Local pols gather to discuss legislative session

By Ellen Spitaleri

The Clackamas Review, Aug 8, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

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Legislators from Clackamas County joined business leaders at last week’s North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce breakfast.

Wilda Parks, chamber president, welcomed guests then turned the program over to Milwaukie Mayor Jim Bernard and moderator Greg Chaimov.

Among those in attendance were: Republicans, Representative Scott Bruun, Representative Linda Flores and House Minority Leader Wayne Scott and Democrats, Senator Kate Brown, House Majority Leader Dave Hunt, Senator Rod Monroe and Senator Kurt Schrader.

After some opening humorous remarks from Chaimov, comparing the past legislative session to “Mighty Mite soccer – where no one gets hurt,” he asked the legislators to answer the first question: What did the legislature do that was good for business?

Schrader, who represents Canby in District 20, noted that “Education was one of the highlights,” adding that the legislature was interested in making investments in schools, community colleges and Head Start.

He also said he had worked on special projects dealing with “economic developments,” including one that focused on a Clackamas County company that will be making streetcars.

Finally, he said, “We delivered to you Eastside light rail.”

Brown, who represents S.E. Portland and Milwaukie in District 21, described the past session as “a very efficient and effective session. It marked the first time we came together on one issue – the rainy day fund.

“We had cooperation from both sides and passed a landmark agreement for human services, public safety and education.”

Monroe, who represents District 24 in East Portland and Happy Valley, was next up.

He said, “We made sure that $250 million was available for Milwaukie light rail,” and he added, “We worked on tax credits in the Revenue Committee, which will be a great benefit to Oregon.”

Hunt, who represents Gladstone, Oak Grove, Jennings Lodge, Johnson City and Clackamas in District 40, first greeted “former colleague [past Senator] Verne Duncan,” who he said is “always ready to advise.”

One key initiative, Hunt said, was the appropriation of “$100 million for infrastructure including rail, aviation and marine” transportation.

The legislature also “signed a bill to clamp down on metal theft.”

He also mentioned the $5 million expansion of Clackamas Community College’s Harmony campus, the $20 million appropriated for designing streetcars by the county firm that Schrader talked about, the rainy day fund and the cut in inheritance tax, so that “farmers and the fishing industry don’t get hammered.”

Next up was Bruun, who represents West Linn in District 37, who said, “This was a good session – an excellent session. If you do business and are concerned with environmental activism or high-tech., we did wonderful things for you, including laws that will truly promote entrepreneurism.”

Wayne Scott, who later this month will retire from Canby’s District 39 to spend more time with his family, noted that the legislature this past session was “less partisan,” and he cited as positive achievements education funding and the rainy day fund – which is supported by the corporation kicker.

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