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 (Les AuCoin), 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.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

If I reflect on my career as a lobbyist here in Oregon, I am glad it’s over.

I had a good 25-year run, but, in retirement, I have taken a look at what it means to operate with a “virtual legislature,” which is now under way during the pandemic. 
Not pretty or effective.

For me, if I was still lobbying, the major difference is that I would miss the chance to contact lawmakers individually to share perspectives from my clients.  And the lawmakers would miss the chance to engage on issues.

In a regular legislative session, I would talk to each of the 90 legislators – 30 in the Senate and 60 in the Senate – at least once, if not many more times.  Some more than others, but, still, all 90.

That personal touch makes lobbying in a state capitol like Salem much different than in Washington, D.C. where there are 500+ Members of Congress and more staff than you can count.  However, it’s important to note that, in D.C., you do rely heavily on that staff rather than being able to meet, most of the time, with individual representatives or senators.

All of this came to mind over the last couple days as I began to prepare for a Senate Rules Committee hearing in Salem on February 25 when four bills advocated by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission will be up for consideration.  I currently serve as the vie-chair of the Commission, so I will be testifying….remotely.

Virtual meetings such as the Senate Rules Commission hearing are handled under a State of Oregon contract with Microsoft Teams.  At the moment, it is how all hearings are handled, though it is possible that, down the road, an on-site legislature could return.

Here is a quick summary of how the virtual hearing will work.

• In advance of the hearing, names and addresses of those seeking to testify will be transmitted to the committee administrator.

• Just in advance of the start of the hearing, those testifying will be allowed to go live with Microsoft Teams.

• Before taking a turn to testify, all of those on the witness list will be asked to leave their systems on mute, which means they can watch and not talk.

• Then, of course, when called upon by the committee chair, those who tesify will go off mute and be allowed to speak.

• Don’t yet know how the question-answer part of most hearings will work.

• When done delivering comments or answering questions, those testifying are advised to go back on mute and listen/watch the rest of the hearing.

In this context, there will be no ability to meet individually with legislators to convey information about the Ethics Commission bills.  Testimony will have to suffice unless phone calls or texts are possible.

Legislators themselves, of course, will be outside the Capitol, as well, though there was one case last week where a Salem legislator, whose home was without power, ventured to his office at the Capitol to hold a virtual hearing.

That’s just the way it is.

But, based on my 25 years as a lobbyist, I believe texture and substance will be lost in the virtual approach.

So, I hope that, when the pandemic eases, all of us can get back to regular legislative business in Oregon, with the benefits of personal contact between legislators and those they represent.  Democracy is better for the personal contact.