BY SARAH ROSS

SALEM- Governor Ted Kulongoski urged the Legislature this week to take up major policy issues only in the body’s longer regular sessions to allow for enough public input on the perspective changes.

The advice comes from Thursday’s press release on the Governor’s veto of three pieces of legislation dealing with prescription drugs, beverage bottle distribution, and state board practices.

“All three bills proposed changing a long-standing Oregon public policy,” said Kulongoski. “I have a serious concern as to whether the Special Session in February provided opportunity for citizens and interested stakeholders to be adequately involved in the development of these proposed major policy changes. “

Rem Nivens, spokesman for Governor Kulongoski, clarified that the Governor is supportive of the legislation which passed in February proposing a short, month long session in between regular sessions.

He added, however, that major policy changes, like the ones vetoed on Thursday, should wait to be brought up during a longer regular session. This will allow for the proper input from citizens and key players in the policy.

“The public give-and-take is critical to crafting and amending legislation by allowing all interested parties to be involved in the development of public policy,” Kulongoski stated. “I believe we must always be open and transparent when we are proposing changes to long established Oregon policy, especially in a short legislative session.”

BY SARAH ROSS

SALEM- The legislature ended their 25 day special session Thursday, passing a controversial constitutional amendment calling for annual legislative sessions.

The bill, SJR 41, created heavy controversy in the past few days which were filled with clear divides not only among parties but also among the two legislative bodies. House leaders were arguing for longer sessions while Senate leaders were pushing for the original time frame of 45 and 135 day sessions.

“After a lot of different tries, we finally came to an agreement that continues to have the length of time that I believe is necessary to get the work done on the budget in the odd numbered years,” said Rep. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay in his introduction of the legislation.

To address the perceived shorter length of 35 day sessions, Roblan stated, “We as a body are going to have to come together and make rules that limit the kinds of things that we work on and release.”

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, expressed his disappointment in not being able to move the Senate’s original bill.

“I will apologize to you today for where we’re at. Because I keep telling myself, how could I have done this better? What move could I have made to sustain what we experienced just a few days ago on this floor? I will always wonder about that.”

The final draft of the legislation came with a conference committee amendment proposing a 35 day session during even numbered years and a 160 day session during odd numbered years. This version passed both houses with slim margins costing Democrat and Republican votes on both sides of the issue.

“If we actually care about the institution, we should not run something out to the voters that all of us, with a straight face, cannot say is good,” said Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, who had been a co-sponsor of the original bill but voted against the final version.

Following the passage of the amendment by the legislature, it must also be voted on by the state’s citizens in order to be enacted. If passed by the voters, Oregon will join 45 other states in holding annual sessions.