Helen Jung

Nine senators voted against HB 4018, the alleged "technical fix" bill that instead opens up loopholes to let big donors continue to dominate Oregon politics. Credit Sens. Campos, Gelser Blouin, Golden, Hayden, Meek, Pham, Prozanski, Robinson and Brock Smith for saying no.

Only 19 House members sided with the public by voting against HB 4018's gutting of campaign finance reforms. Credit Anderson, Cate, Chaichi, Chotzen, Diehl, Dobson, Gamba, Gomberg, Harbick, Hudson, Javadi, E Levy, Munoz, Osborne, Rieke Smith, Ruiz, Walters, Wise and Yunker for taking a stand.

Barring a last minute change, Oregon legislators are expected to vote on HB 4018 today, a bill that would gut campaign finance reforms passed in 2024. Lawmakers should show their independence from the system that Big Money created and vote no. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026...

Yeah. Unfortunately, this was not surprising at all.

Editorial: A complete betrayal on campaign finance Legislators are considering changes that would significantly weaken provisions to limit big money in Oregon politics, the editorial board writes. They should recognize voters' unwavering support for s...

Legislators in 2024 passed a host of campaign finance reforms to stave off a ballot measure. Now, they're looking to weaken many provisions to get big money out of Oregon politics with HB 4018. Voters should urge them to back off. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026...

Editorial: Moda Center proposal strips the pretense from Portland Clean Energy Fund spending While a Moda Center renovation isn’t a project for climate justice, the City Council should thoroughly consider Mayor Keith Wilson’s proposal to tap Portland Clean Energy Fund dollars to help finance ...

Any climate benefits from a Moda Center renovation would be an afterthought to the goal of keeping the Portland Trail Blazers. But using PCEF for the project is consistent with how the city has already been using PCEF dollars to cover unfunded needs. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026...

Editorial: Education needs more honesty, fewer unfunded mandates from legislators While education advocates argue over whether more money or more accountability will improve student outcomes, there's one thing that can immediately help — a lot more honesty from the Oregon Legislatu...

Oregon legislators frequently claim to be strong supporters of K-12 public education. They should prove it by showing a lot more honesty about the impacts of their actions on school budgets. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026...

Editorial: Portland City Council deadlocks as crises deepen Portland City Council's inability to elect a new president reflects the entrenched divisiveness that has hampered its effectiveness all throughout its first year, the editorial board writes. Councilor...

Electing Elana Pirtle-Guiney for another term as Portland City Council's president should have been an easy decision. Instead, Council is locked in another internal battle that bodes poorly for its ability to deal with Portland's crises. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026...

Editorial: A tense moment calls for Oregonians’ best While much is unknown about an immigration officer's shooting of a man and a woman in Portland, there's no doubt the tension and anger rippling through the community stems from a year of chaos courtes...

There are few confirmed details about Thursday's shootings in Portland, but the chaos caused by Trump's aggressive, indiscriminate deportations is clear. Oregon leaders, Ds and Rs, must call for an end to this campaign of fear and intimidation. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026...

Editorial: Vested in the community and rooting for Oregon, these are our editorial board’s guiding principles The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board decides the positions that the organization takes on issues of public interest in its role as a member of the community – not as a news provider. Those positio...

The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board takes positions on issues, ballot measures and candidates in our role as a member of the community - not as a news provider. We've updated our editorial laying out the principles guiding those decisions: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: A PPS board breakdown signals bad news for the public Last week's poorly run Portland Public Schools board meeting about a controversial contract revealed a board chair who can't command a meeting, a superintendent resistant to questions and a board dyna...

The Portland school board's shoddy discussion about a $61m contract revealed a board chair who can't command a meeting, a superintendent resistant to questions and a board dynamic close to breaking down. This bodes poorly for the public. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: In tough times, the community is our safety net All year long, Oregonians have stepped up to support one another, the editorial board writes. That commitment of neighbors helping neighbors fuels The Oregonian/OregonLive's annual Season of Sharing c...

Every year, The Oregonian/OregonLive asks readers to donate to our Season of Sharing campaign to benefit selected nonprofits. Every year, readers generously respond. Amid federal funding cuts, our community stitches the safety net together. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Rubberstamping isn’t oversight, PPS Board Regardless of whether people agree with Portland Public Schools’ proposed purchase of the One North building, they should feel uneasy about the apathy and resistance that some board members and staff ...

A Portland Public Schools staffer chided a school board member for asking about operating costs for a non-school venture PPS is poised to approve. With a $50m hole for 2026, every bd member should be asking questions, not rubberstamping admin. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: PPS owes Black students more than a rushed real estate deal PPS is poised to complete a purchase of a building to house a Center for Black Student Excellence, but is unable to answer questions about how the center will help students succeed academically or how...

Plenty of legitimate questions surround Portland Public Schools' rushed plan to buy a building for the Center for Black Student Excellence. PPS board members must be able to show how this deal benefits students, not nonprofits. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Don’t pop the corks on parks levy win While the successful passage of the parks levy provides breathing room for the city, Portlanders struggling amid our affordability and housing crisis don't have that same luxury, the editorial board w...

Approval of the parks levy buys the city time to fix parks' funding/spending problems. But a 75% tax hike on Portlanders struggling in an affordability crisis is not something to celebrate. City leaders are on the clock to make progress. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: A Clackamas County Jail death raises red flags over leadership The tragic beating-death of a 26-year-old who was being held in the Clackamas County Jail raises red flags about the jail's ability to ensure safety, the editorial board writes. But it also raises red...

