Kicking Off A New Session

AIR DATE: Tuesday, January 11th 2011
POSTED BY: JULIE SABATIER

Think Out Loud is heading to Salem to talk to lawmakers and lobbyists at the start of the legislative session. On Monday, John Kitzhaber was sworn in as the state's next governor and legislators voted on House and Senate leadership as well as many committees in both chambers. For the first time in history, the Oregon House elected co-speakers.

Lawmakers included quite a few football references in their public remarks. Peter Courtney quoted Oregon Ducks coach Chip Kelly as he officially began his fifth term as Senate president and Governor Kitzhaber started off his inauguration speech with a joke about not being able to get tickets to the big game. There were also quite a few references to bi-partisanship in the legislature, which is much more evenly split between Democrats and Republicans than it has been in previous sessions.

As he began his third term as Oregon's governor, Kitzhaber struck a tone of confident determination in the face of economic challenges statewide and a $3.5 billion budget deficit. He called for a long-term vision in order to achieve changes to the state's approach to the budgeting process and the structure of government, comparing Oregon to an old house that no longer fits the need of the family that lives in it.

What are you hoping to see in this first annual session? What are you worried about? Are there any issues that will bring you to Salem this year?

Tagged as: 2011 session · kitzhaber · legislature

Photo credit: Granger Meador / Creative Commons

Here's something I'd like to see in this year's legislative session: passage of SB 525 - moving our state to become the first where there is an opt-in system for telephone books. 500 million phone books are created each year - a vast majority of them never used, but sent to landfills, instead - costing us lots of money. Here's a little cartoon which explains the problem. If you agree that it's time to move to an opt-in system for phonebooks in Oregon, please contact your legislator and express your support for this bill. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOC6PX6uSTQ
albertkaufman —

My partner and I recycle ours each year. In Eugene, we have two options for recycling of phonebooks: either in our curbside recycling carts, or in the red dropboxes in many shopping centre parking lots, where the Eugene Mission picks them up along with old newspapers.

Penny From Eugene —

This year, Illinois may become the 16th state to abolish the death penalty:

  • http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/01/illinois-moves-toward-death-penalty-ban
  • http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty

I would love to see Oregon get rid of it as well. I think it's especially relevant in the context of our huge budget deficit. We're spending millions of dollars every year trying to kill people. Boo!

Bluewater42 —

Good Kitzhaber inauguration speech today, now get to work, legislature, and help put those ideas into action and law.

Tom D Ford —

I think the governor is right that this is an historic opportunity, and that what he suggests needs to be done, but my experience in trying to actually make these kinds of changes is that inertia, resistance, internal turf wars, special interests, etc., etc, etc. means that the status quo has an AMAZING elastic resiliance, even in the face of disaster. People all want and need change .... for somebody else. They will resist mightily if you try to change them or theirs.

The most difficult and traumatic way seems to be the most effective, because nothing less painful works. Start fresh. Close the departments we have entirely and replace them with the new ones. It is a horrible, painful solution, that should be unnecessary, but it is what has worked for the car companies and other private sector businesses in the face of ruin.

By planning ahead, the state has the chance to do it less painfully. Design a new system, set timelines, and then disolve what is there now, department by department, restructure them and then let people apply for the new positions in the new structure.

I fear, however, that what we get will simply be more and bigger patches on top of the broken system we have, but maybe the budget issues will be the prod we need for real change. We'll see.

katied —

I listened to Dr. K’s opening speech and I appreciated the simple straight on approach.
There will likely be the need to increase taxes, however before attempting to increase taxes I hope that he, the legislature and the public are fully engaged in a massive cut in spending; not necessarily across the board rather looking to strengthen in a calculated long range (decades) way, the three areas that the state government should hold as the primary (perhaps only) function: EDUCATION, Infrastructure, and Public Safety.  Every other function is a luxury and luxury’s are just as with every well managed household in Oregon things that are funded IF and ONLY AFTER you pay (no deficit spending) the Necessary expenses.  There are 167 state agencies listed on this page:


http://www.oregon.gov/a_to_z_listing.shtml


Just read the names and then ask yourself how many of these agencies are necessary and how many are luxuries.  It may be that some few of these agencies are necessary if so can their functions be combined with others, or should the subject of the agency directly fund the agency.   For example take the “Massage Therapists, Board Of” or the “Appraiser Certification And Licensure Board”; IF these two functions are necessary then why not make them self funding by the people that are profiting from that field of endeavor.

