northwest
The Freshman
Tina Kotek thrives in first legislative session
by Jack Turteltaub
U M t’s been a whirlwind” is how Tina Kotek
described her experience in the 74th leg­
islative session that concluded June 28 in
Salem. The freshman representative for
District 44, who also experienced personal
tragedy as the session unfolded, conveyed a combi­
nation of pride and relief as she spoke about the
Legislature’s accomplishments and her personal role.
Kotek’s timing was good as her party, the
Democrats, took control of the Legislature for the
first time in more than a decade. That allowed the
Legislature, in alliance with Democratic Gov. Ted
Kulongoski, to press forward with bills that had
been stymied for years.
Kotek said, “1 think everyone agrees that it was
a fantastic session.” -The pride resonates in her
voice as she ticks off some of the accomplishments:
increased funding for primary and secondary
education, a Healthy Children amendment for the
November ballot, protection for Oregon consumers
from exorbitant payday interest loans, lobbyist
teform and, of course, two landmark gay rights bills.
The Blue Oregon blog reported that this past
session was the shortest since 1995. The previous
two regular sessions lasted into August. Since so
many bills were passed this time around, it means
the 74th was also one of the most efficient. By
adjourning early, Blue Oregon also noted, tax­
payers saved almost $1 million in legislative
expenses. The Democratic leadership, with strong
bipartisan support, agreed to a goal of finishing the
session by the end of June. Kotek stated that this
required “extraordinary discipline.”
Kotek is also proud of the leadership of the
Democratic majority and her personal work for
welfare reform, the Healthy Children proposed
constitutional amendment, revised nutritional
standards for public schools and her efforts on
behalf of Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 2007, the
two gay rights measures, which Kotek described as
“historic pieces of legislation.”
She said one of her most difficult but satisfying
moments was testifying last April with her partner,
Aimee Wilson, in support of HB 2007, the domes­
tic partnership bill. Kotek also carried the bill on
the floor. She said, “I tried to give a very personal
speech: ‘This is about me and my family.’ ”
Kotek is especially proud of the inclusion of
transgender people in the nondiscrimination law.
She was also pleased by the support of the business
community. “Business leaders knew we had to show
we are a progressive state to compete in today’s
world."
While Kotek realizes that the protections and
rights conferred do not bring full equality, she is
pragmatic about the “post-Measure 36 world.” That
measure amended the constitution to ban same-sex
marriage. Kotek pointed out that to skirt a potential
constitutional crisis and certain legal challenge, it
was important to create a different legal entity to
formally protect same-sex relationships.
Kotek is also pleased with her role in sponsor­
State Rep. Tina Kotek, D-North/Northeast Portland,
ing House Bill 2469, a welfare reform bill that
legislative session.
addresses problems in the system since federal
reforms in the 1990s. “The purpose is to help peo­ had great insurance. But what if that hadn’t been
ple get to self-sufficiency through treatment, job
the caSe?”
training, etc.,” she said.
Unfortunately, Kotek’s mother’s health deterio­
There is also House Bill 2650, which will
rated rapidly. Kotek’s family returned home to
“establish statewide nutritional standards for
Pennsylvania and decided to keep her mom comfort­
schools.” Kotek says this reduces or eliminates junk
able as they ran out of medical options. Kotek joined
foods in vending machines that contribute to
them for the final few days of her mother’s life.
childhixxl obesity and other health problems.
Only a week after her mother’s death Feb. 4,
Kotek has been a strong supporter of the
Kotek returned to Oregon to plunge into the furi­
Healthy Children Act, a proposed amendment to ous pace the Legislature had set for itself. She said
the state constitution to raise tobacco taxes. The
she just forced herself to go forward.
money provides increased coverage for children
Kotek said Wilson and other legislators and
through the Oregon Health Plan and increases the
staffers were supportive. She said it was also a com­
affordability of health care.
fort to imagine at certain times that “my mom was
Despite a successful session, Kotek’s personal
with me."
tragedy almost derailed her as the session began. As
Unlike other lawmakers who lived farther from
she was being sworn in last January in the presence Salem, Kotek said she was fortunate to return home
of Wilson, her parents and her siblings, who flew in
each night. But that meant long days, including
from out of state, she was worried. Her mother was a two-hour commute. Kotek would leave her North
“not feeling well.”
Portland home early in the morning and drive to her
After a battery of tests, Kotek’s mom was diag­ underground parking spot at the Capitol grounds.
nosed with a tumor and hospitalized in Salem. “It
She would go to her office or to committees and
was the same day the Legislature opened for spend the next nine to 11 hours absorbed in work.
business,” said Kotek. She was suddenly trying to
Kotek described the year as a great learning
cope with powerful feelings of fear and grief and
experience, a crash course as newcomers try to
making trips to the hospital, just as she was sup­ learn the procedures and rules of the Legislature.
posed to be focusing on the bills ahead.
She also learned personalities and styles; the prior­
Kotek, who has been a policy expert on chil­ ities and skills of other legislators; the complex j
dren’s health and family issues, said that even for
interplay of committees, hearings and bills in vari­
her, her mother’s illness was “eye-opening." “My ous stages of revision; and how to handle lobbyists
mother was in two different hospitals, four different
and support staff.
floors. She had many tests done. Fortunately, she
And the political process itself can be brutal.
is taking a brief breather after a landmark
Kotek says, “Politics is a contact sport, but you
can’t take it personally.”
Kotek did have one advantage. She had worked
as a public policy advocate for several previous
sessions, and she had spent considerable time
observing and participating in the process.
She already knew many of the players. Kotek
said she quickly learned “the back stairwells to
avoid the lobbyists.”
And what lies ahead for Kotek? She is working
in Little Rock, Ark., as a senior consultant for the
Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national ini­
tiative to reduce childhood obesity through the
American Heart Association and the Clinton
Foundation.
Kotek’s.enthusiasm remains high as she looks
forward to returning to the political grind next
year. While it is too early to announce, she says she
plans to ntn for re-election.
Despite potential turnover with the possibility of
House Speaker Jeff Merk ley, D-Port land, entering
into a congressional run and the announcement that
state Sen. Kate Brown, D-Portland, will not return,
Kotek remains optimistic. She believes that the pub­
lic is satisfied with results of the past session and that
there is strong support for more reform. Kotek plans
to be there to push for more bills, advocate for her
priorities and continue the work she has only just
begun.
Portland writer/poet JACK TURTELTAUB is a licensed .
psychologist™ private practice.
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