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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2021)
MARCH 19, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A13 Be part of SUCCESS Editorial Cartoon A session begins FROM THE Capitol By BILL POST I t’s been quite some time since my last column, mainly due to elections and the start of the 2021 legislative ses- sion. I want to acknowledge right away, thank you to publisher Lyndon Zaitz for allowing me to write this. I’d like to relay where my own bills are so far this session. This Friday, March 19, is the First Chamber dead- line. That means a bill must be sched- uled for a work session (that’s when the committee votes on the bill) by March 19 from the House or Senate Chamber of origination. If a bill doesn’t have a scheduled work session then it’s “dead” unless it’s in the Committee on Rules, Revenue, or a Joint Committee on Ways and Means. I’ve been fortunate to have several bills move out of committee or that should move later this week. HB 2607 which will help those who lost their homes in last year’s wildfires by exempt- ing them from construction taxes, is now awaiting Third Reading (voting by the House as a whole). HB 2650, which a constituent brought to me, would allow a police dog or K9 to be transported for treatment by an ambulance. That is also awaiting a vote of the House floor. HB 3047 which would prohibit “dox- ing” is on its way to the House floor. HB 3239 which would prohibit large cannabis processing plants in certain areas is having a public hearing and work session later this month. HB 2644 and HJM 2 both honor some very spe- cial veterans. Those veterans were the ones who cleaned up the atomic waste in the Enewetak Atoll after the nuclear bombs were tested earlier in the 1950s and '60s. Those two bills have a hearing later this month. Finally, HB 2648, my attempt again to make “Sudafed” type products sold behind the counter with an ID and not require a prescription. Mississippi just passed the exact same bill as what I am proposing, making Oregon the only state in America that requires a pre- scription for a common cold medicine. That bill will have a hearing and work session later this month. The 2021 session has begun very strangely. All committee hearings are done remotely via Microsoft Teams. That has been a challenge. There are many instances of people not being able to testify because they couldn’t get “in” or the phone number was given incorrectly or for other rea- sons. There are also timeline consider- ations with this virtual setting. Due to technical constraints, most committees must end at a set time, meaning people who want to testify and get “in," are left “off.” I had one committee that had over 50 people waiting to testify that weren’t able to as time ran out. It’s no secret to those who know me that I am less than satisfied with this system. We must get the Capitol back open, because the voice of Oregonians is not being heard. Though when there are no glitches it is actually easier for people to testify, it still isn’t the best way. It’s a great addition, but it will never replace the actual in person testi- mony of Oregonians. I hope by the next column things will be different. (Bill Post represents House District 25. He can be reached at 503-986- 1425 or via email at rep.billpost@ oregonlegislature.gov.) Playground at Simonka Place, a women’s and children’s shelter Claggett Creek Park Playground Keizer Rotary Amphitheatre at Keizer Rapids Park Keizer Rotary is nothing without you! Our local club is made up of individuals sharing a common cause, serving others above self. Get involved by visiting: KeizerRotary.org/involve SERVICE ABOVE SELF Civic Center Clean-Up Rotary bars no one because of race, kind donation and volunteer hours. creed, sex, sexual orientation or Ninety-six percent of our donations national origin. We encourage our have been to local programs and members to take an active interest 26 percent directly to City of Keizer in government, civic and community programs and facilities. Keizer affairs, but do not condone Rotary Rotarians contribute thousands to be used for politics, conducting of hours of volunteer service annually business or support for any particular to events throughout Keizer, faith or special interest. Rotary and have a lot of fun in the process. is a place for community leaders and people of goodwill, to connect weekly with a common goal of understanding and meeting the needs of our community. SUBSCRIBE Keizer news in your mailbox only $30 a year* Call 503 . 390.1051 keizertimes.com/store *Rate for new subscribers inside Marion County, expires 04/30/2021 Field maintenance at Keizer Little League Park The Rotary Club of Keizer invites you, a person who cares about Keizer, to consider applying for membership. We believe when it comes to community service, Rotary is where A look around our community will the action is. Keizer Rotary is far show the impact the Keizer Rotary from being an elite club — we are just Club has had in all corners of our city. folks, like you, dedicated to making As of this year the Keizer Rotary our community great. Club Foundation has contributed nearly $1,000,000 in cash to local and international programs, most of which are matched with funds, in