Desolation —

As the Governor said yesterday, this economic climate provides us with an opportunity to do things differently.  

We need our governor and our legislature to prioritize the economic security of Oregon's families by updating public and workplace policies so they work for today's families and build the workforce we'll need to remain competitive. Things like paid family leave, on-the-job flexibility, and affordable child care need to be major priorities in order to build a strong, family-centered economy.

Andrea Paluso, Family Forward Oregon

family forward oregon —

"A political platform is made to run on, not stand on".  A truism Obama has been demonstrating for two yrs. 

I take everything a politician says with a large dose of salt. They lie as naturally as they breath. In fact, lying is their stock-in-trade. Public policy is neither made in public nor is the process of policy making  ever made known to the public. Public policy is made for private gain. Every politcian wants more...more time in office, more money, more perks in office, more obligations from people he does favors for.

The obligations work both ways. Politicians do the bidding of the biggest donors. The bigger the donor, the more help he/she receives from govt. The more he/she profits from the association with the politician, the more inducements they will extend. 

Donations and other forms of consideration are like the big guns armies need to win.  As Stone Wall Jackson noted: "The firstest with the mostest wins". So too with the making of public policy. 

Excuse me if I seem cynical. Age and experience tend to have that effect on one...if they have been paying close attention.  

Gereng —

I would really like to hear more about state services to people with disabilities, we saw alot of cuts and then roll back of some cuts last year. Is there any prediction of what will happen this year? 

Erik123 —

So Chris Telfer wants to educate people to be good workers.

Whatever happened to that great old liberal idea of educating people to be good and participating citizens in our version of democracy?

Chris reminds me of an French saying that "Americans live to work but French people work to live".

Frankly I choose making better people over just making good worker fodder for Corporations.

Chris has the typical Republican lack of respect for people.

Tom D Ford —

Hello Tom I also don't agree with a lot of Chris' opinions and votes.  However, your last remark is not helpful to creating dialog.  i saw her change in re: to BAT, our fledgling bus system here in Bend which has created more respect for many people now able to get around our town.  she did vote for it on several occasions while on our city council.

Bella in Bend

AnnisHenson —

Here is my list of things to consider:

1)      Eliminate all tax breaks, credits, and loopholes and start over which will level the business playing field.

2)      Revise tax structure to reward investment in jobs in Oregon instead of low capitol gains taxes and tax breaks for the wealthy.

3)      Eliminate pet government groups like the ERT Team.

4)      Make parents pay for school bussing, California does it.

5)      Eliminate Measure 11 mandates.

6)      Eliminate Measure 5 mandates.

7)      Ask public employees, not managers, what can be cut and how to streamline government, they do have good ideas.

8)      Ignore anything Chris Telfer says.

MyUsername —

 Hello - your #8 is why I avoid these comment pages.  Isn't it time to stop such inflammatory comments?  Please read on.

I also don't agree with a lot of Chris' opinions and votes.  However, your last remark is not helpful to creating dialog.  i saw her change in re: to BAT, our fledgling bus system here in Bend which has created more respect for many people now able to get around our town.  she did vote for it on several occasions while on our city council.

Perhaps respectful citizens who listened to her were then also listened to by Chris? 

trying for dialog in Bend/ the world, Bend

AnnisHenson —

Mothers across the state want the legislature to prioritize:

- building a strong, well-funded, modern public education system that gives our kids the opportunity for a better future.

