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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 1987)
A Look at Legislative Action by Steven Bailey, N.D. We have frequently printed the word democracy Yet I cannot too often repeat that it is a word the real gist of which etill sleeps, quite unawaken d. notwithstanding the resonance and the many angry tempests out of which its syllables have come, from pen or tongue It is a great word, whose history. I suppose, remains unwritten, because that history has yet to be enacted It is. in some sort, younger brother of another great and often used word. NATURE, whose history also waits unwritten Walt Whitman » • It is perhaps ironic that this is the legislative session that passed HB 2001, a South African divestature bill. I say this because, while divestature has been an issue for many sessions, this has certainly not been the legislative body that epitomizes empathy to self-aetermination, employment and human rights issues as related to apartheid. This body has, to a great ex tent, acted in a manner that leans much more heavily towards the interests of business and insurance companies as opposed to those of the workers, labor and social services. The 1987 Oregon Legislative session has been conducted at an incredible pace while struggling with the most co-equal makeup (Republican to Democrats) in recent history. This parity has resulted in a body that has acted much more conservatively than Governor Goldschmidt probably wishes. It has also resulted in a body that has underscored the power of the lobby, the politics of compromise and ultimately the politics of politics. This article will attempt to appraise particular actions as well as general tendencies of our legislators in the areas of health care, workers comp/ labor issues. My next article will combine a number of Oregon's public interest groups' evaluations into an over-all evaluation of our 1987 legis lators. Before I begin on content of legislation, a short overview: Legislation in the above mentioned areas is reviewed and acted on by either the House or Senate Committees on Labor or Human Resources. On the Senate side, these committees are chaired by Senator Larry Hill and Senator Bill McCoy respectively. Their House counterparts are Representative Bob Shiprack and Rick Kotulski. Each committee hs a one-democrat majority, and bills must be passed out of committee by a majority vote. W orkers Com p Issues: Reform and improvement of workers comp statutes is defined quite differently from one house to the other. House Bill (HB) 2103, which came out of Representative Shiprack's labor com mittee after three tries, placed substantial responsibility on the injured worker, including legal fees, and was seen by labor, legal groups and workers to be a very poor bill. This bill was essentially a dream list of the insurance companies, the Oregon Medical Association and big business. This is not too surprising considering Shiprack's and Kotulski s strong friendships to these groups. What resulted was a bill that ended up far re moved from the changes suggested by Governor Goldschmidt. HB 2103 was finally passed by the whole House but has pretty much died on the Senate side. The Senate counterpart is called HB 2900 and purports a much more balanced set of changes. This bill still will help eliminate abuse within workers comp, but leaves in checks and balances essential to a fair and equitable disability program. At a time when we need to im prove Oregon's attractiveness to new industry, it is reassuring to see the stance that Senator Hill's committee has taken. The final concurrance on these issues has yet to take place, but hopefully will take the form of HB 2900 HR C om m ittees: The Senate Human Resources Committee conducted their business in a manner that I consider to have been fair, objective and productive. While I agree with Fresh Weekly's evaluation of Senator Roberts as having an excellent session, I must differ with their appraisal of Senator McCoy. I found Senator McCoy to be one of the least impres sionable legislators as related to self-interest lobbies and found his chairing of Human Resources to be excellent at a time when Salem's self-interests j; strongly influenced policy. On the House side, the Human Resources Committee again reflected the presence of Chair Rick Kotulski and member Bob Shiprack. While this committee at times appeared to be meeting at the desire of the Oregon Medical Association an^l insurance industry, we must acknowledge the excellent representation given by member Margaret Carter and Mary Alice ' V* Ford. Human Resources Topics: While this encompasses a wide range of issues, the action of the House can be paralleled to its action on HB 2650 and SB 292. I cite these bills as I followed them very closely throughout ».»- * the session. SB 292: This was a bill that was introduced by one of the "alternative ¡:J medical" associations. While the OMA and the Oregon Osteopathic Asso ciation testified against this bill, as they do against nearly all bills introduced by other members of the healing arts, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 23-4. It was assigned to Representative Kotulski s committee where he said he would hear it after higher priorities were taken care of . . . As the session neared completion, he decided he wouldn't give it a hearing be cause it was "too controversial". While a majority of his committee favored giving this bill a hearing, chair Kotulski let it die. The House actions on HB 2650 further exemplify the influence of the big dollar lobby. This was a bill that brought Oregon's insurance codes into agreement with the majority of states regarding non-discrimination in choice and re-imbursement of health care provider. While this bill parallel ed a plank of the democratic party and had numerous public interest groups' support (and even had Kotulski as a signed sponsor), Representa tive Kotulski led the Republican-based floor opposition to this bill. While very few people spoke against this bill during its hearings, as it approached the floor, there