State Rep. Peter Buckley told the Mail Tribune newspaper he supports regulating marijuana in a manner similar to the regulation of alcohol under the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. Legalization would take the "black market" out of Oregon, he said.

Key legislative leaders have agreed not to close prisons or cut funding for schools, but a compromise budget plan would lay off State Police detectives and further tighten the belt on safety-net programs for needy families.

Pushing back against a legislative budget proposal that would close a prison and lay off hundreds of middle managers, Gov. John Kitzhaber's administration is asking lawmakers to look at other options.

As the Oregon Legislature convened Wednesday for the start of the session, key lawmakers proposed spending much of a $56 million dollar legal windfall to help patch a budget deficit and avoid cutting services for the sick and needy.

Gov. John Kitzhaber's administration implemented a hiring freeze and capped enrollment in some safety-net programs Tuesday because state revenue has been lower than expected.

Many people assume union workers such as Blocher get paid more than their counterparts in the private sector. But according to a study, state workers earn almost 3 percent less on average.

Lane County Legislators Host Town Hall Meeting on the Oregon Budget with Ways and Means CO-Chair Rep. Peter Buckley. Join State Senators Beyer, Edwards, and Prozanski and Representatives Barnhart, Beyer, Buckley, Holvey, Hoyle, and Nathanson.