Post by Wyldcomfort on Jun 26, 2007 6:23:08 GMT -5
Oregonian
Legislature tries to close shop
Senate - A variety of bills are approved, including ATV safety, plus Sen. Kate Brown says she won't be returning
Monday, June 25, 2007
HARRY ESTEVE and JANIE HAR
The Oregonian Staff
SALEM -- The Senate wrapped up work Sunday on groundbreaking bills allowing schools to levy taxes on new construction to pay for growth, increasing safety for bicyclists and for children who drive ATVs, and requiring counties to spell out when it's OK for police to use deadly force.
As they pushed toward adjournment later this week, lawmakers kept their discussions short and cordial, but the legislation they passed will have far-reaching effects in Oregon.
"I have to tell you," said Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, "we had a really pragmatic, basic agenda, and I think we expanded on that."
Lawmakers also passed bills requiring initiative signature gathers to register with and get training from the secretary of state, requiring election officials to hand count a sample of ballots at each general election and outlawing nepotism in all public agencies -- although they exempted themselves.
In an unrelated development, Brown told Senate Democrats she plans to step down as majority leader when the session ends. There was plenty of speculation she would run for statewide office next year, possibly secretary of state.
Senators approved the bill allowing school districts to levy new taxes on construction. Under the bill, the construction tax probably would be passed on to homebuyers in the purchase price of new houses, and the money would go to buy land, build schools or remodel existing ones. It returns to the House for final approval.
The Senate also approved Senate Bill 108, which would allow drivers to be cited if they pass too closely to a cyclist. The bill would define a safe distance as enough room to prevent contact between a bike and a car if the rider falls over into the lane of traffic.
The bill would allow drivers to cross the center lane to give cyclists more space. And it exempts drivers if there's a separate bicycle lane on the road.
"Everybody needs to respect each other's rights to use the road," said Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene.
The bill still has one stop to go in the House before going to Gov. Ted Kulongoski's desk.
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Legislature tries to close shop
Page 2 of 2
The all-terrain vehicle safety measure, Senate Bill 101, phases in new training requirements for four-wheel ATVs and off-road motorcycles. By 2009, children younger than 16 would be required to take state-approved training classes before they could drive ATVs. Those requirements would apply to all ATV users by 2014.
The bill also requires anyone younger than 18 to fasten the chin strap on their helmets if they use ATVs.
Brown called opponents of ATV regulation "e-mail wackos" who flooded legislators with comments. She commended her colleagues for passing the bill. "The fact we were able to find middle ground and pass anything on ATV safety legislation is amazing."
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The bill goes to Kulongoski, who is expected to sign it.
A bill that received little attention so far this session would require all counties to write specific rules for the use of deadly force by police and sheriff deputies. The plan would have to be approved by the state attorney general and by a two-thirds majority of the local governing body overseeing each law enforcement agency. The bill now moves to the House.
The bill came partly in response to police shootings in Portland, and out of a concern that the grand jury process is too secretive when it investigates the incidents.
"In a free and open society, certain things must truly be open," said Sen. Ben Westlund, D-Bend.
Senators whipped through the meaty agenda in a punchy, festive mood. Many took time out to dip behind the chamber to watch the Oregon State Beavers game on a television propped in a back hall. They cheered on the floor when the team won.
They also applauded when Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, presented Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, with tapes of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches. Winters, Sen. Margaret Carter, D-Portland, and Sen. Avel Gordly, a Portland independent, had just returned from a conference of black women legislators in Memphis, Tenn., where Carter was elected the group's next president.
Brown rushed around the floor, carrying bills and accepting hugs from stunned members who had just learned she would not be back next session. One of the most influential women in the building, she said she will not seek re-election to her Senate seat in 2008 and didn't say whether she'll seek statewide office.
There was still time, however, for some pointed exchanges on bills. Republicans were particularly upset by the new requirements for initiative petition workers to register with the state.
Sen. Gary George, R-Newberg, called it another case of the state making it harder for citizens to pass their own laws. "It's just one more piece of an assault of the right of the people."
