News That Needs No Background Check

[November 19th, 2008]

Who will write the state’s next budget at a time when it’s hemorrhaging cash? The decision by state Rep. Mary Nolan (D-Southwest Portland) to run for House majority leader effectively left both chairs of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee vacant for 2009, when the deficit may start at $1 billion-plus. Sen. Margaret Carter (D-North Portland) is likely to replace Sen. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby), who’s been elected to Congress, in one of those chairs though Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) also wants the job. Among those Speaker Dave Hunt (D-Gladstone) is considering for Nolan’s replacement are Reps. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay) and David Edwards (D-Hillsboro).

The feds have dropped their investigation of Portland Public Schools’ program for teaching English language learners (See “Repeat The Lesson,” WW, June 4, 2008). The move comes as the state Department of Education plans its own audit in January of such programs across Oregon, and in Portland. “ODE’s review will address the allegations in your complaint using investigative methods,” the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights wroteoriginal complainantsMarta Güembes and Richard Luccetti on Oct. 30. Güembes isn’t pleased with the delay. “It’s ridiculous, ” she says. “Students are the ones suffering.”

The dispute between Central City Concern and the Bureau of Labor and Industries over what wages should be paid on the CCC’s $10 million Rose Quarter Housing Project (see “What’s Up, Bob?” WW, Oct. 29, 2008) intensified recently. Both IBEW Local 48 and former Labor and Industries Commissioner Dan Gardner filed statements opposing CCC and building trades union boss Bob Shiprack’s puzzling contention that the job should not pay union wages. (See this pdf for the statements.)

Even debt collectors have it hard these days. One of Oregon’s most prolific—Eugene collections attorney Derrick McGavic—was slapped with a public reprimand by the Oregon State Bar for contacting two debtors instead of their lawyers and for filing an improper judgment. But McGavic, who has settled a string of federal lawsuits alleging violations of the 1978 Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“The Debt Effect,” WW, Feb. 6, 2008), doesn’t appear fazed by the Sept. 21 reprimand. His firm just filed 39 suits against debtors on Nov. 17, in Multnomah County Circuit Court. McGavic did not return a call for comment.

Back in September, state utility regulators ruled PGE owes ratepayers $33 million for overcharges related to the long-shuttered Trojan nuke plant. Now, as first reported on WWire, PGE wants ratepayers to cover up to $1.25 million in costs for making those refunds. PGE says finding customers from a decade ago is difficult and that such costs are allowed under state Public Utility Commission rules. Utility Reform Project lawyer Dan Meek, whose team won the settlement, calls the request to the PUC “ridiculous. ”

Here’s a chance in this tough economy to win a $50 gift card to Kells. Just go online to the comments section of this week’s Murmurs and suggest a caption for this photo from Commissioner Randy Leonard’s recent visit to New York City. We’ll announce the contest winner next week.