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2011 Legislature Wrap-up Our regions legislators say, “Not soooo bad.” by t.a. barnhart The 2011 Legislature wrapped up work in record time and with remarkable results: surviving the 30/30 split in the House, as unprecedented as the third-term governor; building a budget to cope with a $3.5 billion revenue gap; and completing redistricting without resorting to the courts or the Secretary of State’s office. And they managed to do all this in an atmosphere that rarely strayed from the collegial and respectful. After a month’s rest and recuperation, and a chance to meet with constituents around the districts, the region’s three members of the Legislature — Senator Betsy Johnson and Representatives Deborah Boone and Brad Witt — looked back at the session’s challenges and outcomes, both the positive and the disappointing. Not surprisingly, one thing stood out as the defining feature of the 2011 session: “Very significant … 30/30 in the House.” Senator Johnson “30/30 made [action] more problematic.” Representative Witt “For the most part, the [shared leadership] experiment worked.” Representative Boone The even split between Democrats and Republicans in the House had never happened in Oregon, so the entire session was spent inventing the wheel. All actions had to be approved by two Co-Speakers and, in committee, by two Co-chairs. The Senate had the narrowest partisan margin, 16-14 Democratic; despite the close divide of the two chambers, Johnson saw the session as being “remarkably civil”. She felt the two Co-speakers were “gentlemanly” and “overall, it was a session that Oregonians can be proud of.” The Legislature’s priority in every session, of course, is to pass the state’s biennial budget. With the added burden of starting $3.5 billion in the hole, this task in 2011 was especially daunting. But not only did the Legislature pass budgets for the three major areas of state government — education, health and social services, public safety — they completed the biggest, for K-12 education, in April, in time to let school districts know how much funding they would receive before they completed their budgets. Historically, the education budget is one of the last things done in the session. The budgets were, admitted Johnson, “skinny” but they did get done. She noted with pride that unlike some past sessions, and as some people feared, no major programs were shut down, including ever-threatened Oregon Youth Authority programs. Some of the outcomes were harsh, however. Boone talked about fees for accessing the medical marijuana program, which will increase from $100 a year to $200 — but for some low-income users, that increase will be from a nolonger-reduced $20 to the full $200, an increase she called “egregious”. She also pointed to recertification fees charged to EMTs that will drive some from the job. On the plus side, however, she was happy that Project Independence, which helps seniors remain in their homes, had been scheduled for cuts, but, in the end got a small “bump” in funding. Witt termed the entire budget process as “holding the line” on issues of greatest impact to those in his district. He spoke on those issues a number of times on the House floor, most notably in March when he defended the need to extend unemployment benefits to the long-term jobless — something Legislature was able to do in spite of the budgetary challenge. “Budgets are about priorities,” said Johnson, who served on the Ways and Means Committee, which authors all budget bills. One outcome of the “complex process” in the House that resulted from the 30/30 split, Johnson said, was that it “whetted [both parties’] appetite for that one seat” needed for a majority. She predicted that the 2012 campaign would be “gruesome” in the chase for a legislative majority. Boone reflected, with an air of resignation, that a certain amount of gamesmanship had occurred, with committee chairs blocking action on bills they opposed, sometimes just because they could. It was a state of affairs no one wants to repeat in future sessions. Bills on social issues were introduced in 2011, as usual, but, said Boone, there was an unspoken agreement early on that “huge, far-reaching” bills were not going to move forward. She didn’t think that was a bad thing necessarily; it would force backers to continue work in education at the local level before trying to “slam them out” in the Legislature. Johnson, when asked about how the district fared in the session, said that “we were ok” because many needs had been met in previous sessions. Capital construction funds for the two community colleges had already been secured. Boone, in speaking about her district, while glad that several projects in regard to wave energy had been funded, also noted that the major experimental project was currently blocked from using the power it produced. “I hope to fix that in February,” she said, referring to next year’s short session. Senator Johnson, the Ways and Means Committee and the passage of K-12 budget, maing lemonade. One achievement of which Witt was proud was his landmark bill to block the sale or possession of shark fins. The fins are used in soup and are in worldwide demand; however, fins are supplied not by fishing the entire shark but by cutting off just the dorsal fins and throwing the maimed creature back into the sea. Witt’s bill helps set a precedent for banning the practice that he expects to see grow, including in Canada. And all three were happy to see the upgrade in the Bottle Bill. The three legislators wasted no time following the end of session in meeting with constituents. Johnson held town halls in both House districts with the two representatives, meeting from Tillamook to Astoria (“I want to give them kudos for getting the most people … on a Sunday morning … incredibly well-informed”) to Sauvie Island. Issues covered health care, bicycles, the Oregon Bank, ESDs, all-day kindergarten, kicker reform, emergency preparedness on the coast, BPA in sippy cups, marijuana and more. She was surprised that the Liquid Natural Gas terminal only came up once, and just in a general conversation about Oregon being an exporter of natural resources. All three legislators are now back