Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • 4

SUNDAYJANUARYJr SFECLU EOCHIL 4A www.StatemanJournal.com mm i CONTINUED FROM 1A SciEcr.sCcrCcp OFFICE: Incoming Oregon Senate president PARTY: Republican AGE: 76 HOME: Salem FAMILY: Married 56 years to Thelma; they have two sons and one daughter. EDUCATION: Graduate, Washington High School In Woodland, attended Western Washington College in Bellingham, Wash; graduate, Pensacola Naval Aviator School EMPLOYMENT: U.S. Navy aviator, 1943-46; store manager and other positions, Firestone Tire Rubber, 1946-52; owner, NICO Furniture and Appliance. 1952-81; associate broker, Coldwell BankerMountain West Real Estate, since 1982; investor in several downtown Salem buildings; state representative and senator, 1989 to present POLITICAL CAREER: Elected state representative, 1988, 1990 and 1992; elected state senator, 1994, 1998; selected Senate majority leader, 1996,1998 COMMUNITY SERVICE: YMCA board of directors; past chairman, Marion County Juvenile Service Commission; past president, Salem Transit Board; Cascade Employees Association board of directors; Salem Schools Textbook Selection Committee; chairman, Highland Neighborhood Group; Marion County Citizens Review Board for Children's Services. nil i r' I i 'V Oping day Starting Monday, it's Derfler time at the Capitol.

King lifespan Derfler, 76, enters his new post with far more lawmaking experience than his two predecessors. Gordon Smith becam Senate president in only his second session and Brady Adams in his third. This will be Derfler's seventh go-round at the Capitol. "In an era of term limits, Gene Derfler is a remarkably experienced leader," said Dan Lavey, Smith's former chief of staff. "He's a dignified and skilled negotiator, which should serve him well." Leaders of both parties say Derfler is more interested in results than political grandstanding.

"That's been my history," Derfler said, in his typically blunt, soft-spoken manner. "I usually get things done." In 1999, his business allies wanted freedom to pursue cheaper energy suppliers. Derfler brokered an electricity deregulation deal that won over Democrats and environmentalists by including new money for renewable energy and conservation. This year, to safeguard past business gains from Oregon's workers compensation insurance reforms, Derfler intends to seek modifications to aid more injured workers. His political opponents, while disagreeing with his conservative bent, praise Derfler for being straightforward and following through on his promises.

will present the colors. Daniel Johnson, a senior trooper with the Oregon State Police, will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," and the invocation will be said by Chuck Frederickson. The LaGrande High School Choir will sing "That Lone- some Road." SPEECHES: Senate President Gene Derfler, House Speaker Mark mons and Kitzhaber will addressthe assembly, i Afterward, Drew Peterson will sing "God Bless the USA," and the audience will sing the state song, "Oregon, My Oregon," to conclude the joint session. AFTERNOON: The House and Senate are expected to reconvene -separately to resume business. LIVE ON THE WEB: The Oregon Legislature's Web site's special audio section, which is accessible via its home page, will offer live audio streaming of the House and Senate opening sessions.

The site can be accessed at www.leg.state.or.us listnlistenset.htm. Monday's schedule at the state Capitol in Salem the opening day of the 71 st Legislative Assembly: 8:30 A.M.: House of Representatives convenes to swear in members, elect the speaker and other officers, and adopt rules. ,10 A.M.: Senate convenes to swear In members, elect the president and other officers, and adopt rules. The Senate president will read messages from the House. Senators then will be escorted to the House.

10:30 A.M.: Seating begins for the joint session of the House and Senate. Staff of the legislative assembly and members of the Oregon National Guard will serve as attendants and ushers. 1 1 A.M.: Joint session begins with processional by senators, former governors, state elective officers and 1 judges from the Oregon Tax Court, the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court. Gov. John Kitzhaber will enter the House last.

The LaGrande High School Choir will sing "Duerme Negrito," a Venezuelan folk song. The Oregon National Guard dam rnnDCO ctatoeman INVOLVED: Senate President Gene Derfler is shown with his wife, Thelma. Gene Derfler has served on several committees including Salem Schools Textbook Selection and at the YMCA. than three, so they can focus "We're going to work extra their time better. He hopes to special hard so there's no sur- i i I- UK mr-nc Annlarrata 'lirl suena mucn oi nis uiiie uu uuuuu uibco, i I Ti.

I i. 4-U uses, ttyjjiegaw; auu. that tt hasn't hurt Kitzhaber nolicv. in Dart bv delegating bud get chores to Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, co-chairman of the Joint Ways Means Committee.

By working closer with Kitzhaber, Derfler intends to head off political conflicts and wasted time on bills destined for vetoes, He's promised not to bring forward controversial social issues unless they can pass the Senate and avert a veto. "In the past we tried get everything, and we got nothing," he said. "My idea is to pass 700 bills instead of 1,100 bills." relations with Brady Adams soured in 1999 and the session became a partisan battleground for nearly seven months. Derfler and Kitzhaber are starting off with promises to communicate better. "He has not been a good communicator.

