The Oregon Biz Report - Business News from Oregon

Bill would diminish single family housing

By Oregon Small Business Association,

Most people who live in single family zoned neighborhoods moved there because they wanted what single family neighborhoods offer: quiet, uncrowded streets lined with well-maintained houses occupied by justifiably proud homeowners. They wanted neighbors with driveways and garages in which to store their cars, not street parkers coming and going all day and night. They wanted privacy in their backyards, knowing that a 35 foot tall apartment building wasn’t going to replace the 1.5 story house next door, blocking our sunlight, and putting our private backyard on display to three stories of windows. They wanted a neighborhood, instead of just buildings full of transient strangers.

The very things people moved away from is now coming to their neighborhood.

PDX Airport bust: 5 guns stolen from people’s luggage

US Attorney Oregon District Office,

Deshawn Antonio Kelly, 27, a Portland resident and former baggage handler at Portland International Airport, pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing a stolen firearm after he was caught stealing firearms from the checked luggage of airline passengers.

According to court documents, between August 19, 2018 and September 17, 2018, Kelly was employed as a contract baggage handler at Portland International Airport. Over a four-week period beginning August 19, 2018, Kelly stole six firearms— three 9mm pistols, two .40 caliber pistols and one .45 caliber pistol—from five different checked bags. The guns were checked by passengers traveling to and from Oregon.

Shrader: Blocking Act opens drug competition

Congressman Kurt Schrader Press Release,

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee marked up and passed a series of bills aimed at lowering prescription drug costs, including Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA)’s bipartisan BLOCKING Act, HR 938, that would increase competition in the generic drug market.

“We know that when generic versions of medication are on the market it stimulates competition and keeps the cost of drugs down for everyone,” said Rep. Schrader. “But generic drugs don’t save anyone money if they aren’t on the market. Our bill targets and eliminates unnecessary delays in allowing more drugs to get to the market by ensuring both that manufacturers are still incentivized to produce more drugs and that markets continue to see robust competition. I want to thank my colleague, Buddy Carter, for his work on this, and for all of my colleagues for their support today.”

US Chamber criticizes Trump Cuba action

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement in response to the administration’s announcement relating to Cuba and Title III of the LIBERTAD Act:

“Six decades of trying to isolate Cuba has failed to bring change to the island, and today’s move only doubles down on this strategy. The U.S. Chamber’s support for a new approach to Cuba is founded in our profound conviction that more engagement with the Cuban people — on the basis of free enterprise and free markets — is essential to democratic change and improvements in the Cuban people’s lives.

Made in Oregon outperforms nation

By Oregon Employment Department,

Oregon-made products have secured a spot on store shelves around the country, and even the world. Some of these products have obvious Oregon roots, tasty things like marionberry jam, cheese, fine wines, and beers that say ‘Oregon’ right on the label. Some Oregon-made products remain out of view, however. For example, components in the device you’re reading this article with might have been made right here in Oregon. Whether you can see it on the label or not, Oregon’s manufacturing sector produces products ranging from basic wooden pellets to precise aerospace parts. The diverse sector is a fundamental component of the state’s identity, and will remain so as it continues to grow.

Oregon animation studio hit by film’s rise & fall

By Oregon Small Business Association,

A much praised and watched Oregon based animation company, Laika, just ran into it’s first film flop after a series of successful hits.

“Missing Link,” the latest movie by Hillsboro-based animation company Laika, grossed $5.8 million during its opening weekend—$10 million less than the company’s four earlier films earned upon release, according to the Oregonian/Oregon Live. It’s unclear why people didn’t flock to see “Missing Link” when it opened in 3,400 theaters nationwide, but Laika partnered with a new distributor for this film and the company’s chief executive, Travis Knight, left as production began to work on a Transformer’s film. He’s back now and renewed his commitment to Laika, which is owned by his father, Nike cofounder Phil Knight.

Rep. Bonham: A business friendly Family Leave Law

By Taxpayer Foundation of Oregon
Capitol Update Series

Most of the proposed paid family leave bills died midway through the Oregon Legislature, but one remains—and it’s likely to hurt small businesses.

Many lawmakers have been making a promise to provide workers with paid family leave for births, adoptions, and other medically necessary time off, and introduced legislation to do so. Under current law, employees working for companies with 25 or more workers can receive up to 12 weeks off for military or family leave, but under the new legislation, they would be paid.

Con. DeFazio: More time on LNG review

Congressman Peter DeFazio,

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio urged federal regulators to provide additional time for public comment on a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Jordan Cove LNG Project.

In the Oregon lawmakers’ letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Neil Chatterjee, they asked that the agency extend by 30 days its 90-day public comment period now scheduled to end July 5.

Critics knock Wyden investor tax

Wall Street Journal Editorial

The Democratic competition to bleed the rich has become fierce. If progressives aren’t satisfied with Elizabeth Warren’s proposed “wealth tax” of 3% a year, AOC’s 70% income tax, Bernie Sanders’s 77% estate tax, or Rep. John Larson’s uncapped payroll-tax increase of 2.4 percentage points, they now have a fifth option. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wants to tax capital gains as regular income, meaning rates up to 37%. He would also tax unrealized gains, perhaps decades before the investor sells.

Mr. Wyden hasn’t released a formal plan, so the details are sketchy. Under current law, long-term capital gains are taxed at rates up to 20%—plus a 3.8% ObamaCare surcharge on investment income—only after the asset is sold.