Democratic leaders on Monday said they hope for bipartisanship in the 2021 Oregon Legislature.
But, they said, they won t let that goal hinder their desire to pass laws they consider crucial.
During an online preview of the Oregon Legislature held by the City Club of Portland on Jan. 25, Sen. Majority Leader Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, and House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner, D-Portland, said Democrats goals were forged by the pandemic, wildfires and the calls for racial justice in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis
The agenda is transformation through crisis, Smith Warner said, citing 2020 s challenges. How do we learn from them and use them as an opportunity to really make meaningful change?
City Club to preview historic legislative session
Democratic leaders will address the economy, wildfires, racial justice and the pandemic economy.
The Oregon Legislature has barely started and it s already looking to be very unusual session, with the pandemic driving much of the agenda and scrambling longtime traditions.
Because of the coronavirus and more recently the anti-lockdown protesters who invaded the Capitol during a Dec. 21 special session the 160 days scheduled for the 2021 session will be like no other.
On Monday, Jan. 25, Senate Majority Leader Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, and House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner, D-Portland, will headline a moderated State of the Capitol virtual discussion hosted by the nonprofit City Club of Portland to preview what Oregonians should expect. Media sponsors for the event are XRAY.FM and Pamplin Media Group.
No protest materialized at the Oregon Capitol on Inauguration Day, despite warnings and preparations. By late morning, a small group of President Joe Biden supporters were standing across the street. News crews outnumbered demonstrators. Law enforcement had been preparing for the past week for potential protests after the FBI warned armed demonstrations were being planned at all 50 state capitols.
Members of color support effort to advance their causes and standing in the House.
Rep. Janelle Bynum of Clackamas has ended her bid for speaker of the Oregon House in exchange for pledges by current Democratic leaders to ease the way for members of color to advocate their issues and advance in the chamber.
The tacit agreement, which members of color endorsed Tuesday, Jan. 5, clears the way for Rep. Tina Kotek of Portland to win a fifth two-year term as speaker when the 2021 Legislature opens on Jan. 11. It also averts a potentially messy fight among the 37 majority Democrats, a record nine of whom are members of color.
The commissioners will choose from among the three candidates nominated by local Democratic Party representatives: Candy Emmons, Adrienne Enghouse and Kayse Jama.