Guest Contributor

Sasha Buchert, Communications Manager with Basic Rights Oregon, shares her response to the Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act and the impact on the LGBT community.

Rebecca Tilley, Oregon Registered Nurse, shares her reaction to today's Supreme Court court ruling and the impact that the Affordable Health Care Act has had -- and will continue to have -- in improving the health and lives of Americans.

This is a guest post by Jennifer Keenan, Defend Oregon Outreach Coordinator.

For too long, the voice of the business community has been dominated by large corporate interests, political consultants, and special interest lobbyists, who've all pushed a narrow agenda of tax cuts and deregulation for large corporations. And it's all been in the name of "job creation" and "protecting small businesses." (See, among others, ALEC.)

Thankfully, that's starting to change, as actual small business owners and leaders have begun to organize in order to tell the real story of small business in America. In Oregon, that movement is being led by groups like the Main Street Alliance, Equity Alliance Oregon, and VOIS Alliance.

To mark National Small Business Week (did you know there was a National Small Business Week?), 20 business leaders came together on Tuesday at Talking Drum Bookstore and Coffee House in Northeast Portland to talk about how to turn around our economy. Rather than the tired talking points you hear on Fox News, these leaders talked about the need for electoral reform, green jobs and sustainability, healthcare reform, and a fairer tax system that supports schools and business infrastructure. The event was spearheaded by Mainstreet Alliance Oregon, with help from VOIS and Equity Alliance, among others. They were joined by Congressman Earl Blumenauer and representatives from Gov. Kitzhaber's office.

by Angela Martin, Director of Economic Fairness Oregon

Last week marked a big victory for Oregon consumers. The Oregon Legislature’s passage of SB 1552 shows that big banks can be drowned out by big voices. Thanks to a massive effort by everyday Oregonians to contact their legislators and demand action on foreclosure reform, the financial lobbyists were silenced, and meaningful policy prevailed.

Whether you’re facing foreclosure, your house is underwater or you’re a renter considering the plunge into homeownership – this legislation will protect you once it’s enacted. The bill that passed takes elements of two different concepts we worked on this session and combines them into one.

The amended version of SB 1552 will end the destructive dual track system in which a homeowner negotiating a modification with a bank is simultaneously on the path to foreclosure. It also requires that lenders sit down with homeowners and a neutral third party to discuss foreclosure-avoidance options.