Missing in action at the Oregon Capitol

Shame on the Republicans in the Oregon Legislature.

Even more shame on the Democrats, the majority party in the Legislature.

And perhaps the most shame lies with the rest of us Oregonians for letting the 2016 Legislature get away with a week of shenanigans.

The Legislature opened its 35-day session on Monday, yet the two parties still can’t agree on the Legislature’s mission.

The Democrats, with the assent of Gov. Kate Brown, seem prepared to ram a minimum-wage increase and other major bills through the Legislature. The Democrats apparently did not learn from last year, when they steamrolled Republicans.

This year, Senate Democrats even seem ready to steamroll their own Democratic governor, substituting their complicated proposal on the minimum wage for her “compromise” proposal.

Such is the state of leadership in Oregon.

Democrats have controlled the governor’s office, and most other statewide offices, for decades. They’ve run the Legislature for several years now. Under their governance, Oregon has achieved a deplorable high-school graduation rate and a dismal economy outside the Portland metro area.

Addressing those issues requires Oregonians to work together, starting in the state Capitol. Job creation and education improvements should be the No. 1 issues in this session, and probably the next several legislative sessions.

Republicans — some of whom have their own major initiatives — have resorted to slowing the session in hopes of stopping the steamroller. They are insisting that most legislation be read aloud in its entirety — page by page, line by line, word for word. That applies even to routine bills that have bipartisan support.

Reading bills in their entirety sounds laudable, as if it would ensure that lawmakers knew what the bills said.

If only ...

Noise levels in the legislative chambers suggest few people are listening during the bill readings. Even if legislators were listening, most bills are nearly incomprehensible without the context of comparing them against existing laws. (To read individual bills, go online to oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws.)

Some legislative grandstanding is normal, albeit infantile. But if the Legislature resorts to evening and weekend floor sessions to get the bills read, that merely drives up the cost to taxpayers.

Meanwhile, what Oregonians are looking for is an old substance that seems to have lost its relevance in the contemporary Capitol: statesmanship.

Whom to contact

You can write to the governor, legislative leaders and Marion and Polk County legislators at their office number at the state Capitol, 900 Court St. NE, Salem, OR 97301-4045. Or use the following phone numbers and e-mail addresses:

Gov. Kate Brown: Room 254; (503) 378-4582; governor.oregon.gov

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem: S-201; (503) 986-1600; sen.petercourtney@state.or.us

Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland: S-223; (503) 986-1718; sen.ginnyburdick@state.or.us

Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day: S-323; (503) 986-1950; sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us

Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas: S-305; (503) 986-1712; sen.brianboquist@state.or.us

Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer: S-307; (503) 986-1713; sen.kimthatcher@state.or.us

Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton: S-401; (503) 986-1709; sen.fredgirod@state.or.us

Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem: S-301; (503) 986-1710; sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us

Speaker of the House Tina Kotek, D-Portland: H-269; (503) 986-1200; rep.tinakotek@state.or.us

House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland: H-295; (503) 986-1436; rep.jenniferwilliamson@state.or.us

House Republican Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte: H-395; (503) 986-1400; rep.mikemclane@state.or.us

Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth: H-281; (503) 986-1420; rep.paulevans@state.or.us

Rep. Jodi Hack, R-Salem: H-385; (503) 986-1419; rep.jodihack@state.or.us

Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem: H-284; (503) 986-1421; rep.brianclem@state.or.us

Rep. Vic Gilliam, R-Silverton: H-479; (503) 986-1418; rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us

Rep. Betty Komp, D-Woodburn: H-273; (503) 986-1422; rep.bettykomp@state.or.us

Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio: H-388; (503) 986-1417; rep.sherriesprenger@state.or.us

Rep. Bill Post, R-Keizer: H-373; (503) 986-1425; rep.billpost@state.or.us

Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Dallas: H-378; (503) 986-1423; rep.mikenearman@state.or.us

Rep. Jim Weidner, R-Yamhill: H-387; (503) 986-1424; rep.jimweidner@state.or.us

Other legislators: Call (503) 986-1000 or (800) 332-2313. The names, addresses and office phone numbers for all legislators are at https://www.oregonlegislature.gov, or e-mail help.leg@state.or.us

Online

Gov. Kate Brown and legislative leaders recently met with the Statesman Journal Editorial Board to discuss the 2016 session. Go to StatesmanJournal.com/media/latest/opinion to watch the videos of those meetings.