In reviewing the voting statistics of who voted, age, ethnicity etc I noticed that only 10% of the 18-24 age bracket voted. I have kids in that age range and most of their friends did not vote. I have spoken with friends of mine, who are also parents of the same age group. They agree that this is a problem as well.And the statistics certainly seem to bear witness to this problem. 2 factors that I know from speaking with this age group and their parents come into play and hinder voting among this age group are: 1. Uninformed about the issues and the importance of their vote. Some of my sons' friends said that if people had come to the community college where they go to school and had spoken about the importance of voting, they would have voted. We imagine that people this age are 'tuned into' the internet, media,etc. but many of them don't listen to the radio, read a newspaper, read emails sent about politics, watch TV that is political or any of the ways we think of to get the urge to vote communicated. Until I spoke with them they really didn't think that their vote was important - that it affected their lives in any way. They were shocked to learn that the college tuition and loans and grants they get to attend school were a direct effect of political decisions and people's votes. 2. Many young people no longer live at their 'permanent' address. So, in Oregon, parents end up with the ballots at their home and often don't forward the ballot to their kid. Sometimes this is because the ballot comes too late and there is not time to send it and have it returned in time. When my daughter turned 18, her ballot came too late for it to be mailed to her as an out of state student, so I sent it by courier with a title company. They then returned it the next day so that her first vote could be counted. I would like to work with people for the next election to try to raise the percentage of young people voting. If this is important to you as well, please contact me at [email protected] Thanks Libby

Libby's point is a good one. I note that a number of community college bond levies failed by small margins. Since the 18-24 year old demographic is their primary beneficiary, greater participation would probably have helped pass these bonds and improved access.

We need to go about the process of dismantling the smear-machine that sent out filers with false information while trying to hide where the fliers came from.

By dismantle, I mean create a detailed report, get copies of what was sent, when it was received, who it appeared to come from, who it actually came from, who paid for it, who denied sending it or knowing about it, etc. Reverse engineer the entire thing.

Make full report available to the media and the public. File elsewhere.

I'm working on it.

In Washington they can send in their ballots in on election day. Why can't we?

Same day registration is key. 5 states aleady have this. Why don't we?

Puting a stamp on your ballot does amount to a poll tax, doesn't it?

Since free ballot drop boxes are out well before election day, any poll tax one pays is voluntary.

As someone who worked in the minority last session and saw how much you managed to accomplish even under those circumstances, I can only imagine what you will do now.

Congratulations Speaker-Designee (is that the right term?) Merkley for helping us make Oregon a better place for all of us both now and in the future.

In Washington they can send in their ballots in on election day. Why can't we?

You can, you just have to take it in yourself, rather than mailing it. Have we been so spoiled by vote-by-mail that we can't be expected to expend a little bit of energy to get that vote in at the last minute?

Puting a stamp on your ballot does amount to a poll tax, doesn't it?

Perhaps, but it's a tax in the same way that half a gallon of gas or bus fare to get to a polling place would be. Look, it costs some money to just live in this world. Let's not go around calling everything a tax just because it takes a few pennies out of your pocket.

Jefferson is right, it isn't the $.39, it's having to produce a stamp. Prepaid envelopes would be a worthwhile expense to increase voter turnout.

As a former House member and colleague of Jeff Merkley's, I cannot begin to express in words how proud and grateful I am that he will be the next Oregon House Speaker.

Moderate Oregonians have been the losers for nearly two decades under a hard right republican leadership in Salem.

It is, as Jeff says, a new day in Oregon. But, more importantly, not just for democrats. It is a new day for common sense, middle of the road Oregonians no matter what their political affiliation.

Our new leadership in Salem will rebuild our embattled school system (K through the community college and university level), fight for affordable health care, rebuild our states decimated roads and bridges and, more importantly, rebuild Oregon's reputation as a progressive, national leader that fights for its citizenry...not against them.

Thank you Jeff and all of your house and senate colleagues for keeping up the good fight.

I could not be more proud.

Thanks to Merkley for his vision, leadership, tireless work and genuine team-building. And many many thanks to his wife Mary and his children Jonathan and Brynn who have supported him so steadfastly as he toiled on behalf of all of us!

