Rather than updating my previous post (Kulongoski hearts Oregonians in Action-M37) on the Senate land use bill 1037, I'm putting up a new post for aesthetic reasons. Too many updates start to muck it up, and I like to keep things clear and simple.
I received a return call today from Senator Kate Brown's office. Unfortunately I wasn't around to pick up the call and got a message instead, so I'm unsure of the exact details. The caller informed me that the Senate had decided "not to concur" with the House version of SB1037, the one Kulongoski supported, and that, as a result, the bill would be sent back to a conference committee. For now, I'll assume that means SB1037 and its lousy amendments are dead. I'll try to find out more on Wednesday.
If you're reading this post and have no clue what I'm writing about the above link and the links within that link and the links within those links will give you the full picture!
Oh, and by the way, thanks to all who called and e-mailed yesterday. It worked! Pat yourselves on the back and have a hefeweizen!
Update: Finish up that hefeweizen, and let's get back to work. As the title of this post infers "our calls worked... for now." Well, that was yesterday. I just got an e-mail from 1000 Friends of Oregon informing me that special interests are pushing hard to get SB1037 voted on ASAP:
The voicemail you received from Sen. Brown's office is encouraging, however a Senate vote "not to concur" is not a done deal. The bill will probably hit the Senate floor today or tomorrow. Lobbyists for groups including the Oregon Home Builders Association and the Governor's office are working the halls of the capitol. This skirmish is by no means over; please do not encourage folk to pat themselves on the back quite yet.
Oregon's future and its past 30 years of land use laws should not be wiped away and decided by lobbyists who are paid to do what they do, while the rest of us who have jobs, own businesses, and have other commitments are unable to walk around the capitol building convincing our legislators to preserve Oregon's natural resources and beauty.
In an editorial, Fight another day on Measure 37, the O put it quite succinctly:
The swirl of the last days of the legislative session is no time to untangle the snarl of private rights and public impacts created by Measure 37.
Please call Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown and Land Use Committee Chairman Senator Charlie Ringo to thank them for not concurring with the House version of SB1037 and urge them to resist lobbying efforts by the Oregon Home Builders Association. That lobbying is happening right now, so it's paramount that we call them. Also, call your own Senator:
Senator Charlie Ringo (D-Beaverton): 503.986.1717
Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown: 503.986.1700
Your legislator's phone number
Urge them to hold out on this issue so that it can be studied, reviewed, studied again and reviewed again in order to achieve a land use plan for Oregon that works.
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