SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Gov. John Kitzhaber acknowledges his decision to abruptly call the Legislature into special session to approve a tax incentive for Nike is “extraordinarily awkward.”

But the governor says the potential economic development benefits are worth it. He spoke Thursday before a legislative committee created to consider legislation requested by Kitzhaber and Nike.

The full Legislature is scheduled to meet on Friday, four days after Kitzhaber stunned legislators with news of the special session.

Nike says it will expand in Oregon and hire at least 500 people if the state will immediately promise that the method of calculating its state income taxes won’t change.

Some legislators have questioned the need for such immediate action when the Legislature is scheduled to meet in February.

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