74th Oregon Legislative Assembly


The Seventy-fourth Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative Assembly 's period from 2007 to 2008. There was a regular session in 2007, and a shorter special session in 2008.
The 74th was the first Oregon legislature since 1989 in which both its houses were controlled by the Democratic Party of Oregon, which won a one-seat majority in the House in the 2006 elections. Democrats took credit for addressing a number of issues, and for adjourning a day before a self-imposed deadline. Republican legislators, however, noted that there were no tax reforms to accompany the $15.1 billion increases in spending over the prior two-year budget. Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski did not veto any bills during the session, and expressed general approval of the session. In August, after the session's conclusion, he did veto one bill which would have allocated $4.6 million in Portland General Electric ratepayers' fees to pay off a loan on behalf of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
The Statesman Journal praised Kulongoski for being more engaged with the legislative process than he had been in the past. The paper also criticized the legislature for failing to take action on two critical issues, instead referring them to popular vote.

Sessions

Oregon is one of only six states where the legislature meets only once every two years. The Public Commission on the Oregon Legislature, established during the prior legislative session, recommended that the state move to annual sessions after 2009. In preparation for that change, the legislature scheduled a session for 2008. This was technically a special session, but lawmakers referred to it as a supplemental session to the 2007 session.
The 2007 regular session lasted 172 days, and the 2008 session was scheduled for February 4–29, but was adjourned February 22, for a total of 19 days. During the 2007 portion of the session, a total of 2,744 bills were introduced, with 910 passing and becoming Oregon law.
Both chambers took measures to limit the number of bills introduced in the 2008 session; the Senate limited individual members to introducing a single bill, and the House permitted only committee-sponsored bills.
The Oregon Constitution dictates that the legislature must meet only in biennial regular sessions, and that special sessions must be held only in response to a specific emergency. Senator Larry George sought an injunction based on this law. The Marion County Circuit Court judge who considered the case agreed that there were some concerns, but determined that the session was legal.

Bills

2007 regular session

The Healthy Oregon Act was passed. Proposed by the Senate Commission on Health Care Access & Affordability, the act also included amendments promoted by former governor John Kitzhaber and the Archimedes Movement. It is intended to lay a foundation for lower costs, improved quality of health care, and availability of low-cost health insurance for all Oregonians.
The legislature passed two LGBT rights bills: the Oregon Equality Act, banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and the Oregon Family Fairness Act, creating domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.
Updated ethics rules, which increased the financial disclosure requirements on local officials and commission members, proved controversial; 239 officials around the state resigned their positions the following April, when the rules took effect. Legislators and Governor Kulongoski are exploring ways to reform the ethics rules in the 2009 session.
The state ethics commission was allocated funds to hire an investigator and a trainer, and its budget will no longer be overseen by the legislature.
A new law will eliminate the "worst" junk food from public school vending machines and cafeterias.
The legislature established a rainy-day fund, but did not raise the corporate minimum tax, which the Statesman Journal called "absurdly low."
The legislature passed several new protections against identify theft.
The legislature allocated $33.5 million to offices and parking facilities at the Oregon State Capitol.
A modification to the Oregon Bottle Bill, adding water bottles to the list of containers with mandatory deposits, was passed. This was the first modification to the Bottle Bill since it was first passed in 1971. The legislature also formed a task force that will explore further modifications to the bill.
Funding for legislative staffing between sessions was doubled from the $4.2 million previously allocated.
Starting in January 2009, smoking will no longer be permitted in most bars.
Drivers under age 18 may be fined for talking on cell phones.
Three million dollars were allocated to Oregon Public Broadcasting to upgrade equipment serving rural areas.
The Register-Guard praised the legislature for increasing funding for higher education.
The Bend Bulletin criticized the legislature for failing to pass mandatory audits for local school districts, a measure advocated by the Chalkboard Project, which works for education policy reform.
The legislature referred two bills to popular vote: Measure 49 that amends 2004's Measure 37, which had limited land use regulation, and Measure 50 which would have increased the tobacco tax to provide health insurance for children.

2008 supplemental session

The supplemental, or special, session of 2008 opened with little fanfare in the Senate, but with charges of partisan gamesmanship in the House. The legislature was criticized for preparing bills in secrecy, without posting draft legislation on its web site. Senate President Peter Courtney expressed satisfaction with the session's work, citing laws benefitting senior citizens, children in foster care, people with disabilities, and patients at the Oregon State Hospital.
During the special session, lawmakers established a tax force to explore ways to reform Oregon's medical liability limits, in response to a December 2007 Oregon Supreme Court ruling. The task force will be headed by Senator Floyd Prozanski and Representative Suzanne Bonamici.
A bill seeking to limit the use of medical marijuana in the workplace met with opposition from Associated Oregon Industries and The Oregonian's editorial board, and was not passed.
The legislature passed a law requiring proof of residence in order to obtain an Oregon drivers license, in order to comply with the Federal Real ID law. The legislature was criticized, however, for failing to take on an idea, previously advanced by Governor Kulongoski, to provide for an alternate "driving only" card.
The legislature referred a bill to voters, a toned-down alternative to a Kevin Mannix-backed bill establishing mandatory minimum sentences for property crimes.
Three bills passed by the legislature related to land use, including restoring funding for the Big Look Task Force, and addressing funding in light of the passage of Measure 49.

