrats, including Oregon's Congressman Peter DeFazio. The other six are all conservative Democrats from GOP-leaning districts, including three rookies: Bobby Bright (AL-2), Parker Griffith (AL-5), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Gene Taylor (MS-4), Walt Minnick (ID-1), and Collin Peterson (MN-7). DeFazio had previously expressed frustration with the changes made to the stimulus bill in order to win cloture in the Senate. From the Bend Bulletin: Senate Democrats should consider taking even tougher...

Oregon’s highest elected officials will descend on Portland Thursday for the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit.

The summit, which will take place at the Oregon Convention Center, is an annual gathering of business and political leaders to meet and discuss plans for the state’s economy and improve the quality of jobs available to Oregonians.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski will be participating in a panel with Oregon business leaders on staying focused on priorities during tough economic times.