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Second Quarter 2020 Legislative Report

7/20/2020

 
My report today focuses on two items. 
  1. Community TV
As you may know this Pomona is attempting to sponsor a candidate forum, some would call it a debate, for the Clackamas County Commission candidates.  Due to the Covid 19 situation it is to risky to gather and do it in person, so your legislative committee has been seeking other methods.  We have settled on three sessions, one for each position,  filmed at the Willamette Falls Media Center (WFMC) and broadcast on the CAN (community access network) available county wide and also posted on Utube.  This is possible because the WFMC is willing to film and broadcast the sessions at nominal cost as a public service.   They also provide numerous free classes on film making and cover many government meetings for broadcast on the community channels. They can afford to do this because state law says they get a small percentage of everyone’s cable bills through the cable companies franchise fees.  There is a move afoot both legally and legislatively to essentially make this money optional.  The proposal would allow each jurisdiction to decide whether to keep the franchise money currently allocated to the WFMC.  The proposal would disrupt the current funding mechanism, probably result in closure of media centers state wide and thus further limit government transparency.  If you have not guessed I don’t like the idea.
​
         2.   Legislative quorum requirements 
Democrats and Republicans in the Oregon Legislature may not agree on much, but everyone agrees that the recent short legislative session was a failure. This seems likely to repeat in future sessions unless something is done.  The majority caucus in the legislature is proposing lowering the quorum requirements which would eliminate minority parties ability to oppose legislation by denying quorum.  The following is a more balanced idea published in an article by Brent Barton, a lawyer who formerly served as the Democratic representative for House District 40 - Oregon City, in the Oregon Legislature.
First, lower the quorum requirement from two-thirds of legislators per chamber to a simple majority, similar to current majority party proposals.  This change would bring Oregon in line with most other states.
Second, raise the threshold to pass policy bills, but not budget bills, from a simple majority of legislators to two-thirds, but only in the short session. This would focus activity in the short session on budget fixes and consensus legislation, exactly as voters intended when adopting annual sessions in 2010.
Third, prohibit fraudulent use of the emergency clause, particularly on policy bills.  Possibly provide a legal avenue to challenge such use in the courts.
In my opinion pushing the Cap and Trade legislation in the short session, and then attaching the emergency clause was an abuse of power by the majority party and deserved to be shut down.  However, denying quorum during the regular session on a legitimate issue  that a majority of duly elected representatives favored and were elected on is also an abuse of power and should not be tolerated. 
In essence, current Republican legislators appear to be normalizing the nuclear option of denying quorum, something that is inconsistent with a functional legislative branch. Oregon should join most other states, including Washington, in lowering its quorum requirement– a change that would encourage parties to compete for relevance by winning elections, not fleeing Salem.
Partisan competition is a fact of legislative life. But we should minimize this friction in the short session by channeling it into the long session, where parties and legislators can duke out competing ideas.

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    Legislative reports are by Master, Dan Keeley.  They are also Clackamas Pomona reports.

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News and Special Events


NOTE! 
January meeting still early, 3:30 on January 22.
​
Pomona 5th degree at Maplewood September 23, Dinner by Youth Grange at 6, Lecture program at 7 and 5th degree starts at 7:30.
 

ZUMBA is again in session.  Shake it up! - Call Cristina for details at 503-984-8193

As always, Maplewood Grange is looking for community minded folks willing to get involved and leave the world a bit better than they found it.  Open to all since 1867.

From Patrons Chain Newsletter

What? Did I hear that correctly? Did National President Betsy and Membership/Leadership Development Director Amanda both just report at this year's National Grange session that our organization had an increase in fraternal membership?
 
Well, they did and we did have an increase in fraternal membership of over 700 members. This is the first time in several years (okay… decades!) that we can make that statement. This got me thinking - what is the reason, especially with all we have gone through in the past three years? You could argue that we should have either stayed the same or had a decrease in membership.
 
I firmly believe that it is in a large part because of what you as Grangers have done in your communities. You exemplified our core values of faith, hope, charity, and fidelity by not giving up and just going through the motions. You did the opposite and did what Grangers do best.
 
Granges opened their doors when allowed, and welcomed the community in. Granges adapted programming or thought of new programs to help the community get back to some type of “normal.” I cannot begin to count the number of Granges who changed the way they did dinners and went to drive-thru style. Communities responded, and the dinners were mostly selling out because you offered something that they were missing. Granges offered outdoor events of a wide variety which gave people a chance to socialize and be around others. Grangers put together seed and plant swaps because of the renewed interest in growing their own and farm-to-table.
 
Our hometowns and local areas responded in so many ways to the community service you provided, not only by supporting Granges in your endeavors financially. Instead, people wanted to be part of an organization that gives back and helps in so many ways. I truly believe our increase in fraternal membership is because of everything Granges did no matter how large or even the smallest gesture.
 
Our Founders would be extremely proud of all the work you have done. Your community service shows why the Grange is still relevant today as it was 150 years ago. Do I think this increase is a “fluke?” No, I do not.
 
In the words of Cade Howerton, a Junior Granger from North Carolina, “Have a Grange Day”.
 
Keep up the good Grange work!




  • Home
  • Who we are
  • Contact
  • Rental Fees
  • Meetings
  • Membership
  • Agendas
  • Officers
  • Grange History
  • Rental Agreement
  • Rental Calendar
  • Minutes
  • Pictures
  • Job List
  • News Letters
  • Reports / Good of the Order