Senate members

The Oregon State Senate, which had been controlled by Democrats since 2005, had a Democratic majority ranging between 17 and 19 of its 30 members during the 2007 and 2008 sessions.
Senate President: Peter Courtney
President Pro Tem: Margaret Carter
Majority Leader: Kate Brown , Richard Devlin
Minority Leader: Ted Ferrioli

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Senate districts south of Portland area.
DistrictNameParty
1-RoseburgJeff KruseRepublican
2-Central PointJason AtkinsonRepublican
3-AshlandAlan C. BatesDemocrat
4-S. Lane/N. DouglasFloyd ProzanskiDemocrat
5-Coos BayJoanne VergerDemocrat
6-SpringfieldBill MorrisetteDemocrat
7-EugeneVicki WalkerDemocrat
8-AlbanyFrank MorseRepublican
9-MolallaRoger BeyerRepublican
9-MolallaFred GirodRepublican
10-SalemJackie WintersRepublican
11-SalemPeter CourtneyDemocrat
12-McMinnvilleGary GeorgeRepublican
13-HillsboroLarry GeorgeRepublican
14-BeavertonRyan DeckertDemocrat
14-BeavertonMark HassDemocrat
15-HillsboroBruce StarrRepublican
16-ScappooseBetsy JohnsonDemocrat
17-BeavertonBrad AvakianDemocrat
17-BeavertonSuzanne BonamiciDemocrat
18-PortlandGinny BurdickDemocrat
19-TualatinRichard DevlinDemocrat
20-CanbyKurt SchraderDemocrat
21-PortlandKate BrownDemocrat
22-PortlandMargaret CarterDemocrat
23-PortlandAvel GordlyDemocrat
23-PortlandAvel GordlyIndependent
23-PortlandAvel GordlyDemocrat
24-PortlandRod MonroeDemocrat
25-GreshamLaurie Monnes AndersonDemocrat
26-Mt. HoodRick MetsgerDemocrat
27-TumaloBen WestlundIndependent
27-TumaloBen WestlundDemocrat
28-Klamath FallsDoug WhitsettRepublican
29-PendletonDavid NelsonRepublican
30-John DayTed FerrioliRepublican

House members

The Oregon House of Representatives had a Democratic majority of 31-29 during the 2007 and 2008 sessions. The narrow majority did not allow Democrats to pass any tax increases, due to the state's supermajority requirement.
Speaker: Jeff Merkley

Speaker Pro Tem: Diane Rosenbaum

Majority Leader: Dave Hunt

Majority Whip: Phil Barnhart

Republican Minority Leader: Wayne Scott, then Bruce Hanna

Deputy Republican Leader: Bruce Hanna

Republican Whip: Dennis Richardson

Deputy Republican Whip: Gene Whisnant
DistrictNameParty
1-Gold BeachWayne KriegerRepublican
2-Myrtle CreekSusan MorganRepublican
3-Grants PassRon MaurerRepublican
4-Central PointDennis RichardsonRepublican
5-AshlandPeter BuckleyDemocratic
6-MedfordSal EsquivelRepublican
7-RoseburgBruce HannaRepublican
8-EugenePaul HolveyDemocratic
9-Coos BayArnie RoblanDemocratic
10-NewportJean CowanDemocratic
11-Central Linn/LanePhil BarnhartDemocratic
12-SpringfieldTerry BeyerDemocratic
13-EugeneNancy NathansonDemocratic
14-EugeneChris EdwardsDemocratic
15-AlbanyAndy OlsonRepublican
16-CorvallisSara GelserDemocratic
17-ScioFred GirodRepublican
17-ScioSherrie SprengerRepublican
18-SilvertonVic GilliamRepublican
19-SalemKevin CameronRepublican
20-SalemVicki BergerRepublican
21-SalemBrian L. ClemDemocratic
22-WoodburnBetty KompDemocratic
23-DallasBrian BoquistRepublican
24-McMinnvilleDonna G. NelsonRepublican
25-KeizerKim ThatcherRepublican
26-WilsonvilleJerry KrummelRepublican
26-WilsonvilleMatt WingardRepublican
27-Washington CountyTobias ReadDemocratic
28-AlohaJeff BarkerDemocratic
29-HillsboroChuck RileyDemocratic
30-HillsboroDavid EdwardsDemocratic
31-ClatskanieBrad WittDemocratic
32-Cannon BeachDeborah BooneDemocratic
33-PortlandMitch GreenlickDemocratic
34-Washington CountySuzanne BonamiciDemocratic
34-Washington CountyChris HarkerDemocratic
35-TigardLarry GalizioDemocratic
36-PortlandMary NolanDemocratic
37-West LinnScott BruunRepublican
38-Lake OswegoGreg MacphersonDemocratic
39-Oregon CityWayne ScottRepublican
40-Clackamas CountyDave HuntDemocratic
41-MilwaukieCarolyn TomeiDemocratic
42-PortlandDiane RosenbaumDemocratic
43-PortlandChip ShieldsDemocratic
44-PortlandTina KotekDemocratic
45-PortlandJackie DingfelderDemocratic
46-PortlandBen CannonDemocratic
47-PortlandJeff MerkleyDemocratic
48-Happy ValleyMike SchauflerDemocratic
49-Wood VillageKaren MinnisRepublican
50-GreshamJohn LimRepublican
51-ClackamasLinda FloresRepublican
52-CorbettPatti SmithRepublican
53-SunriverGene WhisnantRepublican
54-BendChuck BurleyRepublican
55-BendGeorge GilmanRepublican
56-Klamath FallsBill GarrardRepublican
57-HeppnerGreg SmithRepublican
58-PendletonBob JensonRepublican
59-The DallesJohn H. DallumRepublican
59-The DallesJohn HuffmanRepublican
60-OntarioR. Tom ButlerRepublican
60-OntarioCliff BentzRepublican