Legislature tries to close shop
Senate - A variety of bills are approved, including ATV safety, plus Sen. Kate Brown says she won't be returning
Monday, June 25, 2007
HARRY ESTEVE and JANIE HAR
The Oregonian Staff
SALEM -- The Senate wrapped up work Sunday on groundbreaking bills allowing schools to levy taxes on new construction to pay for growth, increasing safety for bicyclists and for children who drive ATVs, and requiring counties to spell out when it's OK for police to use deadly force.
As they pushed toward adjournment later this week, lawmakers kept their discussions short and cordial, but the legislation they passed will have far-reaching effects in Oregon.
"I have to tell you," said Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, "we had a really pragmatic, basic agenda, and I think we expanded on that."
Lawmakers also passed bills requiring initiative signature gathers to register with and get training from the secretary of state, requiring election officials to hand count a sample of ballots at each general election and outlawing nepotism in all public agencies -- although they exempted themselves.
In an unrelated development, Brown told Senate Democrats she plans to step down as majority leader when the session ends. There was plenty of speculation she would run for statewide office next year, possibly secretary of state.
Senators approved the bill allowing school districts to levy new taxes on construction. Under the bill, the construction tax probably would be passed on to homebuyers in the purchase price of new houses, and the money would go to buy land, build schools or remodel existing ones. It returns to the House for final approval.
The Senate also approved Senate Bill 108, which would allow drivers to be cited if they pass too closely to a cyclist. The bill would define a safe distance as enough room to prevent contact between a bike and a car if the rider falls over into the lane of traffic.
The bill would allow drivers to cross the center lane to give cyclists more space. And it exempts drivers if there's a separate bicycle lane on the road.
"Everybody needs to respect each other's rights to use the road," said Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene.
The bill still has one stop to go in the House before going to Gov. Ted Kulongoski's desk.
CONTINUED 1 | 2 Next
Legislature tries to close shop
Page 2 of 2
The all-terrain vehicle safety measure, Senate Bill 101, phases in new training requirements for four-wheel ATVs and off-road motorcycles. By 2009, children younger than 16 would be required to take state-approved training classes before they could drive ATVs. Those requirements would apply to all ATV users by 2014.
The bill also requires anyone younger than 18 to fasten the chin strap on their helmets if they use ATVs.
Brown called opponents of ATV regulation "e-mail wackos" who flooded legislators with comments. She commended her colleagues for passing the bill. "The fact we were able to find middle ground and pass anything on ATV safety legislation is amazing."
Advertisement
The bill goes to Kulongoski, who is expected to sign it.
A bill that received little attention so far this session would require all counties to write specific rules for the use of deadly force by police and sheriff deputies. The plan would have to be approved by the state attorney general and by a two-thirds majority of the local governing body overseeing each law enforcement agency. The bill now moves to the House.
The bill came partly in response to police shootings in Portland, and out of a concern that the grand jury process is too secretive when it investigates the incidents.
"In a free and open society, certain things must truly be open," said Sen. Ben Westlund, D-Bend.
Senators whipped through the meaty agenda in a punchy, festive mood. Many took time out to dip behind the chamber to watch the Oregon State Beavers game on a television propped in a back hall. They cheered on the floor when the team won.
They also applauded when Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, presented Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, with tapes of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches. Winters, Sen. Margaret Carter, D-Portland, and Sen. Avel Gordly, a Portland independent, had just returned from a conference of black women legislators in Memphis, Tenn., where Carter was elected the group's next president.
Brown rushed around the floor, carrying bills and accepting hugs from stunned members who had just learned she would not be back next session. One of the most influential women in the building, she said she will not seek re-election to her Senate seat in 2008 and didn't say whether she'll seek statewide office.
There was still time, however, for some pointed exchanges on bills. Republicans were particularly upset by the new requirements for initiative petition workers to register with the state.
Sen. Gary George, R-Newberg, called it another case of the state making it harder for citizens to pass their own laws. "It's just one more piece of an assault of the right of the people."