Date of publication: August 29, 2007
Source: The Oregonian
Author: ANDY DWORKIN
Excerpt from article:
Portland eases into two huge social and political debates today as the City Council votes on resolutions requiring city contractors to provide for worker health care and opposing clothing purchases from sweatshops.
Both positions are political no-brainers in left-leaning Portland. But the issues involved are complicated: coping with America's pricey health care bureaucracy and influencing work in foreign factories. So the city is moving ahead with liberal caution, considering resolutions that support the goals but giving committees months to draft plans that turn the ideals into laws.
"Both of these are about city government leading by example," said Commissioner Sam Adams, who is sponsoring both resolutions...