Is the legislature irrelevant?
According to the AP, Governor Kulongoski thinks the legislature is incapable of action:
Rigid political positions and threats from special interests to take issues to the ballot if lawmakers don't do as they want have legislators stymied and afraid to act, the Democratic chief executive said in an interview last week. ..."Every time somebody belches, they say it's the governor's fault," he said.
"What they're doing is trying to make an excuse for their inability to function," he said. "What they're really saying is, `We want the governor involved as long as he does what we tell him to do.' It doesn't work that way."
The governor said Oregon is reflecting the nation's increasingly strident political tone, fueled by talk radio hosts and Internet bloggers venting their feelings.
"We're a microcosm," he said. "At first I though it was partisanship, it was just Republicans and Democrats. But it's much more than that. It's personalities, it's ideology."
Such divisions have made it tougher for the Democrat-run Senate and Republican-controlled House to reach compromises, he said.
Discuss.
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June 20, 2005
Posted in in the news 2005. |
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connect with blueoregon
7:56 a.m.
Jun 20, '05
The TRUTH finally comes out. The reason that our legislators and governor can't get things done in a timely manner (or any manner at all) is that the bloggers and radio talk show hosts are too powerful.
Geeze, last I heard, the bloggers and radio guys were "irrelevant and talking only to their bases".
Good to learn that we have enough power to freeze the entire state gummint in its tracks........
Come on governor.....Even though you don't appear to give activists any credibility at all, we in the blogosphere have been hard at work with our senators and reps. Maybe you should come on down here and interact with us and see what happens.
Jun 20, '05
This cynicism is nothing new from the Governor's office. Kitzhaber's farewell speech to the Eugene Rotary in 2003 should be regularly reviewed. One of Dr. Kitz's true perceived values was truthteller, a powerful political quality I think he understands but pandered.
Good speech - very low key Kitz – which punched the legislative institution right in the head for it's chronic stupidness.
"After serving 22 years in public office in Oregon – eight as President of the Senate and the last eight as governor – I am increasingly convinced that successfully addressing issues such as education, public safety, environmental stewardship and at-risk youth requires far more than just action by the legislature or the governor. It requires engaging citizens in a way that builds community and interdependence rather than conflict and separateness."
I am bright, young, capable, articulate, political and patient. I raise money for a living. Am I motivated to run for office? HA! Not on your life. A fatal career mistake followed by ego-damaged naives. The brain drain issue isn’t helped by the spoilers – lobbys + anti-governmentals. It’s a broken solution.
Folks like http://www.fororegon.org/index.html are thumbs in the dike.
So what’s the future model?
See all at http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/governors/Kitzhaber/web_pages/governor/speeches/s030107.htm
8:42 a.m.
Jun 20, '05
The reason that our legislators and governor can't get things done in a timely manner (or any manner at all) is that the bloggers and radio talk show hosts are too powerful.
Yes, but apparently we can only use our power for ... evil! Ours is but a destructive power, able to crush legislation, lay politicians low, and usurp the power of the mainstream press. We are cancers on the great white butt of the political world. If only a cure could be found for our evil ways, then surely politicians would return to their former efficient, harmonious governance.
Like during the Clinton/Gingrich era, that great epoch of harmony just before the darkness of the blogging age...
Jun 20, '05
Kitz, "It requires engaging citizens in a way that builds community and interdependence rather than conflict and separateness."
Unless someone can interpret this I can only view it as a bunch of typical useless dribble.
My guess is the Kitz, no doubt, finds the public resistance to handing over more money for everything he likes as "conflict and seprateness". And of course raising taxes and fees for everthing he likes "builds community and interdependence."
"Interdependence" You got to love that warm and fuzzy buzz word.
9:30 a.m.
Jun 20, '05
Update - there's a similar story in the Oregonian: Rifts in Legislature leave goals in political graveyard (but with no mention of bloggers or talk radio.)
Jun 20, '05
I do this so rarely so, y'know, what the hell. I posted on this topic this morning. If you get through the post, which I ended with some vague commentary, you'll find what I count as some useful clarification in the comments.
9:53 a.m.
Jun 21, '05
I don't know what ails Oregon politics. I've only lived here 4 1/2 years (with extended family here more than a quarter century), and in that time, the political institutions in this state seems utterly dysfunctional.
I've tried to figure out the cause. It can't be partisanship because other states have partisan divides just as deep, or deeper, and seem to get things done.
The initiative/referendum is a good candidate, but perhaps this is East Coast, anti-initiative thinking. They do seem to hamstring the legislature. The impact of initiatives passed a decade ago are only now being felt.
Nor do I like our reliance on the income tax and gambling as our main revenue streams. But just try to get a mild 1% sales tax.
I am always suspicious of part-time legislators doing the full-time work of running a complicated institution like the state government (or the PPS schools) but there seems to be little stomach in this state for moving to a full time legislature.
I suppose at this point I'd advocate for non-partisan redistricting and perhaps Keisling's top-2 primary as some attempt to shake up the system. It seems badly broken.
Jun 22, '05
So the Gov believes that certain divisions have made it tougher for the Democratic Senate and the Republican House to reach a compromise?
Sounds like a perfect opportunity for the Gov, the CEO of the state, to, oh, I don't know, maybe step in and bridge the gap between the two houses? You know, use the bully pulpit and all.
I know it's a novel idea, but I believe our elders called it "leadership."
Jun 22, '05
The governor is my guest on Outlook Portland with Nick Fish on July 3, from 6:30-7:00 am, on Portland's WB.
I asked him about his reported comments about the legislature, the war in Iraq, the City of Portland's effort to acquire PGE, and civil unions.
Please set your TIVO's!
Nick Fish
8:24 p.m.
Jun 22, '05
Nick, does the TV channel know you're telling folks to set their TIVOs to record the show (and presumably, skip the ads)?
Jun 22, '05
Kari--
Good point.
The TIVO reference was geared to my late rising friends.
We are now in over 10,000 households, they tell me.
When we get more sponsors, KWBP may move the show to a better time slot. Then no need for TIVO.
Cheers