Man the Lifeboats!

The Oregonian reports that Evraz, parent company of Oregon Steel, an Oregon company founded in 1928, has decided to move its corporate headquarters from Portland to Chicago. The paper quotes the president of the company that of course this has nothing to do with Oregon's business climate:

"Rehwinkel said in an interview the move has nothing to do with Portland's business climate or Oregon ballot measures 66 and 67, which raised taxes on corporations and high-income earners."

Yeah, that's it, as Jon Lovitz used to say on Saturday Night Live. And it also probably had nothing to do with Mayor Daley coming to Oregon to seduce Oregon companies in the aftermath of the Measure 66-67 vote as I blogged on almost exactly a year ago on January 30, 2010. Here is one Hiz Honor's quotes at that time:

“It will help our economic development immediately. You’d better believe it. We’ll be out in Oregon enticing corporations to relocate to Chicago. I’ll be very frank. I make no bones about that. If those states want to do that, so be it.” 

Yeah, that's it - nothing to do with Oregon's bad business climate. He he he.


www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/01/evraz_parent_company_of_oregon.html