I think he wants to grow in that area," Derfler said of his Democratic adversary. Bob Applegate, Kitzhaber's spokesman, said there was noth ing wrong with Kitzhaber's communication; Republicans just didn't like the message they soon to rethink Oregon's .1999 law despite California's botched deregulation. "We've set the things in motion and we should continue down the path," he said. "I think we have to make sure that nobody's going to get hurt." Derfler plans to' shepherd through a package of workers compensation reforms that are approved by a panel of business and labor leaders. After hearing tales of injured workers falling through the cracks and denied proper benefits, Derfler is ready to seek solutions.

"We do have a workers comp law that we need to pass, because we've got some people that are not getting proper ser-. vice." "Gene's very thoughtful," said Sen. Kate Brown, D-Portland, leader of the Senate Democrats. "He's willing to take new infor- mation when he gets it" Derfler says he hopes to pass bills adding new business mem- bers to the thatoversees the Public Employee Retire-; ment System. He says the system is too focused on benefits for retirees and not enough on government employers who shoulder most of the costs of the sys-, tem.

Toward that end, he wants to take another crack at reducing pension benefits for new teachers, state workers and other public sector employees "My sense witn ueruer is what you see is what you- get," said Sen. Tony Corcoran, a feisty Lane County Democrat and organizer for the state public employees union. "I get along with him better as time gets along." Derfler has "almost a calming personality," said Paul Phillips, a Republican political consultant who served alongside Derfler in the almost an iron fist and velvet glove." As the senior Republican leader in the 2001 Legislature, where Derfler decides to aim that fist and glove should determine in large measure where the upcoming session heads. Less te'Ji, more acta Derfler wants the 2001 Legis- i has proposed Oregon Children's Plan, which will pump $66 million into services for new families by targeting those at risk for health and social problems. That was a priority dear to Derfler.

Brtt P3WEP lo ptfs Another of Derfler's top goals is protecting cheap federal hydropower for Northwest consumers and industry. That will require deal making on an extraordinary scale that goes well beyond Oregon's borders. Derfler wants Oregon politicians to unite with their counterparts in Washington, Idaho and Montana to gain control of the Bonneville Power Administration and the energy it sells from the Columbia River dam system. If the Northwest doesn't act quickly, Derfler says, the Northwest will lose its rights to that cheap power and it will be offered on the open market to the highest bidder. "We're at risk of losing our cost-based rates on power," he said.

"That means all of our rates go up about 40 percent." Derfler also intends to monitor the energy deregulation situation, though he says it's too former Sen. Marylin Shannon of Brooks. "We're the group that; brought them to leadership, and I don't think Gene Derfler, will toss us aside." Derfler also must forge a good working relationship with his Republican counterpart, incoming House Speaker Mark Simmons, R-Elgin. Neither Simmons nor, most of his House members have more than one or two sessions of prior experience in the Legislature. "I think that plays heavily toward Gene," Phillips said.

He( and other observers expect Der- fler to seizd the initiative on setting the Republican agenda. 1 1 Yet Derfler does not seem to need the limelight, or even take credit for all his accomplish- ments. "I don't need a legacy," Der-S fler said of his swan song in politics. "I would love to have on track the ability to control the Bonneville system. That's probably going to be my last hurrah." Sfeve Law can be reached at (503) 399-661 5 or slaw StatesmanJoumal.com.

ri entering the PERS system. also wants the Legislature to get a better.handle on rising school costs and teacher salaries. He doubts the governor's education funding proposals have enough teeth for lawmakers to monitor spending. Derfler might be an ally of Kitzhaber's, though, in a bid to get drug costs under control for recipients of the Oregon Health Plan. "The drug companies are going to have to accommodate us somehow," he said.

If Derfler had his way, Corcoran said, he'd get the state get passed, tinker with workers compensation and energy issues, then send lawmakers home early. But some social conservatives will be pushing Derfler to expand his agenda, such as a bill requiring doctors to inform women of their options before delivering abortions. The "country club Republicans" need to be more inclusive of the social conservatives, says lature to do less posturing ana be more focused. "What I propose to do this session is to not pass as many bills," he said. "I think we try to do too mnrh were hearing.

Still. Kitzhaber's team is promising to work more hand- number of donate mmmittAM and decreed in-hand with the KepuDiican that no senator serve on more leaders this time. 2001 1.0USE CO YME ASSIGNMENTS Myrtle Creek; Patti Smith, R-Corbett; Kelley Wirth, D-Corvallis. BUSINESS, LABOR AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Tim Knopp, R-Bend (chairman); Vic Backlund, R-Keizer, Randy Leonard, D-Portland; Jeff Merkley, D-Portland; Donna Nelson, R-McMinnville; Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland; Vicki Walker, D-Eugene; Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass; Cliff Zauner, R-Woodburn. Minnville; Mary Nolan, D-Portland; i Tootie Smith, R-Molalla; Bruce Starr, R-Aloha; Cliff Zauner.

