Mary Nolan

State House Democratic leaders blamed Oregon’s worsening economy on a bleaker national picture Wednesday and began prioritizing the state’s diminishing state budget to get through the economic crisis.

“This nation has been battered by the failed economic policies of the Bush Administration and Oregon is now feeling that pain,” newly elected House Majority Leader Mary Nolan (D-Portland) said. “The cuts requested by the Governor will affect every Oregonian and every Oregon business. But this downturn also provides us with an opportunity to look anew at how we do things in Oregon and to make sure that Oregonians are receiving real value from every dollar we spend on public service.”

This week's Winners & Losers.

House Majority Leader Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas) was elected to be the next Speaker of the House on Saturday when House Democrats met to decide their leadership for the 2009 session.

Hunt will replace current House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D-Portland), who won election to the U.S. Senate on Thursday after defeating U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton).

The Oregonian endorsed Rep. Mary Nolan (D-Portland) and Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) in their re-election campaigns Thursday.