Ted Ferrioli

A jobs packaging totaling $176 million passed the Oregon Senate today. The legislation is billed as an economic stimulus package that is expected to create 3000 jobs across the state. The plan targets infrastructure projects in all of Oregon's 36 counties. The vote on the package was bipartisan, but not by much.Predictably, leaders on the Republican side slammed the bill: To make his case, Senate GOP Leader Ted Ferrioli took a jab at one of the projects, a $1,200 job to clear moss from the roof of a Department of Transportation building in Sweet Home. "Why are we including moss...

State senator-elect Chris Telfer (R-Bend) was the biggest winner among state senate candidates seeking a seat with a major incumbent challenger in the 2008 election, according to official voting tallies released by the secretary of state Friday.

Gov.  Ted Kulongoski unveiled a 2009 budget proposal on Monday that gives spending priority to education, health care and job creation. Republicans responded by saying the governor’s budget is based on tax increases that have not been passed yet.

Party leaders in the Oregon State Senate reacted glumly on Wednesday to news that the state was going to face bigger fiscal shortages than originally anticipated.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski called for budget cuts across the board on Wednesday, which will mean about $850 million less for lawmakers to spend on state projects. Such significant cuts will affect how House and Senate Democrats, who control both bodies, will be able to proceed with their agenda.

Oregon is no longer a shade of baby blue.  It is a dominant royal blue or possibly even navy blue depending on how you look at it.  Every single statewide seat is held by a Democrat, the Oregon Senate is controlled by Democrats and now the Oregon House maintains a tax-increase permissive supermajority.  The next big race for either Democrats or Republicans is the race for governor in 2010.  Could this next cycle be the start of Oregon's GOP comeback?  Or will Democrats manage yet another big win?  Here's a list of potential candidates from both sides of the aisle.

The legislative Emergency Board approved of $119,000 to fight a grasshopper infestation in eastern Oregon Friday, according to a release from Senate Minority leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day).

The Oregon Senate Republicans may have little hope of regaining a majority this election cycle, but they decided to put up a fight in the 25th district.  GOP nominee Dave Kim just received $15,000 from the Leadership Fund led by Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli in the race against incumbent Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson.

Marc "Ted" Winters, husband to Senator Jackie Winters (R-Salem) and former aide to former Governors Tom McCall and Bob Straub, died last night at the age of 84.

Most of the targeted Oregon legislative campaigns are funded primarily through their respective caucuses, thus taking a closer look at caucus fundraising can provide insight on what we have to look forward to in the fall fights for the House and Senate.