Dirk VanderHart
Dirk VanderHart covers Oregon politics and government for OPB. Before barging onto the radio in 2018, he spent more than a decade as a newspaper reporter—much of that time reporting on city government for the Portland Mercury. He’s also had stints covering chicanery in Southwest Missouri, the wilds of Ohio in Ohio, and all things Texas on Capitol Hill.
Dirk’s byline has appeared in USA Today, The New York Times, The Houston Chronicle, The Columbus Dispatch, The Oregonian, and more. He’s got a journalism degree from Michigan State University.
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Latest Stories
Closed-door negotiations create hard feelings as the Oregon Capitol awaits a transportation bill
Two House Republicans recently began meeting with Democrats in secret, infuriating colleagues.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Oregon’s revenue forecast shows economic slowdown
Oregon’s most important revenue forecast, the one that lawmakers used to write the two-year budget, was released this week.
Oregon lawmakers have $500 million less to spend, as economic uncertainty reigns
The final revenue forecast before the Oregon Legislature passes a two-year budget comes with bad news for many spending bills.
‘The Evergreen’: Behind the scenes at the Oregon State Capitol
We tagged along with OPB capitol reporter Dirk VanderHart for a day to see what’s going on behind the scenes of our state government.
ODOT criticized for ‘credibility problem’ as Rose Quarter project’s price tag expected to top $2B
The fresh estimate is unwelcome news as the agency presses Oregon lawmakers for major new funding.
A bill to curb use of single-use plastic items in Oregon may be headed to the trash
Senate Bill 551 encountered unexpected opposition in the state House. It’s expected to be slimmed down.
Oregon state Rep. Courtney Neron wins appointment to open Senate seat
The Wilsonville lawmaker beat out two other nominees: Tigard City Councilor Jeanette Shaw and energy consultant Dave Backen, who threw his support behind Neron at the outset of the hearing.
Oregon lawmakers are using ‘placeholder’ bills more than ever. Here’s what you need to know
The bills have been used for decades, but are creating concerns about transparency.
As ‘placeholder’ bills surge in Salem, what you see isn’t always what you get
In the last decade, lawmakers have become increasingly reliant on a tool that risks cutting out public participation in lawmaking.
‘OPB Politics Now’: The rise of placeholder bills in Oregon’s Legislature
On the latest episode of "OPB Politics Now," we discuss how lawmakers are increasingly relying on placeholder bills.