Whose economy should Oregon emulate?

By Julia Shumway | Editor

“The way businesses flourish, they figure out what they’re good at, they try to be as innovative as they can, they try to develop new and better projects. They try to offer what business folks call a unique value proposition, something that somebody can’t duplicate. They don’t simply say, ‘I’m going to cut prices as much as I can and hope good things happen.’” — Oregon economic observer Joe Cortright, one of the critics of Gov. Tina Kotek’s prosperity council’s report. The report, released last month, has reignited long-running debates over what Oregon’s economy should look like and who should benefit.

Also in today's edition:

Federal judge will decide fate of Oregon’s recycling law
Animal rights petition might not have enough valid signatures to make ballot
Commentator Juan Carlos Ordoñez on the prosperity council reocmmendations

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How should Oregon look to other states for economic prosperity? Some analysts are split

By Shaanth Nanguneri

Panelists discuss the new prosperity council report from Gov. Tina Kotek at a Portland City Club event Friday, July 17. (Photo by Shaanth Nanguneri/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

For months, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s prosperity council has made headlines with a key focus: How best to jumpstart Oregon’s economy and what practices from other states may make that possible.

Federal judge will decide future of Oregon’s new package recycling law by end of August

By Alex Baumhardt

Glass particles move through a recycling facility. Oregon is being sued by the wholesale distributors industry over a new law that requires packaging producers to pay for some of the waste-management costs of their products. (Photo by Cylonphoto/Getty Images)

PORTLAND — A federal judge will determine by the end of August the future of Oregon’s nascent statewide recycling modernization law, meant to require product manufacturers and distributors to cover some of the packaging disposal costs Oregonians currently pay via municipal and specialty waste fees.

Controversial Oregon animal rights petition might not have enough valid signatures to make ballot

By Mia Maldonado

Framed as an anti-animal cruelty petition, Initiative Petition 28 is an effort led by Portland-based vegan advocates to expand the state’s animal cruelty laws to include hunting, fishing, breeding, farming and research. Essentially, it would ban killing or injuring animals in all cases except for self-defense or veterinary care. (Photo by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

A controversial initiative petition to ban killing or harming animals in Oregon with almost no exceptions may not qualify for the November ballot.

Commentary: The Oregon prosperity council’s bait-and-switch

By Juan Carlos Ordoñez

An appliance store advertises an amazing deal on a particular dishwasher, only to tell you when you walk through the door that the model is sold out. But wouldn’t you know it, they’ve got this other pricey machine they’re happy to sell you.