The Liftoff: Kotek steps in to try to salvage session
PLUS: Legislator faces recall attempt; who will be the next Secretary of State?; Oregonians get banned from Russia; Senate Republicans sell "walkout" merch (including beer koozies); and more!
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1. Kotek steps in to try to salvage the session (and other legislative news)
After staying out of the fray, Gov. Tina Kotek has stepped up her efforts to end the standoff between Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans. But, Senate Republicans have not yet been swayed—and the walkout has officially hit week #4.
In a statement shortly after walkout day #15, Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) said his members would return June 25, or the constitutional deadline for the session to adjourn, in order to pass “lawful, substantially bipartisan budgets and bills.”
Is a special session looming? From The Oregonian: “Despite Senate President Rob Wagner and Kotek continuing to express hope that the session can be salvaged, some lawmakers and Capitol insiders say it is effectively over and are preparing to reconvene in a special session this summer to craft the two-year budget.”
Here are some key walkout-related developments:
Senate Republicans refused to meet with Gov. Tina Kotek in person, apparently fearing that she may have used the State Police to force them onto the floor. Kotek called the move “very disrespectful”, according to The Capital Chronicle. She continued: “I think that says a lot about who’s interested in resolving the crisis…It’s very difficult when the Senate Republicans don’t show up in a room.”
The La Grande Observer editorial board weighed in this week writing, “However, the real issue is an ideological one revolving around the ongoing national culture war and, in the end, wastes a great deal of time. In short, GOP lawmakers have made their point, showing they can hamstring the legislative process if they choose, but now they need to get back to work.”
Senators who are barred from re-election will not be allowed to file for re-election in 2024 when the window for candidates opens Sept. 14, according to the Oregon Secretary of State's office. The SOS Office has asked the Department of Justice for legal clarification on an important timing question.
From OPB: “Oregon’s 13 Constitutional Defense Fund, has reported raising more than $5,700 since it was created on May 10 to attract money from supporters of the ongoing walkout. Senators are even offering ‘Oregon’s 13’-branded t-shirts, beer koozies and coffee mugs to gin up interest. But the money is ineligible to pay for attorneys to represent the 13 lawmakers the PAC’s name refers to…So Oregon’s 13 might be headed to a crowdfunding campaign.”
After last week’s massive economic forecast, legislative leaders say they will pour an additional $300 million more into education, boosting the state’s education total to $10.2 billion over the next two years, writes The Oregonian. The question is: Will the Senate Republicans come back to pass this (and other) pending budget(s)?
Funding for drug treatment centers in Oregon paid for by the state’s drug decriminalization policy stood at over a quarter-billion dollars Friday as officials called for closer monitoring of the money. Only $184 million has been handed out, writes the AP’s Andrew Selsky. But, a bill to fix some of the staffing and administrative barriers is stalled because of the Republican Senate walkout.
2. Oregon elected officials in the news
Even with the Oregon Senate in limbo this week, other Oregon elected officials (and want-to-be electeds) made headlines:
Gov. Kotek, Attorney General Rosenblum, U.S. Rep. Hoyle among 500 Americans newly banned from traveling to Russia, reports the Capital Chronicle.
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has recused herself from a criminal investigation into the cryptocurrency executive who gave the Democratic Party of Oregon $500,000 under a false name, reports The Capital Chronicle.
Could criminal charges be looming? Hillary Borrud with The Oregonian reported late Friday afternoon that criminal charges are a possibility.
Senior deputy district attorney in Multnomah County Nathan Vasquez is running for his boss's job, challenging DA Mike Schmidt. Vasquez has been a prosecutor in the Multnomah County District Attorney's office for more than 20 years, reports The Portland Tribune.
The state’s largest private sector union (UFCW 555) is attempting to recall the chair of the House Business and Labor Committee, Rep Paul Holvey (D-Eugene). Holvey has long been considered one of organized labor’s top allies in Salem. So what exactly is going on? Willamette Week has the details.
Willamette Week reports on an intraparty dispute in the Oregon GOP: “Columbia County Republican candidate Drew Layda has filed complaints with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission against House Minority Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, alleging the Prineville Republican used her elected office for personal gain.”
3. Who will be the next Secretary of State?
The Oregon politics community is abuzz with questions and theories about the vacancy in the Secretary of State’s office. In this episode, we discuss the role and its significance in state government. We discuss the complex political dynamics of the vacancy and the process for how the position is filled (and the requirements for who can fill it). We also cover the potential candidates and public statements that have been made by the Governor and other political leaders. Finally, we offer some historical context of how previous vacancies have been filled—and what that might say about this vacancy.