into their non-legislative lives. Brad Witt is on the campaign trail, seeking the Democratic nomination to replace David Wu in Congress. The timing of the election means that either he’ll retain his House seat if he loses the primary or general special election — or his district will have to pick his replacement in early February 2012 if he wins. And that will be while the Legislature is in session. Enjoy the serenity of our gardens, wooded paths, sauna, yurt and bhuddas . . . . . . in Nahcotta, Washington on Sandridge Road, just south of Bay Avenue overlooking willapa bay www.mobydickhotel.com 360-665-4543 or 1-800-673-6145 aug11 hipfishmonthly.com But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself. – Rachel Carson 10 Everyone knows that pictures sell property and aerial pictures sell even better because they show more and say more and get noticed. Our prices are actually reasonable. Flying for clients in Oregon and Washington for 15 years. Big Bird Aerial Photography we’re up there! bigbirdaerialphotography.com 503-791-5627
Nuevo Regatta! An Old Tradition is getting a Tune-up By Kate Giese The oldest continuous festival west of the Rockies and steeped in tradition, the 2011 Astoria Regatta runs from Wednesday, August 10 through Sunday, August 14. The city’s very first Regatta took place in 1894, consisting of a series of boat races staged to celebrate the end of the fishing season. While the races still play a part in the festival, this annual event has evolved into a five-day extravaganza with music, parades, the selection of the Regatta Queen, fireworks and lots of other activities. Despite its long and distinguished history, however, Regatta’s getting a bit of a face lift in this its 117th year. Regatta Parade, circa 1950’s People can expect to see some changes to Regatta in 2011. Most of the changes have come out of series of meetings that have been going on since early in the year between the Regatta Association (RA) and the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association (ADHDA), which is a new development. With the Bicentennial and more folks new to the Regatta expected, the two groups have been working hard to get ready—to ensure that things run smoothly and that the Regatta experience will be a safe, enjoyable one. After doing a little research on his own beforehand Eric Paulson, RA President, saw that attendance at the LEKTRO Grand Parade was pretty lackluster compared with parades he visited in other communities. He says, “I look at things from a marketing and business perspective. If people don’t buy my product I find out why and make corrections.” ADHDA and RA subsequently came up with a two-pronged focus in their discussions: traffic/parking and local business impacts. Photo courtesy the Clatsop County Historical Society To beef up the turnout for the parade—on the part of both residents and out-of-towners—the two groups concluded 1) that it needs to be easier for motorists to get to downtown and park; and 2) once people are downtown, they should be encouraged to stay there… to shop, have a bite to eat and, of course, take part in the Regatta and Bicentennial activities that will be going on all week during Regatta—more of them downtown too. Business as Usual Paulson says he wants to “make it ‘business as usual’ downtown” during Regatta with people able to shop, eat, and otherwise enjoy the city’s core area. In the past, merchants have complained that the Saturday during Regatta weekend is often one of their worst shopping days. So this year, several downtown businesses will offer discounts to customers who’re wearing a new commemorative Regatta pin that costs $10 and is for sale at local businesses and banks. At participating merchants, “pinned” customers may also register for a drawing to win a 43” Samsung Flat Screen TV… as many times as the number of places they visit. To add to festivities, businesses will decorate their windows and compete for “best window display.” There’ll be judges and a plaque awarded. No Square There won’t be a Regatta Square this year. Instead, the whole downtown, with its businesses, restaurants and other attractions, will provide the services that the Square’s special vendors (brought in for the occasion) used to. Some, if not all, of these now displaced vendors will be at various locations around town on Saturday, August 13 instead. The $10 it used to cost to get into the Square now buys the commemorative Regatta pin, with its extra value of discounts and the drawing attached. The proceeds from pin sales also support the Regatta Association activities. More for Families and Teens Before the parade starts at noon, family fun may be had at both ends of downtown this year, courtesy of Astoria Parks and Recreation and the Clatsop County Historical Society. At Astoria’s west end, there’ll be a Regatta Swim (ages 4-12) and a “Bouncing House” (an outdoor inflatable gym/climbing wall) on the grassy area next to the building at the Aquatic Center, all starting at 10:00 am. At the city’s east end, the action will be at the Flavel House where, starting at 10:00 am, there’ll be lawn games, dog agility competitions and jail/film museum tours. Your teenagers might get a kick out of the skateboard tournament at Tapiola Skate Park at 2:00 pm, after the parade. Then at 6:00 pm, they can “Rock-n-Bowl” at Astoria’s Lower Columbia Bowl, which will be offering “Cosmic Bowl” later in the evening, at 9:00 pm. The cost for each session is $9.00, which pays for bowling and shoe rental. Cont. pg 12 11 aug11 hipfishmonthly.com
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Page 3 and 4: HIPFiSHmonthly August 2011 NEWS •
Page 5 and 6: 5th Annual Spirit of the River Set
Page 7 and 8: A WAVE OF PRIDE! Fun-out on the Coa
Page 9: last few years that Yvonne has chos
Page 13 and 14: these clowns are serious Astoria’
Page 15 and 16: On Saturday and Sunday, September 3
Page 17 and 18: goings on: Aug 11 in the columbia p
Page 19 and 20: ••• music • visual arts •
Page 25 and 26: word. Oregon Writers Colony Founder
Page 27 and 28: network. Community Listings WORKSHO
Page 29 and 30: North Coast Food Web weaves up a ne
Page 31 and 32: 9am 7pm Open Everyday! - Exchange S

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