Bend awarded $5 million federal grant to fuel affordable housing production
Bend Bulletin The city of Bend has received a $5 million grant intended to kickstart affordable housing supply, the federal government announced Wednesday. Awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the grant set the course for the city to identify and address policies that slow affordable housing
Wyden, Merkley announce $30.1 million in ‘Payments in Lieu of Taxes’ to Oregon counties; $6 million to C. Oregon
KTVZ WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Thursday that counties throughout Oregon will receive more than $30.1 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2024, including over $6 million for Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT
Wyden, Merkley, colleagues call on Postal Service to prepare for November election
KTVZ WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden said Thursday he is leading Senate colleagues including fellow Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley in calling on Postmaster General DeJoy and the U.S. Postal Service to share their plans to accommodate high volumes of mail expected in the upcoming 2024 general election in Oregon and nationwide.
Editorial: Social Security should get the message
We’d think the Social Security Administration would be senior-savvy. It recently revealed it is not. On July 30, Social Security rolled out a new safeguard for users of its “my Social Security” accounts. Those are online accounts for doing things such as reviewing benefits, changing address or changing the location
Social Security changes policy to better accommodate seniors
WASHINGTON – Last week, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., wrote a letter to Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin to address his concerns over a new system that would block online access to benefits for seniors without a text-enabled cellphone. The Social Security Administration announced Monday they will change the policy and
The medical debt crisis: The prognosis is still dire for Americans struggling to pay off massive health care bills
Recent evidence suggests that the Affordable Care Act is helping to reduce the burden of medical debt for American consumers. Yet, especially in states that have not expanded Medicaid, millions of Americans still lack insurance and many plans offer thin coverage. The result is that in 2014, 64 million people were struggling with medical
Sanders joins Democrats criticizing DEA for marijuana decision
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont led a chorus of critics after the Drug Enforcement Administration declined to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes — the latest example of fast-changing politics in the war on drugs. “People can argue about the pluses and minuses of marijuana, but everyone knows it’s not a
Merkley urges Senate panel to confirm EXIM Bank nominee
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jeff Merkley , D-Ore., called on Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Richard Shelby on Thursday to act on strong bipartisan support for the Export-Import Bank by confirming the EXIM Bank Board of Directors nominee to restore the operating quorum. Small businesses across America, including
Merkley to Social Secuity: Don’t expect seniors to have texting cellphones
PORTLAND, Ore. – Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., wrote Tuesday to Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin to address the new system at the Social Security Administration that requires seniors receiving Social Security benefits to have a text-enabled cell phone in order to log into their online accounts. Merkley specifically asked for
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