Legislature Re-Starts
Oregon’s legislature returned to the Capitol February 1 to begin deliberations for the 76th legislative session. They previously met for three days in January to organize, elect leaders and introduce 1,600 bills. Under a voter-approved referral, the legislature will meet annually with the 2011 session scheduled to end June 30, 2011.
Legislative hearings began on some of the thousands of bills and issues that have been or will be introduced under the tight deadlines to move the session along. Observers noted that the first week felt like May proceedings of previous sessions.
After super-majorities of Democratic control in 2009, the 2011 legislature is much more evenly balanced with the Senate’s 16-14 Democratic majority and the House split evenly 30-30. The House will operate under a first of its kind power-sharing agreement, with two Speakers, Representative Bruce Hanna, R-Roseburg, and Representative Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay.
Governor Meets with Business Group
Governor John Kitzhaber set the tone for the legislative session by joining The Oregon Committee at their weekly meeting. Kitzhaber spoke about the budget he released the day before. The Oregon Committee is the coalition of businesses that began as a political committee and is now focused on policy matters for the legislative session.
Clearly, the Governor wants help from the business community to move his budget and the rest of his legislative agenda forward. Kitzhaber, Version 1 & 2, and the business community frequently disagreed about issues. These disagreements and Republican control of both the House and Senate led to the Governor earning the Dr. No moniker for the former Emergency Room Physician.
In response to a question, the Kitzhaber, Version 3, addressed timber and biomass issues. See below link.
Rubber will meet the Road
Despite the thousands of introduced bills, the 2011 session is going to be characterized by how the Governor and the legislature deal with the significant revenue shortfall for the 2011-2013 Biennium.
Kitzhaber and the legislature must reduce public employee positions, compensation, benefits or a combination of the three to adopt a balanced budget. The public employee unions, which helped elect the Governor, will not be pleased that “Oregon’s budget is balanced on the backs of state workers.” Public employee union reaction could determine whether Kitzhaber Version 3.0 is his final term.
DEQ Water Quality Standards Shake the Halls
Legislative leaders expressed concern over the DEQ proposed new Water Quality Standards that address water toxins. The DEQ is set to adopt the strictest standards in the Nation. Neither municipal or industrial wastewater dischargers can meet the new standards.
The House Business & Labor Committee has scheduled an informational hearing for February 11 to hear from the DEQ, EPA and wastewater discharges concerning the proposed standards.
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