4. Sponsored Message from Harrang Long P.C.: Harrang Long’s Government Ethics Practice
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5. Lawsuit over sidewalk camping (and other Portland news)
Portland will soon have a new political map that divides the city into four districts, and in 2024 voters will select city council members to represent each district.
OPB reports: The city’s 13-person volunteer board (the Independent District Commission) has spent the past four months reviewing and discussing draft maps submitted by the public. This month, they’ll choose one potential map and ask residents what they think. The commission must decide on a final district map by the end of August.
Portland reached tentative settlement in Americans With Disabilities Act lawsuit over sidewalk camps. From Sophie Peel with Willamette Week: “Last fall, a group of Portlanders with disabilities sued the city of Portland over street camping, alleging the city was violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by allowing homeless people to block sidewalks. The two parties, after months of negotiations, appear to have reached a settlement. And next week, the Portland City Council will vote on whether to approve it.”
“Staffers in Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office said the mayor might not back a proposal to extend the city’s partnership with the Joint Office of Homeless Services for another year should Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson reject a request to commit all of a projected $25 million windfall for the mayor’s mass alternative shelter sites and rent assistance,” reports The Oregonian.
“An ordinance restricting daytime homeless camping in public right-of-ways is expected to be introduced by Mayor Ted Wheeler at the May 31 Portland City Council meeting. Wheeler’s ordinance would ban camping on public sidewalks, parks, docks, and within 250 feet of construction sites, schools, daycares, existing shelters, high crash corridors, and environmental overlay zones,” reports The Portland Mercury.
6. Tension between Clack. Co. Sheriff and Commissioners spills into the paper
Check out these dueling headlines from Pamplin in Clackamas County, where budget drama has led to name-calling in the papers:
First, an op-ed from Clackamas County Sheriff Angela Brandenburg on May 19: “Sheriff: Clackamas County proposes misuse of tax dollars”
Then, an op-ed from Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith on May 25: “Tootie Smith: What is the sheriff hiding while spreading a lie?”
7. Check out one of our most popular op-eds
Over two years ago, John Tapogna wrote an op-ed for us titled “Don’t Bet Against Portland.” It quickly became our most-read article. This week, Tapogna has penned a follow up called “Betting on Portland. How’s that going?”
He has identified “signs of a turnaround” in Portland — click the link to read more.
8. News Round-Up: State government vacancies, a lawsuit, and preschool
Looking for a job in state government? Union officials and state employees are warning of dire consequences if new contracts don’t come with significant raises for state employees. According to the Capital Chronicle, about one in five state jobs are vacant.
From the Capital Chronicle: “More Oregon kids attend preschool but enrollment still among lowest in nation”
Oregon police officers killed 23 people in the line of duty in 2022, according to a draft of the state’s first use-of-force report by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.
From Willamette Week: “Oregon Justice Resource Center Sued by Former Staff Attorney Who Alleges Pattern of Ethical Lapses”
Must read: The aftermath of seven farmworkers killed last week in one of the deadliest crashes in Oregon history has highlighted a network of groups who support the farmworker community, writes The Statesman Journal.
Oregon is headed into summer fire season in decent shape writes Zach Urness with The Statesman Journal.
Thank you for reading!
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About the Authors
Ben Bowman is the state representative for Oregon House District 25 (Tigard, Metzger, and South Beaverton) and a member of the Tigard-Tualatin School Board. In his day job, he works as an administrator for a public school district. Previously, he worked as a legislative aide for former Reps. Margaret Doherty and Val Hoyle. He also co-hosts The Oregon Bridge podcast. In the newsletter and podcast, he speaks only for himself.
Alex Titus is a small business owner and consultant to businesses, nonprofits, and associations. Previously, he served as an Advisor in the Trump Administration and as a Policy Advisor to President Trump’s Super PAC. His writing has appeared in National Review, Fox News, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, and other publications.
Kristina Edmunson has been everything from press assistant for Governor Kulongoski, media advance associate for Vice President Biden, and communications director for Attorney General Rosenblum. Born and raised in Eugene, she has been involved in some of the biggest policy and legal decisions in Oregon over the last decade. Today, she runs her own communications practice. She speaks only for herself in her contributions to The Liftoff.