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Posts published in “Day: February 23, 2015”

Looking both ways

idaho RANDY
STAPILUS
 
Oregon

A governor (or president, or other elected executive) who comes in by way of election can readily either embrace or dismiss the immediate past, depending on circumstances. A newcomer to the post who gets there not by voter approval but by succession – properly, legally and according to process as it may be – has a more subtle task. Some parts of that voter-approved past have to be acknowledged and portions should be stuck with. Other parts, bearing in mind the circumstances leading to the transition, need to be jettisoned.

Taking over as governor of Oregon last week from the scandal-plagued John Kitzhaber, new governor Kate Brown appeared to recognize that dual reality. Her sensitivity to it should be no surprise, given her nearly quarter-century of immersion in Oregon politics. But it’s a fair case study of how to thread the needle.

The ethical cloud of the old administration had to be acknowledged and responded to, and she did. The phrasing may have been a little awkward, but in her inaugural speech she pledged not to do what her predecessor did, and spoke strongly about the need to improve public transparency and ethics law – and somewhat sternly said that the legislature should not think about leaving town until those things ere done.

On the other hand, there was Kitzhaber policy, which was not part of the reason for the resignation. There, she has so far stuck generally to Kitzhaber’s path, maybe most clearly by continuing his moratorium on executions in the state. But she drew a distinction there, a fork in the road: She would allow no more executions until the state had undertaken a full and strong discussion of what to do about the death penalty. That last was a move Kitzhaber had briefly referenced but never pushed, and she gave some hint (albeit not much more than that) that her moratorium was conditional on a good faith effort to seriously grapple with the subject.

Moving ahead in a similar direction, with occasional forks in the road that provide distinction, may be a useful route for the new administration.

In the Briefings

crapotftn
 

Senator Mike Crapo (left) talking with two editors of the Twin Falls Times News, Matt Christensen (center) and Jon Alexander. (photo/Senator Crapo)

 
The Idaho legislature continues on, moving ahead on normal schedule – so far. Two bumps in the road loomed a little larger last week, one being the problem of the school broadband funding (which some legislators were hoping to resolve by end of the week) and the other road funding, for which a variety of options have surfaced. Battle lines appeared not to have hardened, at least not yet. This week may tell whether the back end of those stories plays easily or hard.

The arrival and swearing in of new Oregon Governor Kate Brown, and some of her initial steps as governor, dominated discussion around the state last week. This week, it may return to the legislature overall.

To the north, will this be an unusual thing – Governor Jay Inslee complimenting the legislature for sending him its budget ahead of expected schedule – or was it a one-shot? The ability of legislators to wrap up in a single session may hang in the balance.

On the front pages

news

Here’s what public affairs news made the front page of newspapers in the Northwest today, excluding local crime, features and sports stories. (Newspaper names contracted with location)

Idaho develops a sage grouse plan (Boise Statesman, Nampa Press Tribune)
Life's Kitchen plans startup in Garden City (Boise Statesman)
Group links dam breaching, food for orcas (Lewiston Tribune)

Developer plans subdivision on orchard (Eugene Register Guard)
Anti-vaccine activists defend their view (Eugene Register Guard)
Possible hazards in logjam at Los Creek Lake (Medford Tribune)
Bill to allow unpaid parental leave considered (Portland Oregonian)
Profiling new Governor Brown (Salem Statesman Journal)

Looking at roads plan in Snohomish (Everett Herald)
Anti-vaccine activists defend their view (Longview News)
Inslee's teacher pay raise plan debated (Tacoma News Tribune, Olympian)
State looks at money for escalator reviews (Olympian)
West coast ports going back to business (Seattle Times)
New approaches for teacher development (Seattle Times)
Vancouver council looks into affordable housing (Vancouver Columbian)
Protests underway for 'In God we trust' (Vancouver Columbian)