PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.
It’s hard, in some ways, to know how to comment on the current walk-out in Salem, which has extended beyond a week. [Late work today is the walk-out may end on Saturday as delinquent Republicans return to the Capitol.]
As a political junkie, I cannot avoid commenting.
So, here are a few competing perceptions:
COMPLAINTS FILED OPPOSING SENATE R FINE-PAYING OPTIONS: A collection of environmental groups and labor unions – probably most the public employee union type – filed complaints with the Secretary of State and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission contending that R senators should not be allowed to use their campaign funds to pay fines imposed due to their absence from the Capitol.
It is not clear, at the moment, whether the Secretary of State or the Ethics Commission has jurisdiction to consider the complaint. [And, in the spirit of full disclosure, I currently serve on the Ethics Commission, so will reserve all comment until I hear all sides of the issue at an upcoming meeting.]
A VIEW FROM ONE OF MY FRIENDS: Perhaps indicating that “regular citizens” – bless their hearts – don’t want to focus on the juvenile to-ing and fro-ing at the Capitol, one of my friends expressed this chagrin:
Lawmakers who walk-out portray a terrible example for those who watch the legislature, especially young people. If you don’t get your way, you leave. Like the old saw, “Take your toys and go home.”
Plus, my friend said, take away ALL salaries and benefits for those who leave their jobs at the Capitol. If the senators are not doing their work, they should not be paid, he said. When, or perhaps if, they return, they should have to apply for salary and benefits all over again.
A COMMENT FROM KNUTE BUEHLER: The candidate who lost to Governor Kate Brown in the last election, Knute Buehler from Bend, continues to share his views in a periodic e-mail to friends and acquaintances, leading to speculation, by the way, that he still harbors political ambitions, perhaps to run for the 2nd District Congressional seat when Greg Walden decides he has enough of Washington, D.C.
After saying that he supported the walk-out, here is how he took on the person who beat him, Governor Brown:
“Governor Kate Brown has earned thumbs down for rampant extremism and creating the most egregious and divisive legislative session in our beautiful state’s history. Governor Brown and the Democrat super-majorities have taken advantage of their power and gone too far.
“Forcing statewide rent control, a new business sales tax, stealing part of the kicker, creating a carbon cap and trade slush fund and even taxing paddle boards! While, we’ve seen no meaningful progress for foster kids, homeless, education quality or fixing PERS.
“We’re just six months in to Governor Brown’s four-year term and we have seen a total disregard for how hard working Oregonians can continue to afford to live, work, and raise a family here.”
Whether Buehler is right or wrong about the walk-out, he has a point about the Democrat agenda at the Capitol, which has veered pretty far left.
A COMMENT FROM A FARMER: In the Salem Statesman newspaper, a 5th generation farmer was quoted in a way that, probably, illustrated the views of many rural Oregonians.
“Those of us who make a living from the land are the best environmental stewards there are. Those who work outside are more in touch with the climate that those who legislate the climate.”
FROM BEND BULLETIN EDITORIAL WRITERS: “Governor Kate Brown and other Democrats criticized the walk-out in a medley of put-downs. ‘The Republicans are driving us away from the values that Oregonians hold dear, and are moving us dangerously close to the self-serving stalemate in Washington, D.C.,’ Brown said.
“That’s a curious perspective from Brown. In 2001, when she was the leader of the Senate Democrats, Brown backed a walk-out of House Democrats who didn’t like what House Republicans were doing in a fight over redistricting. She called the action by House Democrats “’very appropriate under the circumstances.’
“’Under certain circumstances, it’s fair to say we would use all the tools available to us,’ she added.”
FROM THE BLOGS WRITTEN IN MY OLD FIRM, CFM STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: “The final days of any legislative session tend to be chaotic, despite the best intentions of well-meaning legislative leaders. All the big issues bottled up during the session or the ones facing 11th-hour negotiating deadlines are suddenly alive. These tend to be issues that can’t just be swept under the rug, so some resolution is necessary.
“To outside eyes, the spectacle can seem bizarre and brazen. It is, but it also is how the process grinds to a conclusion, which rarely makes everyone happy, but is enough to allow enough people to vote to go home.”
AND THIS FINAL THOUGHT FROM ME: Without trying to understand all of the machinations of the Senate R walk-out, one fact remains puzzling to me. It is why what should be a major issue for all ALL legislators – preserving existing jobs and creating an environment that incents business to create new ones.
The issue that has been the pivot for the walk-out strategy – the so-called “cap-and-trade” bill – could (read could) cost thousands of job, especially in Eastern Oregon.
So, my question is why risk those jobs.
Perspective from the 19th Hole 