- creating an environment for our kids that is not toxic.  A good first step this session would be banning the estrogen-mimicking Bisphenol-A from baby bottles and formula cans.

- policies that support mothers being able to stay attached to the workforce when they have kids.  Things like paid family leave insurance, paid sick days for all, workplace flexibility and equitable part-time work help keep mothers in jobs but with time to care for their kids.

- health insurance that isn't tied to work.  

motherpac —

I know that mothers at home work their butts off along with caring for their kids and I would like to see workplaces developed that would allow and support mothers in working and somehow also have their kids in the workplace with them. That's a worthwhile challenge, in my opinion.

I don't see why families have to be separated in order to do commerce. I think that commerce ought to be adjusted to respect families.

Historically, farm families got their work done while raising children, why can't the modern workplace support the same?

And I believe that merchants also used to have their familiy in the workplace or at least close by. The wonderful Skjersaa family in Bend used to live above their ski shop and come down to take care of customers when the little bell above the door tinkled. I think that's a good idea, live above your business and do both family and business.

I would rather see many many small, family supporting, businesses than a few huge, anti-family wage, Corporations like Wal-Mart.

Tom D Ford —

Regarding the comments made about the unique co-speaker-ship situation we find in our state, I hope that our two legislative leaders in Oregon will use this rare opportunity to move away from the toxic two party system that dominates our national politics. Even if it doesn't fit easily into either party's national strategy for the next election cycle, the speakers should seize this rare chance to build lasting institutions in our state, such as an Oregon State Bank to finance public investment and protect Oregonians from the vagaries of Wall street financial tomfoolery (for more on the state bank proposal, see http://oregonwfp.org/issues/a-state-bank-for-oregon/). The current depression was caused by the undue influence of financial companies with little interest in the livelihood of our communities, and the national political agenda is currently being held hostage by the same big banks. Loosening the grip that the two national parties have on our politics may not be popular among the leaders of those parties, but it's clearly what's best for Oregon, and the United States as a whole.

weisdorf —

I think the idea of the Oregon State Bank is spot on.  Right now we deposit our taxpayer money into the very same "to-big-to-fail" banks that wreaked havoc on our economy.  It is just common sense that we bring Oregon's money back to Oregon, and use it to support the small businesses and agricultural community in this state.    

bersenbruck —

Telfer keeps pushing the Conservative idea of the rugged individual making it on their own.

But remember that great old saying "United we stand, divided we fall"?

I would like to promote the idea of working together to get The People working together for each others benefit. Oregonians and all Americans working together as a team, on the same side, for the benefit of all Oregonians and other Americans.

The only "persons' who benefit from dividing and conquering The People are the Corporate "persons". Corporations don't need our help, living breathing Oregonians do.

Tom D Ford —

Tom, the concept of a united American "team" is gone!! Haven't you noticed? There is a Black caucas and a Hispanic caucas, a homosexual lesbian/transgender caucas, and perhaps others we haven't yet read about.  The word we have now enshrined in Newspeak 'diversity' is rooted in the concept to divide or separate. NOT to aggregate or gather into One. Quite the contrary. So, please explain how our growing gender, language, racial and ethnic diversity is somehow going to eventuate in teamwork and a stronger America?

I lived in many nations where such diversity has been a fact of life for centuries. In none of these has diversity been anything but a curse on everyone. Heading into even rougher economic  times in the USA ethnic and racial politiking will only become more forceful in our political life. As the economic pie shrinks, every group in our ethnic/ racial stew will fight like bloody hell for a larger slice. 

But surely this can't be something well read people such as yourself don't already know. If you count on American exceptionalism to haul us out of the political chaos common to nations plagued with the same diversity, pray explain in what way you think us different?  Our vaunted exceptionalism has certainly NOT saved us from economic decline.  

