Rick Metsger
More of Rick Metsger's Articles
New Faces in Prominent Positions Highlight Oregon’s Primary Election
This fall, Oregon's political landscape is set for a transformation as three state offices welcome new leadership, with the most intense competition expected in the Democratic primary for Secretary of State and State Treasurer.
Oregon Treasurer
The race heats up with the May primary election, featuring a contested battle for the Democratic nomination b…
Capital for a Capitol Host City Gains Momentum
The economic and social impacts of having a state capitol located in your city has long been a discussion topic of elected officials and local municipalities. Faced with a significant budget shortfall in the years ahead, the City of Salem is exploring all options to fill a funding gap estimated to be at least $14 million in the next fiscal year, and escal
Governor Unveils Ambitious Housing Production Bill
Ambitious, comprehensive, complicated. Three words that define Gov. Tina Kotek’s effort this legislative session to help address Oregon’s decade-long failure to meet housing goals critical to Oregon’s societal and economic future.
The second-year governor has made it clear from day one of her term that moving the housing debate from conversation to …
Business Needs to Engage as Oregon Charts a New Direction on Transportation
Oregon is about to undergo a seismic shift in how it funds its transportation system, and business leaders are starting to take note. Faced with state and federal mandates to reduce carbon emissions by moving away from internal combustion engines to a fleet powered by electricity, the days of relying on gas tax revenue as a principal source of funding for
Oregon State, wandering in the Pac-2 Wilderness seeks Legislative Help
“Two can be as bad as one, it’s the loneliest number since the number one.”
Last week the President of Oregon State University and the school’s athletic director, came before the House Committee on Higher Education to plead their case for financial help in the wake of the implosion of the Pac-12 Conference. Left as roadkill by their ten conference…
Musical Chairs In CD 5: Round and round she goes- where she stops, nobody knows
When it comes to musical chairs, political candidates are masters of the game. Only one can claim the prize, the others are just left circling the drain. Oregon Congressional District number five has attracted four notable entrants, a Republican incumbent and three Democrats jockeying for position in a race with national implications for party control in
Savior or privateer? The “Good Ship” OHSU offers refuge from troubled seas to Legacy’s fleet of hospitals and Clinics
Oregon entered uncharted waters last week with the announcement that Legacy Health System, a private healthcare provider, would ‘merge’ with the state-sponsored Oregon Health and Science University. While the word ‘merger’ has a softer and gentler tone, make no mistake - this is an acquisition. Mergers generally are distinguished as two entities