May 16, 2005         73^rd Session, Issue 10
Senator Doug Whitsett district 28, Oregon

followed by Willamette Week article

followed by  Senate Bill 1058 sponsored by Senator Whitsett

 (bold words were already included in this Press Release. KBC)

Dear Friends,

Most of us have lived long enough to discover that often words can mean very different things depending on who is using  them.  Let me provide you with a recent example.

Last Wednesday, a Portland newspaper, “Willamette Week,” named me their “Rogue of the week.”  Whether this distinction is dubious or admirable depends greatly on one’s point of view.  While the editors of Willamette Week certainly intended to impugn yours truly, my fellow caucus members gave me a standing ovation at last week’s caucus meeting.  Apparently it is nearly unprecedented for a freshman Senator to so quickly draw “Willamette Week’s” ire.

So what is the basis for this ire?  It has to do with my introduction of Senate Bill 1058.  As introduced, Senate Bill 1058 would have required electric utilities to mitigate potential “rate shock” that occurs when rate increases exceed 50 percent in any 12 month period.  The bill was  intended to protect all energy consumers against unsustainable utility rate increases.

 While the bill was written as a statewide measure, I admit that my most immediate concern was and is the water users of the Klamath Basin who face drastic utility rate increases when their negotiated contract with PacifiCorp expires next year.  The intent was not to cap the rates, but simply to spread potentially drastic rate increase out over a period of time.

After hours of negotiation and work we concluded that in order for the bill to receive wide support it would have do be tailored to the situation faced by the  irrigators who are parties to the contract.  I resisted attempts to tailor the bill.  I preferred to provide the protections that the bill offers to all ratepayers.  However, the tailoring was necessary to gain the wide support needed to pass the legislation and provide Klamath irrigators with much needed protection from “rate shock.”  I am very optimistic about passage.

I don’t doubt that to many people in Portland, the interests, concerns and way of life of rural Oregonians seem “roguish.”  That is why we have had to endure years of attack on our way of life.  They have shut down our forests, leaving us financially vulnerable and unable to provide effectively for our schools and communities.  They have imposed environmental restrictions and, and an endless number of boards, commissions, plans and administrative rules that always seem to neglect or marginalize the rural way of life.  They have meddled in our way of life and then complained that we are not financially able to “pull our own weight.”

That being the case, I won’t argue with the label of rogue.  As long as rogue means someone who is willing to stand up and protect the rural way of life from the meddling ways of those who do not understand it, I am happy to be a “rogue.”  I hope that you will continue to stand with me.

Regards,

Doug

For Information on all the bills that Senator Whitsett is Sponsoring, visit his legislative Web site at:

sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us

Please Contact or Visit us in Salem

Senator Doug Whitsett
Party: R  District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE., S-302, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett

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