Gereng —

How about adding a website for Oregon, like the federal government has, for citizens to propose ideas to improve government:

http://blog.usa.gov/roller/govgab/entry/help_us_improve_government

Tom D Ford —

The biggest problem with education in Oregon is that there is no one governing authority that parents can go to to get results. It’s the only “State” funded service that doesn’t answer to the Governor. If citizens have a problem with any other State agency they can register a complaint with the Governor and it will be addressed. When it comes to the school system in Oregon a parent can register a complaint with the local system Superintendent and make a case with the School Board but that’s like the fox guarding the hen house, nothing ever changes, bad teachers are protected, bad policies are impossible to challenge.

MyUsername —

Bottom line: We need to support fundamental services that invest in Oregonians' basic needs. This includes housing, food, good health and adequate health care along with support for jobs and working families. Strong human services and support for vulnerable individuals and families builds long term stability and prosperity in our state.

Investing in these services supports the dignity of our residents and is an economic driver in local communities. Oregon legislators will need to think creatively to find ways to maintain support for these programs and it is our responsibility to hold them accountable for doing so.

stamasweet —

What is needed are JOBS! The Govt ought to put this goal as their number one priority. However, govt itself with their myriad laws and requirements, plus other constraints imposed on business by various eco, or Green orgs pose another level of barriers to capital investment.

Capital and corporations of every kind hold no allegiance to any nation. If local laws are too onerous, and govt regulations too costly, unions too demanding to deal with, capital goes elsewhere.  Most states in America are losing jobs because doing business here cost too much. While establishing businesses elsewhere is more profitable.

Nattering about bus routes and education, and services to the disabled at a time like this reminds me of the cliche about the futility of rearanging deck chairs on a sinking ship.

Gereng —

Chris, sorry my call did not fit into the program today. I appreciated  interaction with you while you were on our Bend City Council.  My concerns are two.  I will write separate notes to make response more clear.

1. Somehow we need more compassionate ways of living with our undocumented immigrants in Oregon.  the Dream Acts failure in Congress leaves all such students in dangerous limbo; the fact that younger students are not allowed to get GED's is foolhardy; & the inability for undocumented workers to have valid Driver's Licenses is very unwise.  AND the practice of picking up people by law enforcement for nothing other than no proper ID is not only wasting law enforcement time [$], but also ICE's current policy does not require such treatment.  Many families in OR, Deschutes Cty are severely effected by all of these unreasonable practices. 

Perhaps you could see that some kind of proclamation was made to remind all Oregon law enforcement officials of the ICE facts in this matter.

sincerely,  Annis Henson

AnnisHenson —

What part of illegal don’t you understand? The earth and the US are overpopulated. The US can’t solve the problems of other countries by allowing unwarranted immigration, legal or otherwise. “Saving” a few from the various injustices in their countries is only feel good behavior, it doesn’t make any difference in the big picture and doesn’t solve the problem. How many illegal immigrants do you  suggest we allow, the entire population of Mexico? Where does it stop?

MyUsername —

Surely you gest!  Compassion for an army of foreign invaders! See? Typical of know-nothing Americans.  Do you know that to leave Mexico at any place along the border but defined, officlal posts of entry/exit is against Mexican law in several ways? First in order for Mexican nationals to leave Mexico legally they must first clear their taxes. Then apply and obtain a passport; then obtain a US visa.

Every Mexican scurrying across our borders even BEFORE he breaks our laws has broken numerous laws of his own country. So they arrive here already criminals. Once they cross into US territory, they begin at once to break several US laws. What is so difficult for bleeding heart liberals to understand that FELONS do not make good citizens?? That is why we have PRISONS!! Or has all this escaped yr notice?

When I arrived in Colombia in mid 1977. I received an English translation of major newspapers every morning from the USIA. It carried the major, relevant  stories and editorials from leading Latin American newspapers. 

The Mexico City daily papers as far back as 1977 carried editorials and articles and columns concerning the reconquest of North America. The USA! Our country. Both the govt and leading columnists were encouraging Mexico's landless, jobless, troublesome peasants to march north and reoccupy the land the Gringos stole from their ancestors. 