It will be a new dawn for many good things in Oregon.

Now, just a bit of humor. Anyone else think it's laughable that the person who posted the rant about nameless, faceless smear campaigns goes by Anonymous?

Cheers!

ABC - huh? Why is Jefferson right and I'm wrong? I thought we pretty much said the same thing?

Either way, I don't understand why we would want any restrictions on voting. Why not lift them all? There's a reason Washington allows voters to mail in their ballots on election day - why in the world would you be against that?

Does this mean that there will be no more acting like spoiled 6th graders over petty little items that have no bearing on the big piture? Does this mean that mean spirited legislators will stop berating their fellow legislators in public?

I will belive it when I see it. Don't get me wrong, I am greatful that Jeff (who is from my district)is now the speaker, but I need to see it in action.

Please refer progressive ballot measures to the electorate!

One noteworthy ballot measure could be a statewide 26-80-like natural areas bond measure. California just passed one (raising over $5 billion!), and even Florida and Alabama have passed them in the past. Now, it's Oregon's turn!!!

I enthusiastically second Pat Ryan's support for an ambitious sustainable energy program. Short-term, it can produce jobs and stimulate academic and technological development. Long-term, it can make Oregon's economy more resistant to the significant increases in energy costs ahead.

Looking ahead 20 years, this is probably the single most valuable use of our investment in time and money.

I have a bit of a contrarian view....

"Jefferson is right, it isn't the $.39, it's having to produce a stamp. Prepaid envelopes would be a worthwhile expense to increase voter turnout."

I suppose if a stamp will nudge some non-voters into voting, theoretically it might be a good idea. But come on. What kind of voters will you be picking up? There are plenty of self-interest reasons for people to spend some time understanding how the people who are elected will make decisions that have far greater economic impact on their lives than a 39 cent stamp.

At my morning cafe for breakfast, I overhear people boasting about how they don't read the paper and don't watch TV news. Frankly, I would rather not have those participate who are not at least moderately informed when the bulk of their understanding comes from the 30 second hit spots and deceptive advertising they see on TV.

If people choose to not accept their civic responsibility to monitor their government representatives and then exercise their right to vote, buying them a stamp isn't going to change that.

I seem to recall a story from some city (probably not in the US) where people who voted were given a raffle ticket and a chance to win a prize. Maybe we should give every voter a free Megabucks ticket for Wednesday's drawing....

I do agree that the civic knowledge base of our public school grads (or drop-outs) is abysmal. Why is that?

Anyway, just my $.02.

Randy2

My hearty congratulations, Mr. Merkley! I'm eager to see the progress that is now possible with Democratic majorities in both the state House and Senate.

While it may not be high on everybody's list, I have one request of you, sir. I'm going to be writing my Senator and Representative about bringing back the civil unions and non-discrimination legislation that passed last session in the Senate but was blocked from a fair up or down vote in the House by former Speaker Minnis.

At your earliest convenience, given all the work to be done, please reintroduce this legislation for a vote. I believe the reason Minnis blocked this in the House was that she knew there was enough bipartisan support for it to pass. Let's get this unfinished work of equity done so the Governor can sign it as he's said he would.

You have my strong support to take advantage of the changed political tide to get done all the good work ahead.

Way to go, Jeff!

Your victory gives me tremendous optimism. I look forward to seeing your planned reforms to stop the legalized form of bribery with gifts and trips to lawmakers that has so tainted our state of late. Be certain your efforts to limit the corrupting influence of lobbyists will be welcomed by Oregonians across the political landscape.

Congrats to Dems everywhere.

I know that every special interest group on earth will be calling upon the Dems and pressing for action on their particular agenda items. I hope that the Dems will choose to use their power and energy to adopt new laws and programs that serve the highest priority items for the largest number of people notwithstanding what is probably going to be a whirlwind of pressure from every conceivable large and small special interest group. At the risk of sounding prejudiced or cruel or uncaring, when it comes right down to it, if the legislature can only pass a few new initiatives, I sincerely hope that they focus their efforts on schools and health care and tax equity and not on obscure and controvercial measures related to "transgendered rights" or whatever.

You may have to anger some of your core support groups, but that is the cost of governing, right?

