Perspective from the 19^th Hole 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 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.

The question in this blog headlines lurks behind more to’ing and fro’ing at the State Capitol in Salem, Oregon as legislators debate when to ask voters for their views on transportation tax increases.

Republican legislators, most of whom oppose the tax, want it to be on the general election ballot next November.

Democrat legislators, most of whom favor the tax, want it to be on the primary election next May.

Why the difference?

Well, there appear to be at least three reasons:

• First, Republican leaders say they collected signatures to refer the tax increase to the ballot so Oregonians could vote on it next November.  Then, they say, turnout is higher than in any primary election, so “voters are served better.”
• Second, Democrat leaders say they want a vote sooner – meaning in May — so they know how much funding will be available for the Oregon Department of Transportation.  So, they contend, voters are served no matter when the tax increase is at the polls, so they opt for May.
• Third, but truth be told, the main reason for May instead of November revolves around election politics.  Republicans want the measure on the ballot at the same time as Oregon Governor Tina Kotek bids for re-election, apparently believing that “no” voters on transportation tax increases could cross over to vote “no” on Kotek.  Of course, on this point, Democrats want to avoid that scenario, so they push for the May vote.

Here are excerpts of how the Oregonian newspaper characterized the issue yesterday under this headline:  “Oregon transportation tax hike one step closer to landing on May ballot following key vote.”

“Democrats have said they want to move the election date in order to get clarity soon on the state’s available transportation funding.  Republicans have slammed the effort, calling it a political move that would violate the intention of the thousands of individuals who signed the referendum to place the tax hikes on the November ballot. “

Last Thursday, a special legislative committee, created solely to take up the proposal, voted 5-3 along party lines, with all Democrats in support, to advance the May election bill to a full Senate vote.

By law, Kotek must sign the bill by February 25 to get the measure on the May ballot, meaning Democrats have less than two weeks to get it through both chambers and onto her desk.

In all of this, what will happen next?

Well, the Oregonian newspaper says Republicans, outnumbered in both chambers, have few options to stop Democrats from moving the election date on the tax hikes.  The Rs could boycott floor sessions to deny Democrats a quorum to hold votes, but they have not indicated publicly whether they are willing to take that extreme measure.

Plus, Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr suggested that his caucus may seek legal action to keep the taxes on the November ballot, no matter what the Legislature does.

“I believe that ultimately this will be in front of the courts,” Starr said.  “We will see whether the legislative activity of this committee and this Legislature … ultimately will stand up under court scrutiny.”

So, in the end, more to’ing and fro’ing, either in the Legislature or in the courts before voters have their say one way or the other.