They’re back! A year ago Salem City Club invited state representatives Vicki Berger and Jefferson Smith to share their expectations and thoughts about the then upcoming and precedent-setting 76^th Session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. The Oregon House of Representatives was evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, which necessitated a unique and untested power-sharing bargain to facilitate legislative business. Both legislators expressed a cautious optimism for the pending session while admitting uncertainty about how the arrangement would work.
 
In February the House will convene for a second time under this unique arrangement. Journalistic assessments gave the initial sitting good marks but our presenters were in the middle of it all, which gives them unique perspectives that they will share. Representatives Smith and Berger will offer assessments of how well the power sharing structure worked during 2011 and what was accomplished legislatively. Looking ahead, they will offer thoughts on the climate and likely accomplishments of the forthcoming February 2012 sitting. As before, the central question is “what is possible?”
 
Presenters:
Representative Vicki Berger (R–Dist. 20)
Vicki Berger is a life-long Salem area resident and former small business owner. She was elected to the Salem-Keizer school board, and chosen president of the board of directors of the Salem Family YMCA. Elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2002, she has served on several key committees. During 2011 Representative Berger served as co-chair of the House Revenue Committee, co-chair of the Tax Credits Committee, co-vice chair of the Rules Committee, and member of the House/Senate Emergency Board. Her legislative accomplishments include leading passage of the Oregon Bottle Bill expansion, helping to create Oregon’s first Rainy Day fund and, as co-chair on the Joint Tax Credits Committee, she lead a unique effort to review and curtail Oregon’s Tax Credits system. Representative Berger is a graduate of the University of Wyoming.
 
Representative Jefferson Smith (D–Dist. 47)
Jefferson Smith is a lawyer and non-profit executive who founded the Oregon Bus Project, a resource for hands-on democracy. He was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2008. During 2011, Representative Smith served as co-vice chair of the House’s General Government and Consumer Protection Committee, co-vice chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government, and member of the Transportation and Economic Development Committee. He also served as member of the joint Senate/House Legislative Counsel Committee. His legislative accomplishments include passing the Water Resources Investment Act, creating the Transparency Oregon Advisory Commission and oregon.gov/transparency, leading on the Cool Schools initiative to save energy and improve health, and building the GrowOregon Council to provide technical assistance to local small businesses. He focuses his legislative work on three areas: leading a high-road economy, building a more effective democracy, and meeting basic, bedrock needs. Representative Smith is a graduate of the University of Oregon and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law. He is seeking election as Mayor of Portland in 2012.
 
Please join us January 6, 2012 as we look towards the 76^th session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly.  Lunch and program will be hosted in the Dye House at Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill.  For those not on our “continuous attendee” list, you may e-mail lunch reservations to: rsvp@salemcityclub.com or call 503-370-2808 by Wednesday noon, January 4, 2012. SCC members lunch cost is $12, all others $15.   Doors open at 11:30 AM.  The community is welcomed and encouraged to join us!   There is a $5 charge for visitors who would like coffee and a cookie.  For more information on upcoming programs, and directions to this event please go to www.salemcityclub.com  

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