I certainly hope that the new majority House Democrats will send some clear public signals (and soon!) that you are fighting for all Oregonians and not just liberal Democrats. Jeff Merkley seems like he will be a great Speaker, but the fact that he is a Portland liberal may give pause to many voters outside of Portland.

You need to put moderate suburban and rural Democrat legislators into key roles to expand the reach of Speaker Merkley's leadership. It would be a great tragedy to win back the majority after all these years and then lose it again in two years.

Show us fairness, balance, and moderation in both issues and House Democratic leaders.

Right on, Lisa. If House D's will show some moderation, they will rule in the majority forever!

You know, it doesn't help that the election occurs right smack dab in the middle of midterms week for college students. It's hard enough studying for 4+ exams, plus all the papers and everything else that goes into it. Then we're also supposed to somehow magically spend another dozen or so hours doing research on the measures?

That goodness for sources such as WWeek, Mercury, Oregonian, women's voters league, etc who take the time to create biased & unbiased 'voters guides' to help people out sift through the crap.

Of course, I'd say that 50% of young people who don't just never think about it. Ever. It's clearly a family thing that needs to get instilled in them, as it takes a lot of energy to unglue people from their myspace pages and sports games.

The policies and programs which Jeff Merkley and other liberal Democrats espouse benefit all Oregonians, not just "Portland liberals". No one, liberal, moderate, or conservative, is harmed by better-funded schools, a better-protected environment, a fair taxation system, and equality under the law for all Oregonians.

Some groups may have to come a little closer to paying their fair share of our society's "costs of doing business" and some groups may lose unfair advantages they have had under conservative legislatures' domination. But, if someone considers that "harm", then I'd like to know what ethical system that person is operating under.

Building and, where necessary, restoring fairness and equity and organizing ourselves for a sustainable future shouldn't be harmful to anyone whose conscience is clear.

Blue O,

I'd like to give a big "thank you" to Rob Brading and all the folks who helped him in East County. It wasn't just any ol' Dem that Karen was running against out there - it was Rob - and that is what made her spend the boo-koo dollars that weakened the rest of so many other house races. A bitter loss - but we ran the BEST of the GOOD against the WORST of the EVIL and in the end it helped us win back the house.

So my personal gratitude and a big hug to Rob and his wife Karen for having to endure 2 election cycles of public humiliation, vilification and hardship. I will always be grateful for all they had to endure and give up so that so many Oregonians (Democrat, Republican and NAV’s) may now benefit from a soon to be successful legislative session where we can finally deal with Oregon’s woes and help bring better education, affordable health care and all around prosperity for ALL Oregonians.

Oregon’s coming prosperity will be built in part on this one man’s political courage.

At all blue parties across the state may a glass be raised to a man who fought a valiant fight – Rob Brading.

humblerodent

With all due respect to my fellow Democrats who somehow believe that expanding equality before the law is somehow out of bounds, I beg to differ.

The bill I asked Mr. Merkley to introduce again is a bill that was passed in the last session with bipartisan support in the Senate. And it was going to pass in the House with bipartisan support had Karen Minnis not pulled every abusive parlimentary trick in the book to bottle the legislation up in committee rather than see it get a fair up or down vote in the House.

I'm not asking for anything more than to allow a legislative initiative on behalf of equality to have another chance without being single-handedly thwarted by someone who put her own politics above her office as Speaker. Indeed, the Speaker serves on behalf or all Oregonians. That includes the gay ones too.

Since Tuesday, I have been walking around with an enormous smile on my face. Congratulations to Speaker Merkley, he will be a great speaker.

The Legislature needs to work hard from the gate. We must pass legisltation providing our schools the funding they need. Bond measures are only band-aids. We need to work togehter with the GOP and pass ethics legislation. We must continue to develop alternative energy sources located here in Oregon.

We have a tremendous opportunity to write, discuss and pass all types of progressive measures in the next to years. While we need to utilize our double majority, we also must not forget the strength of the GOP. If we loose one seat in the house, we have a tie. The Republicans must be part of our decision making process. We must be fair to the other side of the aisle.

Finally, we cannot get caught up in the glory of taking control. We must stay level headed -- listen to the voters who put us here. Lets help them make Oregon become a state to set the national model.

