The Pew Charitable Trusts - State and Consumer Initiatives from Oregon

Cheers! All 50 States Embrace the Home Brew Boom

As of July 1, all 50 states will allow aspiring brewers to make their own beer at home. But states are still figuring out how to regulate the popular hobby.

After Years of Defeats, Immigrants Win Big State Victories in 2013

Arizona’s immigration crackdown is a fresh memory for many, but now many states are passing immigrant-friendly laws. Find out what is driving the change.

Lawmakers Chew on Weighty Issues: ‘Whose shad fry is the best?’

Photo Slideshow: Lawmakers call time out to weigh delicious legislation.

After Expanding Coverage, Health Care Pioneer Seeks to Tame Costs

The Affordable Care Act will extend health care coverage to almost everybody. Now states are moving on to the next frontier in health care reform: containing costs. Once again, Massachusetts is taking the lead by putting its health care industry on an annual budget and requiring all insurers and medical providers to make detailed price lists available to the public.

The Latest in Office Supplies: Treadmills

Oregon state workers may test treadmill desks as a way to improve health and increase productivity.

Can Better Organization Produce More Graduates?

Salem, Ore – Governor John Kitzhaber has overhauled education to improve the state’s dismal graduation rate.

Maryland Repeals Death Penalty, Sixth State in Six Years

Maryland became the sixth state in as many years to repeal the death penalty. But the fate of the state’s five remaining death row inmates is up to Governor Martin O'Malley.

30 Cities: An Introductory Snapshot

Pew recently updated its 30-city snapshot interactive, with new data on population, home values, income and unemployment. Pew's American Cities Project focuses on the biggest city in the nation's 30 largest metro areas.

Seizing Medicaid Expansion as a Means to Reform

Alabama aims to make its Medicaid program more efficient, before expanding it. Under consideration is a regional care plan developed in Oregon.

Issue To Watch: Immigration

Long-bottled-up bills that address state policies on whether to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students could become law this year, because of changes in party control of legislative chambers and changes in federal policy.

Old Money, New Decisions in Oregon

Almost a decade after balancing its budget with millions of dollars earned off the massive nationwide tobacco settlement reached in 1998, Oregon lawmakers have a second chance this year to put the settlement money to different use.

Oregon State of the State Address 2013

SALEM, Oregon -- Jan. 14 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Kitzhaber's (D) 2013 State of the State Address

Public Safety in Oregon

Public Safety Performance Project> State Work> Georgia Oregon’s prison population has more than quadrupled over the past 30 years, and the state’s imprisonment rate has risen more than three times faster than

Falling Short on Dental Sealants: Oregon

How well is Oregon protecting kids from tooth decay?

Oregon Lawmakers To Consider Nike Expansion in Special Session

Governor John Kitzhaber has asked lawmakers to convene in special session Friday to consider legislation aimed at guaranteeing that Nike will expand in Oregon rather than elsewhere.

Wildfire Epidemic Leaves States Searching for Answers

The West is getting hotter and drier and stoking more destructive fires. They have left fire control officials looking for ways to fight them more effectively with fewer dollars.

After Election Day Confusion, Hawaii Gov Pushes Full Mail-In Voting

On the heels of an Election Day plagued by long lines and mass confusion, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie says he’s pushing for major changes to voting on the islands —mainly, the elimination of the traditional Election Day altogether.

Best of #StateReads: Why New Jersey’s Trains Flooded but New York’s Stayed Dry

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Openly Gay Lawmakers Selected To Lead Chambers

Oregon Representative Tina Kotek is poised to join openly gay lawmakers in Colorado and Washington as a leader of a state legislative chamber.

The Impact of the Fiscal Cliff: Oregon

Federal and state finances are closely intertwined, and the fiscal cliff’s tax and spending provisions will have consequences for states.

Sunshine Overruns: Hawaii’s Solar Tax Credits Carry Soaring Price Tag

The widespread popularity of Hawaii’s solar energy incentive — and mass confusion over how to implement it — have dealt a blow to the state’s treasury and become a major topic in state politics.

Best of #StateReads: Michigan Term Limits Encourage Politicians To Go Professional

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Online Voter Registration Update

Earlier this month, we wrote about 13 states that now allow voters to register or update their registration information online, including five that rolled out this option statewide for the first time this year.

Best of #StateReads: Abuse Suits Against Scouts Hinge on State Laws

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Still Risky: Checking Accounts in Oregon

Checking accounts, the most widely used financial product in America, contain hidden risks that can harm consumers. Five of the 12 largest banks nationwide offer checking accounts in Oregon and hold 55 percent of all deposits in the state. Here’s what consumers in Oregon may be paying.

Oregon to Vote on Changing Unique Tax Refund

For many years, Oregon has been the only state in the country where tax revenue that exceeds what the state estimated it would collect is automatically refunded to taxpayers. For many years, much of Oregon’s political leadership has complained that

A New Battleground in 'Right to Die' Debate

Advocates of physician-assisted suicide are taking on entrenched opposition as they seek a high-profile victory in Massachusetts.

