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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 2020)
NEWS A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM Legislative session off to a quiet start WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 Arts and Crafts on the Dry Side Tensions simmer just below surface on contentious issues By SAM STITES, JAKE THOMAS AND CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE OREGON CAPITAL BUREAU A contentious proposal to reduce the state’s green- house gas emissions dom- inated political chatter in the weeks before the 2020 legislative session began. So much so, that observers expected “sparks” when lawmakers convened on Monday, said Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas. But sitting in his offi ce on the appointed day, wearing cowboy boots, jeans and his signature turtleneck under a sports jacket, Boquist said, “It seems like it’s in neu- tral. This building is never neutral.” Then the longtime sen- ator reconsidered. Instead, he said, it was more like the Legislature was “out of gear” or like standing on a calm beach as the water recedes before a tsunami. As legislators prepared for meetings inside the Oregon Capitol, Boquist said he was going back to his district offi ce in Dal- las to read legislation and meet with constitu- ents. This might be his last chance to do that for a while. “As soon as committees begin, our lives are not our own,” he said. The pace is expected to pick up quickly as legisla- tors race to meet deadlines to fi nish within 35 days. “If it doesn’t hap- pen fast, it doesn’t hap- pen at all,” Senate Major- ity Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, told reporters on Monday. “And that’s the reality of a 35-day session. So, I think you’re going to see a lot of pressure at the very beginning.” Republicans have com- plained that Democrats, who hold large majorities in both chambers, would push through hefty pro- posals without giving the public enough time to weigh in. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Herman Baertsch- iger Jr., R-Grants Pass, opposes “robust” legisla- tion in such a compressed time, and said in an inter- view that Democrats “have a large appetite.” Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, Ore- gon’s longest-serving Senate president, was at the Capitol on Monday, despite worries he might be absent due to a hip injury that had kept him from attending a series of pre-session meetings ear- lier this month. Despite using a walker, Courtney, 76, gaveled through a light agenda speedily, and drew that day’s fl oor session to a close in less than an hour. In the House, things stretched on a bit longer, as Republicans voiced opinions in a series of pro- cedural “remonstrances.” “We get in a little too deep, in my opinion,” said Rep. Daniel Bon- ham, R-The Dalles, on the House fl oor Monday morning. Rep. Kim Wallan, R-Medford, even invoked the Beatles in criticizing policies pushed through by the Legislature in the recent past, quoting from “Strawberry Fields Forever”: “The line that was in my head was, ‘Living is easy with eyes closed,’” Wallan said. “‘Misunder- standing all you see.’” She concluded her fl oor speech: “We need to really dig down and see what our policies do to real people, really poor peo- ple, before we just cava- lierly decide this is what’s best for everybody,” Wal- Staff photo by Jade McDowell Oregon Capital Bureau Photo/Sam Stites Cap-and-trade architect Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, explains how he’s attempted to craft his bill to overcome Republican opposition. lan said. “We need to look a little closer. I hope that we will keep the Beatles in mind this session, and keep our eyes open and try to understand.” Rep. Barbara Smith Warner, D-Portland, who leads Democrats in the House, extended an olive branch — albeit one laden with platitudes. “To my colleagues across the aisle, while I know that we won’t always agree on the path forward, I truly believe that there is more that unites us than divides us,” Smith Warner said. She added, “I hope we search for common ground and where our pol- icy views diverge, I hope that we always assume the best intentions from each other.” The House of Repre- sentatives has sworn in four new members, and the Senate one new mem- ber, since last year’s ses- sion concluded. Senate Republicans haven’t ruled out a repeat of their walkout that marked the last session. But if Republicans ditch, they could imperil legis- lation that would allocate state money to their dis- tricts or address constitu- ent concerns. “My concern is if the short session blows up, there’s some things that need to be fi xed that we won’t get to,” said Rep. Ron Noble, R-McMinn- ville, speaking before the session. While Boquist’s bag is packed and ready to go in case of another walkout, he said he only expects to be gone for one or two days. He said he just wants the greenhouse gas-reduc- tion bill to be put to the voters and that a boycott is a legitimate tool that has a bipartisan history. “I’m actually upbeat,” he said. Burdick again criti- cized the tactic employed twice last year by Senate Republicans. “I totally disapprove of walking out,” Burdick said. “They’re getting paid to do a job and it’s their duty to show up for work. Their constituents are not represented if they don’t show up, and I know that my constituents would be very, very mad, if I just didn’t like the way things were going and didn’t show up. So I’m assuming they will show up.” On Monday, House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, stressed she talks regularly with House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby. “The vast majority of members, both Republi- can and Democrat, want to work collaboratively, want to get things done together, are going to show up for work,” said Kotek. “And then you proba- bly have people both on the left and right who are more like, ‘We need to go further’ or ‘We need to walk out.’ But I think those are small groups in both sides. I think people want to work together.” Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, said he’s con- fi dent that Republicans and Democrats will pass legislation proposed by Brown and her Council on Wildfi re Response. Baertschiger said Mon- day he agreed with almost all the Democrats’ views on wildfi re, with only mild points of disagreement. The heavy lifting of the Legislature got under- way Tuesday, as com- mittees moved rapidly to conduct hearings and con- sider which legislation to advance. That work is likely to be overshadowed Thurs- day by what happens out- side the Capitol. Timber Unity, a group agitating against what it says will be higher costs for rural Oregonians and people working in the nat- ural resource industry, is planning a rally at the Capitol for Thursday. The group opposes proposed greenhouse emissions legislation. “All I’m asking for is, I hope people come with very specifi c suggestions, and not just ‘We don’t like the bill,’ because the reality is, until we have another plan that can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, we need to go with this,” Kotek said. Save with Frontier Internet Bundles Pay one price for two great services: high-speed Internet Serious speed! and a full-featured home phone Bundle and save today Simply Broadband Max BROADBAND ULTRA + PHONE + SECURE 19 99 Per Month With Qualifying Phone Service 6 Mbps + Free Wi-Fi Router + 1 Year Price Lock Call today and pay less 67 97 Per Month 12 Mbps + Free Wi-Fi Router + 2 Year Price Lock Protect Your Identity, Devices & Files 855-972-6641 Rhonda Grahm, left, Mickey Morris and Charleen Wiggins prepare for “high tea” at a meeting of Arts and Crafts on the Dry Side. The group meets every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Harkenrider Senior Activity Center in Hermiston to work on crafts they brought, ranging from painting to knitting. Oregon Cultural Trust presents workshops for grant seekers HERMISTON HERALD Organizations seeking grants can learn about fund- ing programs available as the Oregon Cultural Trusts hosts “Conversations with Funders and Partners” at eight sites across the state, including Pendleton. Also, held in conjunc- tion with three of the sched- uled events, potential grant applicants are invited to attend a free application writing workshop, which will be held prior to the conversation. The information sessions feature grant makers offer- ing more than $5 million in funding for the 2021 fi scal year. Those seeking grants will have an opportunity to discuss their projects and programming. The local session is Tues- day, March 10 from 1-4 p.m. at Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St. The grant application writ- ing workshop, presented by Travel Oregon, runs from 9 a.m, to noon, also at the arts center. Aili Schreiner, Cultural Trust manager, said there are more than 1,450 cul- tural nonprofi ts serving Oregonians. Organizations encouraged to attend include community development organizations, libraries, arts organizations, muse- ums, cultural centers, parks and trails groups, historical societies, arts alliances, lit- erary groups and heritage organizations. “We want to make sure they know about the signif- icant funding and program- ming resources that are here to support them,” Schreiner said. Advance registration for the conversation event is not required — however, people who are planning to attend the free grant-writ- ing workshop are asked to register in advance at https://fs22.formsite.com/ TravelOregon/69dud71bct/ index.html. For more information, contact Schreiner at aili. schreiner@oregon.gov or 503-986-0089. Domestic Violence Services highlights teen dating issues The numbers are stagger- ing in regards to adolescents who are victims of dating violence. National statistics pro- vided by Domestic Violence Services indicate 1 in 3 girls has experienced physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner; 1 in 10 high school students have been hit, slapped or physi- cally hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend; and only 33% of the teens in abusive relation- ships report the abuse. In an effort to help edu- cate the community, DVS is highlighting that Febru- ary is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Accord- ing to the nonprofi t orga- nization’s recent newslet- ter, violent relationships in adolescence can have seri- ous ramifi cations, including a higher risk for substance abuse and eating disorders. Also, victims of dating vio- lence may engage in pro- miscuous sexual behav- ior or experience escalating domestic violence. In addition to shel- ters (Pendleton and Herm- iston) and advocacy cen- ters (Boardman, Heppner and Milton-Freewater), the agency maintains a 24-hour crisis line (800-833-1161). Other services include safety planning, support groups, parenting classes, discussion groups and life skills train- ing. Agency staff also pro- vide training workshops for community and student edu- cation. Speakers are avail- able for businesses, clubs, schools, churches and civic groups. For more information, contact 541-276-3322, 541- 567-0424, administrator@ dvs-or.org or visit www. dvs-or.org. Imagine The Difference You Can Make DONATE YOUR CAR 1-844-533-9173 FREE TOWING TAX DEDUCTIBLE Help Prevent Blindness Get A Vision Screening Annually The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. Ask About A FREE 3 Day Vacation Voucher To Over 20 Destinations!!! eomediagroup.com PET OF THE W EEK Buddy is looking for his forever home. He is approximately 13 years old and has really blossomed. He loves cuddling and rolling in his blanket. He’s a silly old man that LOVES attention. He does get jealous of other dogs when they get attention, however, he barely attempts to bite them at all, it’s actually pretty funny. He does have a weak back and his rear legs give out sometimes. You can’t get BS from a buffalo. MEET BUDDY *Internet access service and charges not included. Frontier does not warrant that the service will be error-free or uninterrupted. Nest products: Additional $9 shipping fee per Nest device. Nest products must be purchased with new Internet service or eligible Frontier Secure services. Taxes, governmental and Frontier-imposed surcharges, minimum system requirements and other terms and conditions apply. 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If you are not able to adopt, but would like to foster or donate, visit fuzzballrescue.com or you can mail in donations to Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue, PO Box 580, Hermiston, OR 97838
