PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH 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.

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NOTE: Most Senate Republicans returned to the Capitol yesterday so legislative business could continue, with a quorum, in the face of an 11:50 p.m. Sunday deadline for the session, by law, to end. Saturday was a long day at the Capitol and will be again today Sunday. Three Senate Republicans were absent – Fred Girod from Stayton who said he had promised constituents he would say, so he did; Dennis Linthicum from Klamath Falls for who knows what reason; and Brian Boquist from Dallas who had issued major threat to State Police if they came looking for him which led many to believe that he would shoot. Thus, if he carried a gun on the Senate floor, some feared for their safety.  Such is the stuff illustrating how far the Legislature has fallen in terms of equity, forbearance and safety, not to mention just doing the job they were elected to do.

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Okay, here’s an idea. If you are concerned about the “culture” at the Capitol in Oregon, pass a law to change it.

Don’t expect elected office holders and their staff to behave responsibly. Just pass a law.

I’ve heard of legislating behavior, but this takes the cake.

Here are experts from a House Democrat news release touting the action.

“Bi-partisan legislation aiming to make significant improvements to the culture at the Oregon State Capitol is on its way to Oregon Governor Kate Brown for her signature.

House Concurrent Resolution 20 and House Bill 3377 update internal Capitol rules – both of which passed in the Oregon Senate yesterday (Saturday) – ensure ongoing respectful workplace trainings and establish the independent Legislative Equity Office to handle complaints.

“The Capitol should be a place where people of all backgrounds and walks of life can come together for the common good of all Oregonians,” Joint Committee on Capitol Culture Co-Chair Sen. Ginny Burdick (D-Portland) said. “I have been committed to doing the work necessary to make sure everyone who works in or visits our State Capitol feels welcome and safe. This legislation meets that goal.”

Does passing a law “ensure” respectful conduct? No.

And, to my friend, Senator Burdick, I say, simply EXPECT better behavior so “people of all backgrounds and walks of life can come together for the common good of all Oregonians.”

With all the important issues on the legislative agenda as the process drives toward a conclusion, this bill – engineering personal conduct – is one that should have been left on the cutting room floor.

I say – just behave better because it’s what supposedly mature adults should do without an silly legal mandate.