Think Out Loud

Oregonians got a clearer picture this week of what to expect from the economic slump caused by the pandemic. The state released its quarterly revenue forecast Wednesday, saying the economic downturn will be severe and “recovery will take years.” We dig into the forecast and discuss what it reveals and what questions still remain unanswered. Our guests are OPB political reporter Dirk VanderHart and two Oregon state senators — Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-Beaverton/Portland) and Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) — both of whom are co-chairs of the legislature’s budget-writing committee.