Capital Chatter: How fast lawmakers move once they smell the finish line
Published 3:00 pm Thursday, June 22, 2023
- capital chatter logo
On the longest day of the year, Oregon’s state senators went home before the sun set, having passed more than 90 bills and resolutions on Wednesday.
It’s fascinating how fast lawmakers move once they smell the finish line.
Few of Wednesday’s measures evoked debate. Many passed unanimously, supported by all the senators present, Democrats and Republicans alike.
One was HB 3127, which bans the use of TikTok and several other apps on state-owned or -operated computers, phones and related technology. Without a bit of irony, Sen. Aaron Woods, D-Wilsonville, presented the bill as being part of making Oregon a leader in cybersecurity.
Consider:
• Lawmakers are slashing funding for a proposed cybersecurity center by more than two-thirds.
Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp of Bend joined Woods in presenting the bipartisan bill, which passed the Senate 24-0 and is on its way to Gov. Tina Kotek for her action.
As I sat in the Senate chamber this week, I contemplated that passage of any legislation seems a miracle this year. Along with the divisive national political climate, lawmakers had no shortage of reasons for being grumpy or ill-tempered.
The air-filtration fans in the Senate chamber – necessary to keep construction odors at bay – are so loud that senators can barely hear themselves speak. The noise isn’t obvious to people watching the proceedings online, although other construction noises sometimes are.
Even the Senate clock was broken, stuck at 7:23. Could that be a stealth reminder that the Senate never acted on SB 723 from Sen. Fred Girod, R-Lyons? His brief bill states: “Upon the written request of 10 members of the Legislative Assembly submitted to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives objecting to any rule adopted by an agency, the agency shall appear before an appropriate committee or interim committee of the Legislative Assembly for a hearing on the rule.”
The 2023 Legislature launched in January with a new governor, a few new legislative leaders and many new lawmakers. It seems too little attention was paid to nurturing those relationships; the ongoing seismic improvements and Capitol remodeling interfered more than anticipated.
Temporarily gone are the private eating areas where legislators mingle and talk informally, as well as the public café where anyone could meet. The governor, secretary of state and state treasurer offices were moved out of the Capitol during the construction, making it less convenient to interact with those officials and their staffs. Lobbyists lost their common workspace. Public places to gather are sparse. (Even wastebaskets are non-existent in the main lobbies outside House and Senate offices.)
Adding to these woes are the human concerns. Several legislators dealt with significant health issues during this year’s session. Others have lost spouses or family members.
It already was a stressful session. Then came the record-long walkout by Republican and Independent senators, fueled by grievances both political and personal.
Were it not for Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, that boycott might remain unresolved. Kotek and Democratic leaders boxed themselves in by publicly vowing not to capitulate on their priorities. Their negotiating stance was to potentially support some Republican initiatives while keeping Democratic bills intact.
Having lost her bid for Senate president, Taylor is outside the Democratic leadership. Yet she and Knopp took a problem-solving approach. Eschewing ultimatums, Taylor asked the boycotters: How do we resolve this?
Lengthy discussions led to a compromise in which Democrats gave in on some priorities, Republicans didn’t get all they wanted and the Senate got back to work.
Houser Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, told journalists as legislators resumed work on Tuesday: “This week is the final week. Thankfully, it is here. You know we will be landing the plane. Seat backs and tray tables are in their upright and locked position.”
