High Desert Lawmakers Answer Post-Session Questions

The Tri-County Legislative Wrap-up was held at Highland Baptist Church in Redmond Tuesday night. The event brought over 100 people to listen to our legislators and hear how the 2011 Oregon State Legislative session went, as well as to ask questions.

Even though the event was sponsored by the three counties’ Republican parties, they also asked Democrats and everyone to come and weigh in as well.

It was a rare opportunity with all of our legislators who serve our three counties. Seven legislators took part and gave their take on the session, but was the session successful? It depends on who you ask and what party they’re with.

“I think under the circumstances they did very, very well,” said Kate Adams, Jefferson County Republican chairwoman, who helped put on the rare question-and-answer event with all of the local lawmakers.on.

With the Oregon House split 30-30 and a Democrat-controlled Senate, there had been concern about how much work would get done.

“With the makeup of the House and the Senate, we really couldn’t (get) things the way we wanted, but it was better than most,” Adams said.

And some legislators say some work wasn’t finished.

“What we did not do is put a jobs agenda before Oregonians that will help us create an economy that will support our communities and get Oregon back to work,” said state Sen Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day.

It”s an issue not lost on community members.

“The three county area here has definitely high unemployment rates in all three counties, and unless we get people back to work, we are not going to move this area forward,” attendee Mike Kusinska said.

Even though, at present all of the Central Oregon delegation is Republican, and it was a Republican-sponsored event, Democrats were asked to attend and to say what they thought of the legislative session.

“I think they got a lot accomplished — basically they had to work together and compromise because of the fairly balanced split,” said Laurie Gould.

And Democrats also would like to see more change come 2012.

“We would like to see a few Democrats representing the people of Central Oregon,” Gould said. “It would be nice if we had a balanced delegation, and we are going to be working towards ends in 2012.”

And it was 2012 that was the talk of the night for constituents and legislators, as the state legislators will reconvene once again in February.

Sen. Chris Telfer, R-Bend, also announced that she is meeting with Gov. John Kitzhaber next Tuesday to discuss the regulatory environment of the state. She asked those attending that if they have concerns or ideas about what regulations are strangling people to get back to work to let her know.