Oregon legislative session begins with a new speaker and another public protest

Democratic Rep. Dan Rayfield of Corvallis was elected speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives on the opening day of the 2022 legislative session Tuesday, the first time a new speaker has been elected since 2013.

Later, initial public conversations about the more than 250 bills under consideration began in virtual committee hearings as hundreds outside protested masks, COVID-19 vaccinations and pandemic-related restrictions.

The rally ended in a march around the Capitol and an eventual standoff with Oregon State Police officers at one of the Capitol's entrances as protesters attempted to enter without face coverings, which is against Oregon's indoor mask mandate.

Protesters who put on masks were allowed through the doors, and the standoff ended when police began allowing individuals indoors who were able to state a religious or medical exemption. Most protesters removed their masks once they made it past the security checkpoint.

Republican lawmakers, particularly in the House, also spoke out against the building's rules requiring mask wearing.

But others tried to start session with a nod toward cooperation.

In his acceptance speech, Rayfield said this session is the most important in the state's history, and called on his colleagues to legislate with empathy toward one another as they all work to improve the lives of Oregonians still struggling with the effects of the pandemic.

"We're at a critical point in our recovery from the pandemic," Rayfield said. "During the next five weeks, we will have the opportunity to support the people and the communities that were impacted the most the last two years."

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Rayfield recounted his troubled youth. He grew up in a divorced household, traveling between Oregon and southern California, splitting time between his Dan Quayle-supporting Republican father and his Democrat mother, who was once arrested protesting at a Nevada nuclear test site.

Rayfield said the "chaos" of his childhood followed him into adolescence where he experienced scholastic failure, abuse, drinking, drug use and arrests on charges including DUI and criminal mischief.

His rock bottom was getting fired from a job at Disneyworld; his life was dominated by feelings of failure and lack of self-confidence. But it was then when he started to put himself on a path that would lead him to the Oregon Legislature.

"There are so many Oregonians that find themselves where I was two decades ago," Rayfield said. "I stand before you as living proof that the worst moment of our lives doesn't have to be our destiny. I believe you are not defined by your failures but instead how you move forward. We can, and must, see the positive potential in people."

Rayfield went on to attend Western Oregon University and then Willamette University College of Law, according to his legislative biography. He is currently a partner in a law firm, representing individuals with consumer and civil rights cases against corporations.

During his speech, he also touted his experience navigating different political perspectives, which began with his parents.

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Rep. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, nominated Rayfield to the position, saying his collaborative work on the Legislature's budget-writing committee demonstrates why he would make a good presiding officer.

"Many of our colleagues can attest that he has spent time listening and learning about the priorities of the different communities we represent and has demonstrated that he is someone who values all voices in this chamber," Campos said.

Rayfield was elected with 32 votes. Two other representatives were also nominated for speaker: House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, who received 18 votes, and Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackmas, who received four.

Bynum had previously expressed her interest in serving as House speaker, but a majority of Democrats decided to support Rayfield during a private vote in mid-January.

The votes Bynum received signified the first time in Oregon's history a Black person received votes for speaker of the House.

This session's agendas

The first day of the session is also marked by caucuses releasing their agendas.

House and Senate Democrats have pledged to tackle: housing costs, support for educators, workforce training and development, childcare availability, access to health care services and climate change resiliency.

“The pandemic continues to show us the important work we must do, watching out for those struggling around the state,” Senate Democratic Leader Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, said. “Oregon Senate Democrats are committed to making sure every community in the state gets the support they need during these challenging times."

House Republicans said their priorities include: restoring the state's educational standards, enabling law enforcement to do its job, removing barriers to health care access and rebalancing the power of the executive and legislative branches.

But some said they were hopeful new leadership in the House could lead to more productive dialogue about legislation.

“Previous Democrat leaders lost the trust of House Republicans and Oregonians because of broken promises and partisan power-plays," House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, said in a statement. "We look forward to working with their new leadership, but will be judging their actions and not their words.”

Jitters on the first day

Meanwhile, across the Capitol, first-day bugs were being ironed out.

In the Senate, the Republican and Democratic caucus leaders had trouble remembering the correct parliamentary order for their various motions and statements.

Senate staff struggled with having the correct items listed on the digital board that displays what lawmakers are currently considering.

Rep. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, accidentally avoided going through the metal detectors when he entered the Capitol in the morning by using his building ID card to scan through an adjacent door after getting inside.

He later contacted Oregon State Police and legislative administration about his mistake. Building staff said their focus right now is educating people about the new security checkpoint, which went live Thursday. The door Bonham walked through has since been locked.

"I wasn't even paying attention," Bonham said.

House staffers said their side of the building feels particularly unsettled as the session gets underway with inexperienced leadership, a raft of new lawmakers, an upcoming election and new security protocols.

Staff also said they are still getting re-accustomed to seeing members of the public wandering through the legislative offices and seeing some former frequent flyers for the first time in nearly two years.

Reporter Connor Radnovich covers the Oregon Legislature and state government. Contact him at cradnovich@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6864, or follow him on Twitter at @CDRadnovich.

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This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: First day of session: Call for empathy followed by public mask protest