The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday March 8, 1979 THIRTEEN
Caution light i burnin
tate Larata!
g at
By Jack Zimmerman
Salem Scene
A caution light is burning in
the State Capitol at Salem and
its amber glow likely will
color the remainer of the
current regular biennial ses
sion of the 60th Assembly..
A consensus in the Capitol
as the session ended its sixth
week indicated the pace is
best described as deliberate
and prudent, as opposed to
anything resembling languor
or lethargy.
Lawmakers are busy. But
they are wary, also. Aside
from the preoccupation with
determining a satisfactory tax
relief program and modifying
the state's costly Workers'
Compensation system, few
other issues have surfaced
that fall either into the
substantive or publicly popu
lar categories.
Largest bill introduced so
far is a revision of the state's
election laws and it is largely
a 191-page recodification of
existing statutes. Bill product
ion appears to be lagging
significantly behind previous
recent sessions and the total of
all measures introduced as of
Feb. 15 is 51 1 fewer than at the
same lime last session.
At the end of the sixth week
in 1977 the Senate had intro
duced 744 measures and the
House had introduced 901.
This year the Senate has
introduced only 534 and the
House an even 600.
Many observers believe the
figures so far indicate law
makers will continue to resist
the temptation to match or
surpass the record 2,812 total
measures considered during
the 1977 session. House dead
line for open introduction of
bills was Feb. 5 and deadline
for the Senate is Feb. 27.
Introduction of additional
measures after those dead
lines requires special permis
sion in both Chambers. Al
though such permission is
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generally forthcoming, the
vast bulk of subsequent legis
lative proposals emanates
from committees.
The same people who expect
fewer total measures this
session are quick to explain
less legislation doesn't neces
sarily mean a shorter session.
This early in the game there
are those who predict current
deliberations will match or
even exceed the 177 days
occupied between Jan. 10 and
July 5, 1977. One fairly reliable
prognosticator already has
predicted' adjournment will
occur on July 7 this year. And
if that happens, the 60th
Assembly will set a record for
length. It would surpass by
one day the 180-day session of
1973.
There are probably many
reasons for the tedious pro
gress of the session so far and
the circumspection of its
members.
The complexities surround
ing both major issues is one.
Gov. Victor Atiyeh, making
good on his election campaign
pledge, has delivered a tax
relief plan that has been
received so far with a great
deal less than enthusiasm.
Members of the House Reve
nue Committee don't appear
anywhere near finding a
compromise program to send
to the Senate.
And the Workers' Comp
situation is at least equally as
complicated. Although many
measures have been intro
duced and more will
follow all aimed at changing
the present system in one way
or another, a consensus on
most lies somewhere in the
relatively distant future.
Nearly all parties agree the
system's high cost must be
alleviated but are far from
agreeing on who's to blame or
how to achieve a less expen
sive method of caring for
injured workers without re
ducing present levels of that
care.
Involved are employers,
labor, the insurance industry,
health care people, the judici
ary, lawyers and various
segments of the bureaucracy
dealing with the issue directly
and indirectly:
Aside from the many com
plications standing in the way
of finding solutions to tax and
Workers' Compensation prob
lems, it appears the vast
majority of the 90 lawmakers
serving in Salem this session
are extremely aware of a
public pulse that beats faster
with every intrusion by
government.
"It's almost as if they all
suspect the folks back home
are looking over their should
er," explained one observer.
"No one is anxious to make
waves or do anything to create
headlines."
Along this line, it appears
those seeking legislative office
are becoming more sophisti
cated and eagerly expose an
incumbent's record in the
course of seeking election.
The number of people visit
ing the Capitol to witness
proceedings hasn't slackened
appreciably and those calling
to inquire about the status of
specific legislation is compar
able with last session.
And even though the 60th
Assembly may agonize longer
over fewer proposals, there's
little reason to expect the
session will be dull. The major
issues are volatile and there
are plenty of others that pique
the public interest.
Senior citizens likely will
descend on Salem enmasse
seeking special treatment for
their utility bills. Gun control
already is an issue. Land use
planning problems abound.
Highways continue to deteri
orate and there are still lots of
unresolved issues involving
welfare, public education, cor
rections, drug use, human
rights, natural resources, con
sumer concerns and state
financing for veterans' homes
and farms.
It all adds up to a situation
that demands caution and
perhaps a slower pace than
the people have been used to in
Salem. The biggest danger is
that this approach might leave
an impatient public even more
disenchanted than before.
Unless, of course, it pro
duces results that please
nearly everybody.
5.. X ,
1