came a coalition of lobbyists fighting its pas sage. These lobbyists represented many insurance carriers (especially com panies like Blue Cross which is owned by M .D.'s and has a very real mom tary incentive in maintaining discrimination that favors M .D.'s and D.O. s), the O.M.A., the Portland Chamber of Commerce, Associated Oregon In dustries, the Oregon Automobile Dealers Association, and the Oregon Edu cation Association. Their combined work really revealed the "politics of politics" which I mentioned earlier. By this, I mean the trading of votes on unrelated matters. For example, one representative might be convinced to vote no in exchange for another representative's specific vote on another issue As a result, by the time of the floor vote, what had once been as sured passage became a 32-28 defeat. The string of broken promises sits heavily in the hearts of those who worked so hard on this important bill. The appointments by Speaker Katz of Shiprack and Kotulski to their re- Reunion Red Cross Offers Advanced First Aid •V / •í ¿-M» AT TOMS SHOP 1 FOR STEREO«. TV«. VCR». CAMERAS & ANYTHING OF VALUE 510 S t «2nd PORTLAND 253-1771 The American Red Cross is offer ing an Advanced First Aid class on the following Mondays and Wed nesdays, July 6, 8, 13, 15, 27, 29 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Red Cross Building, 3131 N. Vancouver Ave. A certificate will be issued upon completion of the class. The cost is $25. Call the Red Cross at 284-1234 to register. ^(ntíaut & (tfasac interior [fietforatuM iS ÿ â • AUTO • TRUCK • MARINE • AIRCRAFT • FACTORY - ic o n Z U J -1 (One Day Service) PRICES STARTING: ___ Body Side M old ing........................... w r, u - •K' • f.' 'rl vinyi i o p » ............... 1 Author’s Note: At time of publication, the workers comp bill is finding further snags. Minority report from Senate Republicans is being attempted, and the entire session is in limbo until reconciliation takes place. ___________________________ ___ Jefferson High Reunion Jefferson High School's class of 1957 will hold their 30th year reunion August 14th and 15th at the Columbia River Red Lion Inn. All class mem bers are asked to contact Jack Stacey, 235-8741, for further information and to update the Class of 1957 mailing list. B A R G A IN T R E E H O C K S H O P HRS. MON SAT 8:30 6:30 Tools & Equipment.................................................. Vehicles J e w e lry ............................................................ < • • • Cameras C o in s............................................................ Sporting Goods .................................................................... Appliances E lectronics.............................................................. Furniture Musical Instruments...................................... . • More 0 se\'useeÔ s95 00 & UP $225 00 $30 00 $110 00 $95 00 $95 00 $30 00 PORTLAND, OR 97213 Portland Pipes & Tobacco Co. PIPES • SCREENS • PAPER CIGARETTES - Reg. $1.18 100's $1.23 • Sat, 11 A M -6 PM r • ■" *; Beauty Supplies Sale & Restyling STEVEN BAILEY, N.D. N aturopathic F amily P hysician ÑÁñgíáñd (50.1) 2 8 9 9914 H19N KILUNGSWORTH. PORTLAND, OR 97217 As primary health care providers we offer a full range of naturopathic health care service The naturopathic physician provides preventative, wholistic and natural family health care for a wide range of acute and chronic conditions and minor traumatic injuries. The following is a list of services available through the clinic. Feel free to call and discuss your questions about the naturopathic approach to health and how it applies to you and your family. THE BEE C O M P A N Y G roceries Below W holesale Eva Gabor • Born Free Rene of Paris • Andre Douglas Zurv and more • Carefree Serving Portland for Store Hours 10.00 a m. 'til 6:00 p.m. Monday Thru Saturday 283-3171 OPEN Mon.-Sat. 9:30-0 VISIT OUR DELI I * ,^«8»- /, ■'nwafcs**’* * 740 N.E. Killingsworth 284-7040 NAME BRANDS Over 3 0 Years IS* - ; 7210 N.E. Glisan HRS: Tues - Fri, 11 A M - 7 PM W HOLESALE CANNED DELI FROZEN, ETC. 1 (18 yrs & older only) G R O C E R IE S BELOW • A J r V _____________ _______ ____ session. ‘' f a m " 0 dance for alums and their spouses. Sunday afternoon is family day at Woodstock Park. For more information about re union activities, or if you can help locate missing and out-of-state gra duates, call Gary Purpura, 775-2461 8 0 0 N Killingsw orth Price Includes Installation 5 5 1 0 N . IN T E R S T A T E - P O R T L A N D , O R . ■ w The Cleveland High School class of 1967 has scheduled its 20-year reunion for the weekend of August 7. A Friday evening get-together at the Rafters restaurant is slated for alumni only. Saturday evening the activity moves to the Columbia River Red Lion, with a buffet and spective chairs has indeed been a compromise solution that has resulted in a very frustrating session. Let us hope that in the upcoming elections we remember the true nature of our elected officials. Only by actively involving ourselves in the upcoming election can we return to a more objective and productive legislature. My future article and overall evaluation of our legi slators may better help you appraise the candidates in the next election. I, for one, hope that we find some fresh, objective energy in Salem next FOOD STAMPS WELCOME ORIGINAL DUPLICATION Convertible Tops ■ Carpets Boat Tops - All Types Of Repairs Landau Tops - Complete Intenors Photo by Richard J. Brown Rick Kotulski-Chair of the Human Resources Committee. 1105 N.E. Broadway (across from Safeway Lloyd Center) Tel. 282 1664 STANDARD LABORATORY AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HAIR MINERAL ANALYSIS PHYSIOTHERAPY. MANIPULATION AND MASSAGE EXERCISE THERAPY CLEANSING PROGRAMS AND EASTING COUNSELING BOTANICAL MEDICINE HOMEOPATHY ■ HYDROTHERAPY COMPLETE PHYSICAL EXAMS CONSULTATIONS FOR SPECIFIC PROBLEMS GYNECOLOGIC EXAMS AND WOMEN S HEALTH CARE NUTRITIONAL AND DIETARY ASSESSMENT ALLERGY TESTING AND CLINICAL ECOLOGY GERIATRICS CHILDREN'S MEDICINE SCHOOL AND JOB PHYSICALS PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL CARE
