Mayor Sam Adams was conspicuously absent from Senator Ron
Wyden’s Monday announcement of Oregon’s portion of the $780 billion
federal stimulus package just passed by congress. The
gathering—which included Adams’ council colleagues Randy
Leonard and Nick Fish—was also officially attended by
Portland’s top power brokers. Wyden said the package’s investment in
tax provisions, roads, bridges and transportation, energy, and
healthcare meant Oregon would be able to “focus like a laser beam on
our ailing economy.”
“I felt Nick and Randy spoke very well on city interests,” said
Wyden, when asked to explain Adams’ absence. “I just want to keep the
focus on the economy, and I don’t want anything to distract from
that.” Was it fair to say that Adams had been uninvited? “We need
to go,” said a Wyden staffer, interrupting Wyden’s, “No….” “Thank
you,” added the staffer, before moving the senator along. MATT
DAVIS
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As if being thrown in jail and facing potential court sanctions
weren’t enough, alleged ballot initiative racketeer Bill
Sizemore could now face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines
imposed by Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown’s office.
Brown’s office announced last Thursday, February 12, that it has opened
an investigation into Sizemore’s behavior during the 2008 election. A
civil penalty of $10,000 per alleged crooked transaction may be
leveled as a result, which means there’s a potential for a huge fine
against Sizemore.
“Every time you file a campaign report with a dollar amount, that’s
a transaction,” says Brown’s spokesperson, Don Hamilton. “This isn’t a
criminal process, it’s a civil process, so it’s not like we’re
indicting him on X many counts, but certainly, most campaign reports
contain numerous transactions.” MD