This has been Mexico's unstated policy for at least 35 yrs and maybe much longer.  The Mexicans coming north are mestizos, or Indians. In Mexico these are the ones who start the revolutions, are least educated and potentially most dangerous for the 'blancos' who run the country.

You can't imagine how happy people like you make the Mexican govt!  And what a disaster we are creating for ourselves. You also may have skipped the news that we are in a serious economic decline with about 10 to 15% of the population going jobless.  Sure invite in the Mexican illegals.

Gereng —

2nd comment for Chris Telfer from A. Henson in Bend:

I wanted you to explain the bill you have submitted re: the bypass interchange at Cooley Rd. here in Bend.  I think it proposes lifting important requirements that interchange 'improvements' be paid for by local intities/&/or the State ahead of construction start.  this bill would eliminate that LCDC ? or ODOt? requirement for 5 years.  You think, apparently that such would help economic development in Bend, the state.  did I state this correctly?

Bend went through countless hearings on said interchange and said No.  This is local control, is it not?  The unbearable traffic increase there is a concern; let alone possibly overriding a well thought out process for changes in the transportation life of our state/community.

Bella in Bend

AnnisHenson —

This legislative session I would like to see our Legislators invest in Oregon's clean energy economy. Programs like the BETC  can help create jobs around the state, creating tax revenue and helping us get our economy back on track.

jhpdx —

Just as capital is now a global commodity, science and technology are right behind it. So is labor. The power elites consider all laboring people everywhere as one, single labor force. The divisions between nation states no longer divide the laboring masses in the traditional ways as when capital tended to remain where it was raised/earned.  Workers in the USA are viewed by the global capitalist class the same way they look at workers in Brazil or Bangladesh or China.

Wall Street investment bankers like their counterparts in London and Paris  care not a whit about whether the disabled or working moms in Oregon or in Sri Lanka obtain the services the moms and disabled think they deserve.  In the global economy no group of workers anywhere can expect special treatment by investers.  If these workers demand too much in wages and other benefits, then the capitalists simply move their operations to more accomodating nations.

What Americans need to face is the fact that this is a new world. None of the old ideas about fairness, class mobility, and almost every other expectation brought forward into 2011 is any longer  valid. I think most political leaders understand that the old system is gone, but are afraid to admit this to voters. They will pretend that everything is still possible.

What they will do is gently ease their citizens into this Brave New World by dismantling the social safety net, piece by piece, state services the same way. Gradually the nanny state will disappear. Beside the wars, govt will keep running only those services necessary to maintain public order when the proles finally discover they have been sold out utterly by the globalists and their puppets in Congress and the State Houses.  

Gereng —

Gereng

I consider my self to be pretty cynical, but your vision of the coming Brave New World is one of the darkest and bleakest that I have run into.

I hope that it does not come to pass.

Tom D Ford —

Unfortunately, we have procrastinated 30 years and are now faced with the Greatest Paradigm Shift in this 21st Century. We have dangerously exploited and exhausted our most complex resources and must Urgently take Bold steps to Embrace a "New System".

The most Important area to address which will naturally cover a wide array of "Needs" is that of Appropriate Clean, Safe, Renewable Energy.  Energy in the forms of Wind, Solar, Hydro, Electric vehicles, Bio-diesel from Algae, Industrial Hemp seed oil and recycled food oils, Ethanol from perennial grasses, cat tails, and stale bread and pastries, are a few of the more sustainable and efficient sources of energy.

At the same time, We need to carefully evaluate the consequences that come with subsidizing the "Burning of Bio-mass"  or "wood" from our exhausted complex Ecological Forests which are our largest Carbon Sink on the Planet.  The Eastern States are already experiencing the pollution and severe problems that come with this practice. We have to take into account that the "Insatiable dependence and demands" on our complex forests and the mechanical equipment to intensively burn materials for "electricity" are very costly on many levels. It is essential to explore and take all costs into the equation.

