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.
Restore health to housing
The federal government appears to have succeeded in preventing the financial crisis of 2008 from causing a broad economic collapse. Yet the housing market, where reckless excesses led to the crisis two years ago, is still in turmoil, and until it stabilizes a real economic recovery can’t take hold —
Reforming the filibuster
When you think about the filibuster, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many Americans, it’s still the classic 1939 flick, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” in which a hoarse, exhausted Sen. Jefferson Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart, uses the filibuster to stop special interests from killing plans
Merkley works to stem the tide of foreclosures
Standing on her doorstep with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley Wednesday, Kristie Duncan of Medford described how she tried for three years to get a loan modification while in foreclosure and failed — until she tapped the clout and savvy of ACCESS Inc. housing counselors. “It’s been a nightmare, with 50
Merkley unveils plan to stem tide of foreclosures, help struggling homeowners
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) unveiled a plan Tuesday to help struggling homeowners and reduce foreclosures as the housing market continues to find its footing. “We’re not going to see a true economic recovery until we do something about the broken housing market,” Merkley said. Merkley’s proposal would provide a
DeFazio, Wyden, Merkley decry VA Roseburg process
Both Oregon senators and Rep. Peter DeFazio have asked Department of Veterans Affairs SecretaryEric Shinseki to stop a process that is likely to change the way the federal agency provides care and services to southern Oregon veterans. They professed dismay with the direction of an independent review of the VA
Lawmakers Cheer EPA’s Biomass Break
The Environmental Protection Agency responded Wednesday to a request from Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to clear the way for the production of biomass energy in Oregon and other states by announcing that EPA will exempt carbon emissions from biomass facilities from Clean Air Act regulation for at least three years.