We have the unique opportunity to do all this. We cannot waste it away on celebration and rubbing in the faces of the Republicans.

I don't want to get into a brawl with doretta in the afterglow of such a wonderful Democratic victory, but if you're going to throw the stone of mischaracterization you'd do well to make sure your own house isn't glass.

From another poster, I quote:

"I sincerely hope that they focus their efforts on schools and health care and tax equity and not on obscure and controvercial measures related to "transgendered rights" or whatever."

While this points to the transgendered and not explicitly at gay people, the code is easily enough read given that the LGBT community is engaged in the quest for equality under a shared banner. To refer to equality as an "obscure and controvercial [sic] measure" isn't a mischaracterization at all. I stand by my remarks as fair and quite respectfully stated.

Dear beswatch:

If you can't vote during midterm week, vote the week before.

See? Easy.

(And you know, if you ever become, say, a mother of a toddler who also works 40 hours a week outside the house, you are seriously going to yearn for the days when 4+ exams and a bunch of papers felt like a lot of work.)

Congratulations Mr Speaker. Our conversations led me to hope one day you'd get there, though a year and a half ago it didn't look this good. Any time I can be of help ...

Even though I'm still in the "red" part of Oregon, I am so excited about the Democrats taking control of the Oregon House!

Please, please don't jump to the same ideological extremism of the Republicans. We can win back legislative seats here in Bend, but only if House and Senate Democrats and the Governor pursue a mainstream agenda of education, health care, public safety, and economic development. Please don't get sucked into the same rigid ideology (from the left) that killed the Republicans (from the right).

Way to go in 2006! Let's add even more Democrats in 2008!

One of the campaign tactics that iritated me the most this election was the "Rainy Day Ammendment" tag used with measure 48. It indicated two things to me: 1) supporters of 48 didn't think the measure would pass on its own merits (they were right) and 2)there is broad support for a rainy day fund. I would rather have a bill debated, fought over, tweaked, and rewritten to be the best bill possible than a one shot initiative.

The people of Oregon have spoken. The people in the armpit of liberal social communism have made their choice clear. On election day of 2006 the voters decided to continue to endorse the liberal totalitarianism values of communist socialism that have dictated the direction of the Northwest for over two and a half decades and now beyond. The people have made it crystal clear that they love paying higher taxes. They enjoy being told what to do and when they can do it. They admire a fascist education system that teaches children that they only need to rely on the government and that parents are evil and God does not exist. They applaud a school system that screams that it needs more money, so the corrupt bureaucrats can line their pockets with cash bonuses. They are in awe of a government that allows children to do whatever they want but still holds only the parents responsible. They take pleasure in a government that dictates how business can be run. They relish in a government that will tell what you can and cannot do on your property and then take it away if they feel like it. They take comfort in a government that controls every aspect of their lives, so that they do not have to be responsible for their own decisions. They idolize a government that punishes those that strive for success and rewards those that are too lazy to anything for themselves. They savor the oppression that the government gives them over their personal choices, their freedom, their money, their personal growth and happiness.

For the majority of people in Oregon that support the status quo of liberalism, socialism, communism and totalitarianism this is for you, the new Oregon state flag. <img src="http://logo.cafepress.com/nocache/6/2048536.jpg"> http://www.cafepress.com/neworegon

Um, Soren...either cut the dosage, or get a class in anger management.

I can't find a source for detailed election information, but I'm almost certain that the "only 10% of 18-24 year olds voted" claim that Libby made at the top of this thread is a misreading of the fact that ~10% of voters were in the 18-24 age range. This was certainly the case in the 2004 election, when the identical false claim circulated.

doretta, my friend, we are on the same page. I apologize if my remarks sounded like a broad indictment of all Democrats. It wasn't intended as such. I only wanted to say to those folks who think there's some merit in pealing away parts of the center-left coalition that helped make all our victories on election day possible that we ought not begin using the wedges among ourselves that have been used against us.

In my original comment to Mr. Merkley, I reqested that HB1000 be taken up at the earliest convenience knowing that there are many initiatives that will demand attention. I don't need to be first in line. Just in the line somewhere :)