Hmmm... The story by Melica Johnson says there are five legislators under 35. But my count includes the three interviewed - Clem, Cannon, Gelser - but also three more: Tina Kotek, Tobias Read, and Chris Edwards.

Or did someone have a birthday recently?

Hopefully some of these new leaders will help people like Rep. Buckley shake things up and bring some of the more entrenched leaders on board with a strong reform agenda.

Democrats have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change how politics in Salem operates. But I must confess to a great deal of skepticism at the Majority Leader's comments that the $900,000 that the lobby has given to Democrats since the election "Won't influence him one way on policy" -- particularly with all of the $5000 and $10,000 checks that companies like Wal-Mart and Philip Morris have paid out to Future Pac since the election.

I remember Wayne Scott saying last year that contributions don't influence him on policy. I didn't believe him when he said it. Granted, I'd rather have the current leadership in there than the old regime, but the lobbying reform package was movement in the right direction, but means little unless we also change how our campaigns are financed.

I haven't seen much traction among leadership in either chamber for debating campaign finance reform -- despite the fact that Oregonians passed the toughest campaign finance law in the country in 2006. This, despite the fact that Democrats have taken the reins of power based largely on a platform of restoring public control over our legislative process at the expense of the lobbyists and corporations that currently dominate in Salem.