It Could Happen: Oregon’s Attorney General Announces Environmental Crimes Enforcement Unit
By Christopher Rycewicz, Brian T. Sniffen
Miller Nash LLP,
Oregon and Washington Law Firm
After less than one year on the job, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger appears close to fulfilling one of his [...]
By Wells Fargo Bank,
Faced with an uncertain economy, some business owners are re-evaluating their use of technology. The latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, surveyed October 5-9, shows over half of respondents (58 percent) reporting that they have delayed technology purchases due to the economy, [...]
Treasurer Westlund seeks more transparency for investors about climate risks to companies
By Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund,
SALEM – In life and investing, there’s a truism that “What you don’t know can hurt you.” Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund is asking the Securities and Exchange Commission [...]
Holiday shoppers will get an early start this year whether they are ready or not. Retail giants have embarked on an advertising spending spree in an attempt to lure bargain shoppers to their stores earlier this year, signaling the economy may be on the rebound.
Target, Wal-Mart, [...]
by Jessica Nelson
Oregon Employment Department
The number of working poor in the United States increased slightly between 2006 and 2007. The working poor are individuals who were in the labor force for at least 27 weeks during the year, but still had incomes below the official poverty [...]
By Bill Conerly, Businomics, Conerly Consulting,
This recession has shaken people up, but what will be the lasting effects on consumer behavior? That’s one of the key questions as we look forward at the nature of the recovery. I’ve been arguing for a “return to normalcy,” in which people [...]
The latest consumer products that are being caught up in the regulatory spotlight are flat screen TVs, rum, and raw oysters.
Flat screen TVs
In California, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is considering new efficiency standards for television screens smaller than 58 inches. If adopted, TVs sold [...]
Washington Domestic Partnership Law Impacts Employee Benefits and Family Leave
by Dennis Westlind
Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law
Washington voters recently approved Referendum 71, giving registered domestic partners all of the rights and responsibilities of married couples under Washington state law. Prior domestic partnership [...]
By Kylene Fickenscher
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
Stephanie Stano, founder of Recycle Your Mat, and Zenana Rose of Zenana Spa are developing successful businesses within a specific niche market. By delivering innovative ideas to an untapped market, and supplementing their products with strong connections to the community, these [...]
Barran Liebman LLP
Oregon Law Firm,
On Wednesday, November 18, 2009, the Senate released its take on health care reform through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. While in some ways similar to the recent House bill, the Senate bill reflects some key differences of [...]
From Regional Multiple Listing Service
Sales activity continued to outpace levels from the same month last year in the latest RMLS™ Market Action report. Inventory was also down in several areas, including Lane County, Portland and Clark County.
Both pending and closed sales increased in 9 out [...]
José Pinomesa, Chairman
Oregon Independent Auto Dealers Association
It is now November and the sale of vehicles has slowed down quite a bit. I have always said that those with money will always buy what they want when they want. The problem we have now [...]
Dr. Eric Fruits,
Econinternational
Oregon’s legislators are quick to complain that they had to find $2 billion in state budget cuts in the last legislative session. These complaints are a bit disingenuous when, in fact, as the figure above shows, the legislatively approved budget has [...]
New Oregon law has ramifications for employers
By Matt Lowe,
Odonnell and Clark and Crew,
Portland law firm
Do you have, or do you know of, an employee who always seems to complain about company policies and how those policies violate the employee’s “right” of free [...]
By Bill Conerly, Businomics, Conerly Consulting
I’ve updated my economic forecast for 2010. Here’s a chart showing quarterly growth rates:
Key features: consumer spending on durables dips this quarter (after cash-for-clunkers), then grows at a pace that mixes conservative attitudes with pent-up demand and limited [...]
More than 417,000 New Jobs Needed in Oregon To Revive and Grow the Economy
U.S. Chamber’s Campaign for Free Enterprise Travels to the Northwest
PORTLAND, OR—Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. campaign traveled to Oregon to engage local business leaders in an ongoing effort to [...]