A Marijuana Revolt?

Colorado, Oregon and Washington voters will decide this November if they want to decriminalize and regulate marijuana production and possession, which could generate millions in state revenue. But any of these initiatives would put the states in conflict with federal law, which classifies marijuana as a controlled substance with no acceptable medical use.

Best of #StateReads: Dangerous Times in New Jersey Halfway Houses

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Widening Gap Update: Oregon

Oregon paid its full annual pension contribution four times from 2005 to 2010, and the system was 87 percent funded in fiscal year 2010 but still faced an $8 billion funding gap. Most experts agree that a fiscally sustainable system should be at least 80 percent funded. The state also had a $768 million bill for retiree health care costs, 31 percent of which was funded, well above the 8 percent national average in 2010.

Time Served in Oregon

The average offender in Oregon released in 2009 served 3.2 years in custody, 32% more than the average offender released in 1990.

Editorial: Reforming Public Safety

Governor John Kitzhaber reappointed his Oregon Commission on Public Safety, which last year recommended reforming the state’s sentencing laws and increasing spending to bolster prevention and drive down recidivism.

Oregon Expands Public Safety Reform Efforts

Governor John Kitzhaber signed an executive order today calling for a commission to make policy recommendations in 2013 that will improve public safety and cut corrections costs.

Oregonians Support Public Safety Reform

Governor Kitzhaber today called for sentencing and corrections changes to improve the effectiveness of public safety programs and reduce costs for taxpayers.

Kitzhaber Opens Door to Criminal Justice Reform

Gov. Kitzhaber has expanded Oregon’s Commission on Public Safety so it can take a deeper look at how to reduce costs in the Criminal Justice system, while at the same time improving public safety.

Kitzhaber Moves Ahead With Look at Oregon's Public Safety System

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber hopes a newly revived public safety commission will lead to big changes in the state's criminal justice system. The Democrat issued an executive order Monday that brings back to life a blue ribbon panel created by his predecessor, Ted Kulongoski.

Oregon Leaders Push Ahead on Prision, Crime Reforms

Oregon's top leaders joined forces Monday on reforms to shave prison costs and cut crime. Gov. John Kitzhaber reappointed his Oregon Commission on Public Safety, adding members and charging it with producing a reform package for the 2013 Legislature.

Governor Calls for Criminal Justice Reforms

Governor Kitzhaber called Monday for sentencing and corrections changes to improve the effectiveness of public safety programs and reduce costs for taxpayers.

As Washington Gridlock Persists, States Get Creative in Funding Renewable Energy

The federal government has drastically reduced its funding for renewable energy. States have come up with some unusual ways to try and replace it.

The Spending That Isn’t Counted

Most spending programs are easily traceable in state budgets. But tax incentives are not. Some legislators think they should be.

How Two State Tax Systems Have (and Haven’t) Shaped Metro Portland

Washington has no income tax. Oregon has no sales tax. In some ways, that matters a great deal for the regional economy. In some ways, it doesn’t.

Contention and Compromise in Virginia, Oregon Tied Chambers

The Virginia Senate and the Oregon House each had an equal number of Democrats and Republicans this year, but that's where the similarities ended.

Oregon Looks to Shrink Middle Management

An unusual mix of Republicans, Democrats and labor leaders are working together to restructure state government.

Report Slams U.S. Voter Registration Errors; Oregon Seeks to Improve by Sharing Data with Other States

Oregon will start sharing voter registration information with seven other states as part of an effort to improve a voter data system around the country that is riddled with errors, officials announced Monday.

At Last, a State Budget Year When the Sky Is Not Falling

PART FIVE OF FIVE: After four years of epic budget woes, states are ready for an improved 2012. Some are even poised to add dollars back to programs they wish they never had to cut.

Oregon State of the State Address 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - Jan. 13 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Kitzhaber's (D) 2012 state of the state address: Thank you for that kind introduction. I'm proud of the progress we have made during the past year. We have not shied away from tough decisions - on the budget, education and health car

Minimum Wage Set to Rise in Eight States

TODAY'S TAKE: Workers in eight states will see slightly larger paychecks beginning January 1, thanks to laws requiring minimum wages to rise with inflation.

Oregon Looks for Education Czar

EDUCATION BEAT: Oregon would join five other states - Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, New York and Pennsylvania - with a leader overseeing every level of education.

Election Websites: Oregon

Being Online Is Still Not Enough provides state-by-state reviews and analysis based on detailed criteria of election websites for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

States Struggle to Update Toxic Chemical Regulation

Unchanged for 35 years, the U.S. Toxic Chemicals Safety Act has left federal regulators without the tools to investigate many chemicals that could endanger human health. That burden has fallen to states, which have enacted a patchwork of regulations that environmentalists, policymakers and industry leaders all consider inadequate.