A citizen's lobby

T.A. Barnhart

Sometimes an ordinary citizen gets to make a difference.

A couple of weeks ago, doing homework in preparation for the special session of the Oregon Legislature that began today, I read through all 140-some bills and resolutions being introduced in this session. (Strictly speaking, not the entire bills but their summaries. Still no small matter.) I wanted to see what might be on the agenda; given the nature and language of bills, not to mention the fact that I did not know what was in the laws that were being amended, this was a rather ambitious undertaking. But, being a good cub reporter and activist, I wanted to give it a shot.

My crucial discovery was not about what bills were being introduced but what was missing. Among the several resolutions honoring various persons, there was none honoring Oregon’s National Guard. To put it mildly, I was surprised.

I opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning; I worked in the 2009 session to get the House to consider a resolution to “Keep the Guard Home”. But I also have a son in the National Guard, and last August, he arrived in Iraq with Bravo Company and over 2,000 other members of the Oregon Guard in their largest deployment since World War II.

Thankfully, since arriving in country last August, there are have been very few injuries and only two fatalities. The “attacks” my son has encountered tooling around the backhills of Iraq doing transport escort have consisted, in his report, of badly aimed mortars that stirred up distant dust and nothing more. Yay for that, and yay that following next month’s Iraqi elections, the Guard will be coming home in April.

And then, last week at the victory party for Measures 66 & 67, I approached Oregon House Speaker Dave Hunt and told him about the “missing” resolution. He was not just supportive of the idea: he immediately texted himself to keep it on his radar. This morning, when I arrived at the Capital this morning, I went by his office hoping to speak to his assistant but instead got lucky: Speaker Hunt himself walking into the office lobby. He reiterated his support for the concept, and then he had me go speak to Rep Jean Cowan, Chair of the Veterans and Emergency Services Committee. Progress!

Disappointment! Her initial response, with a resolution coming out of the blue at the beginning of a session that will be short and packed, was very constrained. She didn’t even sound like she thought it was a good idea. I left, somewhat dejected, but continued making the rounds of House offices, greeting legislators and their assistants I’ve gotten to know in the past few years by writing for BlueOregon and volunteering with the Bus Project. (Hey kids. Wanna be a political mover and shaker? Hint hint: Volunteer to help with elections. Candidates totally love that!)

Although no committee was doing anything more than introductions and adoption of rules, I went to as many of these as I could today, to make people’s acquaintance and tell them I would be around during the session. (I’m told by real journalists that’s a good way to “build a relationship”.) As it happened, the last committee to meet today was the Veteran’s Committee. I went in and sat down, prepared for yet another quick trip through routine. Instead, I got a big surprise that made my time in Salem today a great pleasure.

Rep Cowan, before the committee convened, asked me to be ready to introduce my concept to the committee and ask that they move it forward. I tried not to grin too stupidly, but I was thrilled. What had sounded earlier like reluctance was simply her caution: once she had a chance to discuss the idea with committee staff (and, possibly, the Speaker), she was happy to move the idea forward. So, after the committee concluded regular business, which took about nine minutes, I became one of the session’s first guest speakers, asking the committee to move forward the concept (as a bill is called in its pre-birth condition) for a resolution honoring the Guard. The committee, several of whom I walked for on the Bus — Judy Steigler, Greg Matthews and Chuck Riley — responded with an enthusiastic Yea vote. The resolution will now move forward.

One of the beauties of Oregon is how much like a small city the entire state is. I am not the state’s leading political blogger nor its most essential volunteer. Nonetheless, doing what I’ve done the past few years, I have met and gotten to know — and be known by — many of the state’s elected officials, including both U.S. Senators, the new Attorney General, the Treasurer and others. I’m not in anyone’s inner circle — no way am I blowing up my status — but Oregonians value one another, and they like to show it. My efforts are appreciated, and the gratitude is shown not in “thank you” form letters but personal words of thanks and warm smiles on faces.

And this afternoon, in the beginning of a process that will probably see the passage of the only measure not already on the docket at the start of the session. Yes, it’s for a cause most members of the Legislature support whole-heartedly, but the great thing about it — the special Oregon thing of it — is that it’s possible because as a citizen, I can walk into my state’s capital and be taken seriously. I didn’t need a lobbyist; I didn’t need a PR campaign.

I just needed something almost every member of the Oregon Legislature takes seriously: my own demonstrated commitment to the state. Call it a bonus for being an active citizen in a state where the office of citizen probably is the most highly regarded.

By T.A. Barnhart Feb. 01, 2010