Fortunately, we do have Better Choices.

Taking the path of "Clean, Safe, Renewable Energy", will naturally lead to a Healthier Planet, Jobs and more Sustainable Future. We absolutely can not Afford to Compromise any further in the direction of Destroying Our only Home this Earth. It is not worth the Gamble of high Risks by continuing to subsidize "Dirty, Toxic, Lethal Fuels". Once our very "complex ecosystems and food systems" are destroyed, We will perish.

The only way we are going to allow our Forests to heal and mature is to wean and renew our relationship with some of the most Practical and Versatile plants that have been used for centuries. One, that was recently passed with a bill initiated by Floyd Prozanski is that of "Industrial Hemp". As of yet, the Federal Government and DEA have not yet realized the Potential of this most Economical and Promising Plant as a tangible Solution for Jobs. Energy, Structural Materials, Fibers, Solvents, and Complete Nutritional food needs.

Another, would be investing in the testing to make use of our Noxious Invasive Plant species such as "Scotch Broom, English Ivy, and Blackberries" for our growing demands and needs.

We are facing ever greater demands with Exponential figures rising with population explosion, economical and environmental concerns. More than ever, we need to "Think Outside the Typical Model or System" that no longer serves our needs.

 
--
Loretta

Inspirationaltimes7 —

We might start by stopping all immigration. What migration does is simply shift one unsolvable problem from one nation to another. It ensures that the population disaster will strike everywhere simultaneously. If people are compelled to remain where the overcrowding is generated then maybe THEIR govts will be forced to either impose fertility restraints or do nothing and let starvation produce a balance between resources, jobs and population.

It is manifestly unfair to burden a prudent people following an intelligent population policy with the overflow from improvident nations whose solution to over popualtion is simply to do as Mexico has done and send them over the border and let someone else figure out how to deal with them. 

As far as finding solutions to the energy equation is concerned- Most alternative forms of energy put forward by the Greenies ignore the EROEI calculations; Energy Returned On Energy Invested.  Meaning that the energy return on energy invested has to exceed 1 to 1.  in 1950 the petroleum ratio was about 100 to 1. Today with all the higher cost in production, refining, transport, etc, the ratio on fossil fuels has fallen to about 7 to 1. Wind, water, solar, ocean waves, hydrogen cells, etc. all must be tested against the EROEI and demonstrate a useful cost effective ratio.

Gereng —

To Tom somewhere above,

Nothing the new governor has said thus far indicates he believes everything can continue as before. He is honest in this assessment anyway. Already he is looking for services to dismantle, and programs to defund. The combined personal, state, and Federal deficits are continuing to grow and politicians have no idea how to contain these, much less reduce them, without cutting back of services and programs.

Trying to raise more revenue from  a populace barely able to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads can't be done.  He knows that trying to squeeze  more taxes and fees from voters will insure he is ousted next election.

But to the lager point. Every trend in international affairs bear out the consolidation of a global work force.  Any nation that attempts to protect its workers' hard won gains must pass protectionist tariffs and this means trade wars.  These are not going to happen.  Instead wages, benefits, working conditions etc  will even out at a much lower globally determined standard than currently exist in countries that are losing jobs to the lowest cost producers.  This is why real wages have been stagnate in the US for the past decade even as prices have risen.

We know from what we have learned of the secret transfers of TARP funds to banks outside the US that the bankers consider money raised in the US to be a global commodity. 

No doubt the future is bleak and I see no indication of our economic situation doing anything but regressing to the international mean.

Gereng —

This legislative session I would like to see our Legislators invest in Oregon's clean energy economy. Programs like the BETC  can help create jobs around the state, creating tax revenue and helping us get our economy back on track.spider facts

BurtonEmma —

I consider myself very critical, but you have a vision of the coming Brave New World is one of the darkest dark and I fall, I mean, I guess.

relaxamento

relaxamento —

Comments are now closed.



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