The beating-death of a 26-year-old in the Clackamas Co. Jail raises red flags about the jail's ability to ensure safety as well as Sheriff Angela Brandenburg's leadership. Fellow electeds should call out her lack of accountability and transparency. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

A smaller levy won't solve Parks' problems. But even with a 75% tax increase, Parks can't afford to offer any new services. The city needs an urgent conversation - one that leaders can't duck - abt operating costs, keeping pools open & making sure light poles in Irving Park don't fall on kids.

Editorial endorsement November 2025: Vote ‘no’ on flawed parks levy and tell city to try again Parks need Portlanders' support, but a measure that increases the tax rate by 75% is too expensive and dedicates far too little money to ensuring that parks, community centers and other assets are mai...

Portlanders are being asked to approve a 75% hike in the parks levy, but only $2m/year will go to its biggest problem - ensuring pools, paths & other assets don't deteriorate to point of closure. Vote no and ask the city to revise the levy for May. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Thank you so much, Ariane!

Editorial: Hello, world. An open letter from ‘war-ravaged’ Portland Despite President Donald Trump's grim characterizations, the protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building don't remotely match what's happening, the editorial board writes. While ...

The truth of what's happening in Portland doesn't matter to the Trump administration. But it should to all those who recognize the danger of the federal government's willingness to unleash "full force" on cities with different politics. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Keep proving Trump wrong Trump’s plan to use the military to suppress one block of protests is yet another page from his playbook of bulldozing rights and norms while claiming he's justified, the editorial board writes. With ...

As a federal judge's order confirms, Trump's bid to deploy the National Guard in Portland is neither warranted nor justified. Portlanders should continue to show the nation how wrong he is about what's happening here. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Portland must resist becoming Trump’s political prop President Donald Trump's announcement that he will send federal forces to Portland is neither necessary nor justified, the editorial board writes. But Oregonians must resist reacting impetuously to Tr...

Trump's authorizing of fed troops to Portland is unnecessary and unjustified. But Portlanders must keep a cool head in how we respond. Don't let Portland to be turned into a prop for Trump’s authoritarian theatrics. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Pull it together, Portland City Council With the city already anticipating a $16 million shortfall and ongoing economic uncertainty, the City Council needs to do a better job of resolving routine matters and tackling the urgent issues facin...

Portland City Council needs to stop grandstanding over minutiae and focus on tackling the crises facing Portland. With a shortfall projected after an already brutal budget, the need for leadership and pragmatic action is urgent. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Choosing the path away from political violence The murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is the latest horrific act of political violence caused by extremists who span the political spectrum, the editorial board writes. Elected leaders and ...

Extremism thrives in the absence of humanity. Oregonians need to pull back from the toxic exchange of accusations and celebration that's sprouted in the days following Charlie Kirk's murder and uphold open, thoughtful public debate. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: A rollercoaster ride for Oregon’s transportation bill Gov. Tina Kotek may have drawn too hard a line in negotiating her transportation funding package, the editorial board writes, leaving no room for error. Unfortunately for Democrats, there have been pl...

That critical transportation funding package for Oregon? Still in limbo, as state senators are forced to delay a vote. These are the risks when elected officials leave themselves no room for error – and there's been plenty. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Stay vigilant, but don’t take Trump’s bait With President Donald Trump threatening to send National Guard troops to Portland, among many other cities, state and local leaders should prepare for that possibility, the editorial board writes. But...

Are Trump's threats to dispatch National Guard troops to Portland serious or bluster? While state and local leaders should be prepared for the former, Portlanders should keep the momentum of restoring the city going forward. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Billions in new taxes should come with a commitment While Gov. Tina Kotek's transportation tax proposal includes proposals to increase oversight of the Oregon Department of Transportation, the plan fails to provide basic accountability, the editorial b...

It's not surprising that the "accountability" portion of Gov. Kotek's transportation plan fails to provide actual accountability. If legislators are going to ram through billions in new taxes, they should make clearer commitments. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Portland’s missing rental units Portland's mandatory rental registry shows only meager growth in the number of rentals from 2021 to 2023, despite significant construction in those years, the editorial board writes. Unfortunately, ci...

Portland's mandatory rental registry shows the city gained only 269 rentals from 2021 to 2023, despite construction of 1000s of new apartments. Is the registry wrong? Is the city losing existing rentals? Lack of compliance? Don't ask the city. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: The Knights’ blockbuster bet on Oregon Phil and Penny Knight’s donation to OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute signals both a vote of confidence and a call to Oregon to rise to the challenge, the editorial board writes.

Phil and Penny Knight's $2 billion donation to OHSU's cancer institute is both a vote of confidence in Oregon as well as a challenge to be unapologetically ambitious. Even facing bleak news, Oregon can make its own future. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Editorial: Oregon must lob a dunk for the next Trail Blazers owner While conventional wisdom suggests that whoever buys the Portland Trail Blazers won't be permitted to move them, the city and state shouldn't pin the franchise's future on that hope, the editorial boa...

Conventional wisdom says the Portland Trail Blazers' next owner will keep the team in Portland, but Oregonians shouldn't count on that. Elected leaders must show there's no better partner for a team on the rise than a city staging a comeback. Editorial: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...