CareerBuilder Survey Reveals the Most Unusual Requests or Suggestions Hiring Managers Received
CHICAGO, November 11, 2009 - Hiring managers nationwide took some time to bring levity to the workplace in a new CareerBuilder survey. More than 2,900 shared the most memorable requests or recommendations they have received in the office suggestion [...]
By Patrick Emerson
Oregon Economics Blog
The Oregonian reports on Portland having received a rating as one of the safest walking cities in America—Portland was #9. But is it really a safe walking city?
The methodology is seriously flawed. It is clearly designed to make a [...]
Mark Burles
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Public Affairs , Seattle
I think the biggest decision the Obama Administration confronts in preparing for his upcoming visit to China is not what issues to raise with his hosts, but how to raise them.
Addressing the key topics first, [...]
Polls show recession not over, and publis wants business to help not government
From Oregon Small Business Association,
82% of Americans think the recession is not over
62% said business will play a larger role in helping the economy recovery than government
45% rated the economy as [...]
Portland & Keizer eyeballing additional telecom taxes without public vote
By Pac-Tech Alliance,
Both citing declining revenue from traditional wireline taxes the cities of Portland and Keizer have announced they are considering additional taxes on wireless telecommunications and other utilities without a public vote (even though [...]
Oregon Court of Appeals Upholds Claim of Negligent Failure to Investigate
by P.K. Runkles-Pearson
Stoel Rives LLP, Attorneys at Law
In Steele v. Mayoral et al., the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that a plaintiff could take to the jury her claim that her [...]
Latest Wells Fargo survey: expectations for increased revenues improve small business owner optimism
Outlook also better for capital spending and credit availability
From Wells Fargo Bank,
Optimism among small business owners improved during October, driven by improved outlook for revenue, capital spending and hiring, according to the latest results [...]
Survey conducted by the Oregon Community Foundation
Challenged by the recession, survey results show that nonprofits must take steps to contain costs and continue to serve their communities. In 2009, private donations have decreased by 50% while the demand for services has increased 12%.
The Oregon Community [...]
By Tim Duy,
Oregon Economic Forum
Index highlights:
• The University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators rose 0.1 percent in September to 84.4 from a revised August figure of 84.3. The behavior of the Index remains consistent with an imminent end to the recession [...]
Dr. Eric Fruits,
Econinternational Blog
The Oregonian reports that Oregon state officials deliberately underestimated the cost the governor’s tax credit scheme to attract “green” companies and to encourage “green” projects. The Business Energy Tax Credits (BETC) are huge give-aways: Enterprises that don’t pay taxes (like [...]
AT&T Inc. has sued Verizon Wireless for their “There’s a Map for That” ads which is a direct counter to At&T’s “There’s an App for that” commercials. See ad here. AT&T states that the maps used are wrong because there is still coverage in areas where “3G” service is [...]
By Martin Medeiros
Partner, Swider Medeiros Haver LLP
The State of Oregon needs new direction in its leadership to reverse the downward trend in income statistics that began in 1980, the last year Oregon’s per capita was equal to or above the national average. Not only [...]
Yesterday, Ford announced a $997 millon profit at a time when auto companies are suffering historic losses. The Atlantic Wire charted five major reasons for their success.
- Self Sufficiency (goodwill from not taking bail-out)
- Cash for Clunkers
- Solid Vehicles (wooing critics and customers)
- [...]
By Bill Conerly, Conerly Consulting LLC, Businonmics
The numbers for the third quarter look nice, or what passes for nice these days. GDP rose smartly, pretty much confirming the general view that the recession is over (more on that below).
The details surprised me a bit, [...]
The outlook for seasonal hiring in the fourth quarter of 2009 is projected to be similar to 2008, according to a new CareerBuilder survey. Eighteen percent of hiring managers plan to hire seasonal workers to meet business needs associated with the holidays and end-of-the-year wrap-ups, on par with 17 percent [...]
