“Oregonians need us to come together to fix some of the biggest issues in their communities: housing, homelessness, behavioral health, public safety, education and much more,” Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield told his colleagues on Jan. 9 as the 2023 Legislature began organizing itself. “Let’s recognize that when we disagree, we still truly have more in common that brings us together.”

Nearly six months later in the final hours of the legislative session, he told the House: “Democracy is messy, and this session is absolutely no different.”

Rayfield acknowledged that perhaps no one foresaw how difficult the conversations might be, adding: “I believe in democracy. And I believe when we step back and look at the end results we achieved this legislative session, all of us – no matter what your party affiliation is – we can be proud of the work that was done here. And hopefully, we can learn from the turbulence along the way. I certainly know I can. And I believe it will help us strengthen our democracy.”

Last month, I hit the road to interview the Legislature’s top Democrats and Republicans: Rayfield, D-Corvallis; then-House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, Prineville; Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego; and Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, Bend.

I wanted to hear what this year’s legislative session was like for them – politically and personally – and what they foresee for the shorter session in 2024. My two Senate interviews will publish next week, following today’s publication of the two House columns, so readers can compare the differing viewpoints.

Rayfield and I talked over breakfast at one of his favorite spots, WiseCracks Café in downtown Corvallis. We were joined by his communications director, Hazel Tylinski. He and I followed up with a phone conversation this week.

“I think if you talk to anybody, despite all of the struggles in the last session, there was unanimity on the problems we were trying to solve,” Rayfield said. “I don’t think we can ever underestimate that that North Star was the same for everyone.”

Gov. Kotek and lawmakers both wanted early action on homelessness and lack of housing. Kotek issued two executive orders on her first full day in office and asked the Legislature for $130 million. Lawmakers added their own budget and policy wishes.

Legislative sessions unfold in phases. Rayfield’s approach during the initial weeks was to focus on easier stuff that could be accomplished in a bipartisan manner, leaving difficult stuff for later.

Republicans were treated as equals in writing the initial homelessness and housing package; neither side got all it wanted. “I believe the success came from an open and transparent process,” Rep. Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, told me.

The House GOP’s point person on housing and homelessness, Helfrich now is the Republican leader.

Rayfield wanted to get a housing package through the Legislature in just 30 days. His staff was cautious, convincing him to say 60 days. Lawmakers officially began work Jan. 17 and on March 21 sent a $200 million spending and policy package to the governor.

The other urgent priority – supporting Oregon’s semiconductor industry – took until April 6 but also had bipartisan sponsorship.

Rayfield said having measurable legislative goals was important: “Did we move the needle on our values?” He also wanted the Legislature to avoid echoing the national partisan enmity.

“Sometimes you don’t know what the right answer is, but you’re in the position where you have to have an answer and you have to work through it,” he said. “And I would be very open with the Republican leader about it.”

In Oregon, Republican voters and Republican legislators remain in the minority. Republicans gained enough legislative seats in last year’s elections to end Democrats’ super-majorities. Still, Rayfield acknowledged, “It’s real easy as the minority party to feel like you have no control.”

Democrats agreed to change the House rules to get rid of fines for legislators’ unexcused absences. At Breese-Iverson’s request, Rayfield delayed until May the floor votes on the most controversial legislation – reproductive health care and firearms, House Bills 2002 and 2005.

During his biweekly media briefing on April 25, Rayfield had told journalists that the bills would pass, but he believed the majority party had a responsibility to first hear the minority. “Giving everyone on both sides the time they need,” he said, “is very important to me.”

Following a contentious debate on May 2, the House passed the firearms bill on a party-line vote. Afterward, Rayfield sought to empathize legislators’ commonality, telling House members, “No matter what your vote was today, I believe and know that everyone in this building and in this chamber wants to make our communities safer.”

Meetings, phone calls and text messages filled Rayfield’s legislative days. Even during our conversation at the café, his phone rang with a call from Peter Courtney.

He tried to draw boundaries outside the Capitol, skipping social events – “at 5 o’clock every legislative day, you can go have your fill of cheese cubes and salami somewhere” – and instead going home to his wife, son and their whippet, Ruby, in Corvallis.

“You’re always perfecting work-life balance,” he said. “I probably say ‘no’ to a lot more events than some predecessors. It’s not like I don’t regret that I didn’t go to something. But at the same time, I’m trying to balance it out.”

As time permitted, Rayfield continued his law practice, taking a couple of half-days on Fridays to visit clients.

The Rayfields are fond of comedy shows and comedians. He enjoyed teasing with Breese-Iverson and with Knopp, who dubbed him “Maverick.” He discovered that Wagner did a hilarious impression of him: “Apparently I use a lot of hand gestures, according to the people in my life.”

Rayfield also plays tuba in a polka band, though he finds little time to practice.

During the session’s third phase, the House plugged away on issues that took more time: behavioral health, a rural infrastructure package, restructuring Oregon’s indigent defense system – “a tough plane to land,” Rayfield said – and Democrats’ desire for a climate budget.

Republican and Independent senators boycotted floor sessions but kept working in committees, which enabled the Legislature to prepare its final work. The 160-day session’s final phase began once the 43-day Senate walkout ended and a flurry of bills flowed between the two chambers.

Since the session ended, Rayfield has been getting out and about, including touring Yamhill County last week with Rep. Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville.

Legislators enter 2024 with unresolved questions. Rayfield said they include the wording of bill summaries, which contributed to the Senate walkout, and setting boundaries for which issues lawmakers will consider during the 35-day session.

“I don’t think you can come out of this next session without a housing package, without making more progress on substance abuse and addiction,” he said. Along with health care and childcare caseloads, “these are massive issues.”