Rep. Bonham: Family Leave Bill that stays with the worker

Most of the proposed paid family leave bills died midway through the Oregon Legislature, but one remains—and it’s likely to hurt small businesses. Many lawmakers have been making a promise to provide workers with paid family leave for births, adoptions, and other medically necessary time off, and introduced legislation to do so. Under current law,…

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$300 million for phantom employees

There are thousands of vacant state employee positions where no one is working but the position still receives funding. At one point Oregon had 4,475 vacant positions. That is more than 10% of the entire state workforce. Vacant positions cost the state nearly 300 million in tax dollars. State Representative Gene Whisnant has been working…

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Pension fix lawsuit cost $375 million

The government unions fought changes in the courts to their state pension plan which will now cost taxpayers $345 million more a year. Government unions have been resisting any changes to their PERS pension system which is over $10 billion in debt. (Oregonian 5-30-2015)

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Fired employees get millions

 Portland’s most expensive employee, (chief administrator $371,000) was fired and awarded a $192,000 severance. (Oregonian 4-24-2015)  Portland alone has paid $5 million to terminated employees. After having problems with the City Council, the West Linn city manager left with a $120,000 severance. (Oregonian 8-12-2015) An audit faulted Portland’s Environmental Bureau Director for wasting $3 million…

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