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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2009)
NOV. 6, 2009:NWLP 11/3/09 10:21 AM Page 5 For 2009 legislative session AFL-CIO S ENATE S CORECARD AFL-CIO rates Oregon lawmakers BEND — Democratic State Rep. Tina Kotek of Portland was named the Oregon AFL-CIO’s “Legislator of the Year.” The state labor federation re- leased its ranking of state lawmakers for the 2008 legislative session prior to its biennial convention here Oct. 26-27. Legislator of the Year is awarded to an Oregon lawmaker who has “gone above and beyond to stand up for Ore- gon’s middle class.” Kotek was one of 10 lawmakers in the House and nine in the Senate to receive “Gold Medal” sta- tus with the Oregon AFL-CIO’s Com- mittee on Political Education. Kotek had the highest point total among them. The AFL-CIO uses a weighted sys- tem whereby lawmakers receive “points” for their votes based on how important a bill is to the organization. For example, legislators who supported the federation’s top bill last session — the Worker Freedom Act (SB 519) — received more points than for other bills labor lobbied for. Floor votes weren’t the only criteria used. Lawmakers also earned marks for co-sponsoring bills, giving bills hear- ings in committees they chaired, testi- fying in favor of bills, and even for at- tending rallies in support of a bill. In cases where legislators were on the opposite side of the AFL-CIO, points were deducted. Legislators with the highest points are awarded gold, silver and bronze sta- tus. Point totals for each lawmaker were not released, and those receiving nega- tive point totals were not listed. In the Senate, nine Democratic law- makers received Gold Medal status: Di- ane Rosenbaum and Rod Monroe of Portland; Alan Bates of Ashland; Presi- dent Peter Courtney of Salem; Major- ity Leader Richard Devlin of Tualatin; Floyd Prozanski and Vicki Walker of Eugene; Suzanne Bonamici of Beaver- ton; and Laurie Monnes-Anderson of Gresham. Senators voting 100 percent on all AFL-CIO-backed bills that reached the floor were Bates, Bonamici, Courtney, Devlin, Monnes-Anderson, Monroe, Prozanski, Rosenbaum, Margaret Carter and Jackie Dingfelder of Port- land, and Bill Morrisette of Springfield. Democrat Martha Schrader of Canby (wife of Congressman Kurt Schrader) was named “Rookie of the Year” and was a Silver medalist. Two Senate Republicans received “Honorable Mention” status, David Nelson of Pendleton and Jackie Winters of Salem. In the House, the top rankings went to Kotek and fellow Portland Democ- rats Michael Dembrow, Speaker Dave Hunt, and Majority Leader Mary Nolan; Mike Schaufler of Happy Val- ley; Arnie Roblan of Coos Bay; Brad Witt of Clatskanie; Jeff Barker of Aloha; Paul Holvey of Eugene, and Greg Matthews of Gresham. Representatives voting 100 percent on all AFL-CIO-backed bills were Kotek, Hunt, Barker, Holvey, Terry Beyer of Springfield, Chris Garrett of Lake Oswego, Betty Komp of Wood- burn, and Judy Stiegler of Bend. “Rookies of the Year” in the House went to Dembrow, Matthews, Garrett, Brent Barton of Clackamas, and Jules Bailey of Portland. All are Democrats. Greg Smith of Heppner was rated the most labor-friendly Republican, re- ceiving a Bronze Medal. Among the legislators with the high- est marks, seven are union members. They are Senators Rosenbaum and Monnes-Anderson, and Representatives Dembrow, Witt, Barker, Holvey, and Matthews. Nearly 40 bills were used in evalu- ating legislators. Space prohibits listing all of the bills. For more, go to the AFL- CIO Web site at www.oraflcio.org. Legislators are listed in order of score Legislators not listed received negative scores GOLD MEDAL Diane Rosenbaum, D Alan Bates, D Peter Courtney, D Richard Devlin, D Suzanne Bonamici, D Floyd Prozanski, D Rod Monroe, D Laurie Monnes-Anderson, D Vicki Walker, D BRONZE MEDAL Rick Metsger, D SILVER MEDAL Jackie Dingfelder, D Bill Morrisette, D Margaret Carter, D Mark Hass, D Martha Schrader, D Joanne Verger, D HONORABLE MENTIONS Ginny Burdick, D Betsy Johnson, D David Nelson, R Jackie Winters, R AFL-CIO H OUSE S CORECARD Legislators are listed in order of score Legislators not listed received negative scores GOLD MEDAL Tina Kotek, D Mike Schaufler, D Arnie Roblan, D Brad Witt, D Michael Dembrow, D Jeff Barker, D Dave Hunt, D Mary Nolan, D Paul Holvey, D Greg Matthews, D BRONZE MEDAL Nancy Nathanson, D Jefferson Smith, D Debbie Boone, D Chris Harker, D Carolyn Tomei, D Nick Kahl, D Jean Cowan, D Suzanne Van Orman, D Greg Smith, R HONORABLE MENTIONS Bob Jenson, R Bill Garrad, R Scott Bruun, R SILVER MEDAL Chip Shields, D Larry Galizio, D Tobias Read, D Phil Barnhart, D Jules Bailey, D Sara Gelser, D Brent Barton, D Peter Buckley, D Chris Garrett, D Judy Stiegler, D Mitch Greenlick, D Chris Edwards, D Chuck Riley, D Brian Clem, D Ben Cannon, D David Edwards, D Terry Beyer, D HONORABLE MENTIONS John Huffman, R Andy Olson, R Cliff Bentz, R Vickie Berger, R Sal Esquival, R Wayne Krieger, R Bill Kennemer, R Zachary Zabinsky • Social Security • SSI - Disability Claims Personal Attention To Every Case Working For Disability Rights Since 1983 NO FEE WITHOUT RECOVERY 621 SW Morrison, Portland 503-223-8517 NOVEMBER 6, 2009 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 5