R-Woodbum. STREAM RESTORATION AND SPECIES RECOVERY COMMITTEE Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton (chairman); Al King, D-Springfield; Tim Knopp, R-Bend; Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg; Jan Lee, R-Clackamas; Randy Leonard, D-Portland; Patti Smith, R-Corbett; Carolyn Tomei, D-Milwaukie; Kelley WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE Ben Westlund, R-Bend (chairman); Tom Butler, R-Ontario; Gary Hansen, D-Portland; Cedric Hayden, R-Eugene; Jim Hill, R-Portland; Elizabeth Johnson, D-Scappoose; Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Creek; Rob Patridge, R-Medford; Kurt Schrader, D-Canby; Jackie Winters, R-Salem. t' EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE, WAYS AND MEANS R-Murphy; Vicki Walker, D-Eugene; Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass. RULES, REDISRICTING AND PUBUC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass (chairman); Richard-Qevlin, D-Tualatin; Dan Doyle, R-Satem; Dan Gardner, D-Portland; Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls; Steve March, D-Portland; Bruce Starr, R-Aloha; Joanne Verger, D-Coos Bay; Cherryl Walker, R-Murphy. SCHOOL FUNDING AND TAX FAIRNESSREVENUE COMMITTEE Lane Shetterly, R-Dallas (chairman); Alan Bates, D-Eagle Point; Chris Beck, D-Portland; Alan Brown, R-Newport; Janet Carlson, R-Salem; Mark Hass, D-Portland; Deborah Kafoury, D-Portland; Max Williams, R-Tigard; Bill Witt, R-Portland.

Wirth, D-Corvallis. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Randy Leonard, D-Portland; Greg Smith, R-Heppner. GENERAL GOVERNMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, WAYS AND MEANS Tom Butler, R-Ontario; Dan Gardner, D-Portland; Cedric Hayden, R-Eugene; Elizabeth Johnson, D-Scappoose; Bill Witt, HUMAN SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE, WAYS AND MEANS Jackie Winters, R-Salem (chairwoman); Janet Carlson, R-Salem; Steve March, D-Portland; Rob Patridge, R-Medford; Kurt Schrader, D-Canby. TRANSPORTATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, WAYS AND MEANS Tom Butler, R-Ontarlo (chairman); Elizabeth Johnson, D-Scappoose; Rob Ratrldge, R-Medford; Charlie Ringo, D-Beaverton; Greg Smith, R-Heppner. ADVANCING E-GOVERNMENTE-GOVERNMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, SUBCOMMITTEE, WAYS AND MEANS Jim Hill, R-Portland (chairman); Al King, D-Sprlngfield; Rob Patridge, Statesman Journal House Speaker-elect Mark Simmons, R-Elgin, has named lawmakers to committees.

The committee assignments, released to the news media Saturday, are scheduled to be made official when the 2001 Legislature convenes next week. Simmons said he constructed the committees "with the goal of maximizing the talents of the elected members to the benefit ofOregonians." House rules require proportional representation of Republicans and Democrats on committees. Republicans hold a 33-27 edge in the House, which gives Simmons the authority to make the appointments. Here is the list of the House of Representatives committee assignments announced by Simmons: AGfliCULTURE AND FORESTRY Betsy Close, R-Albany; Elaine Hop-son, D-Tillamook; Kurt Schrader, D-Canby; Tootie Smith, R-Molalla; Jackie Winters, R-Salem. NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE, WAYS AND MEANS Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Creek (chairwoman); Jo Ann Bowman, D-Portland; Gary Hansen, D-Portland; Cedric Hayden, R-Eugene; Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach; Jeff Kropf, R-Halsey; Mary Nolan, D-Portland.

public safeWsubcommTttee. ways and means Dan Doyle, R-Salem; Gary Hansen, D-Portland; Tim Knopp, R-Bend; GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE Jerry Krummel, R-Wilsonville (chairman); Alan Bates, D-Eagle Point; Alan Brown, R-Newport; Jim Hill, R-Port- land; Deborah Kafoury, D-Portland; Jeff Kropf, R-Halsey; Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg; Laurie Monnes-Anderson, D-Gresham; Patti Smith, R-Corbett; Carolyn Tomei, D-Milwaukie; Kelley Wlrth, D-Corvallis. HEALTH AND PUBLIC ADVOCACY COMMITTEE Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg (chairman); Phil Barnhart, D-Eugene; Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls; Jerry Krummel, R-Wilsonville; Jan Lee, R-Clackamas; Laurie Monnes-Anderson, D-Gresham; Bill Morrisette, D-Sprlngfield; Carolyn Tomel, D-Milwaukie; Cherryl Walker, R-Murphy. JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Max Williams, R-Tigard (chairman); Robert Ackerman, D-Eugene; Vic Backlund, R-Keizer; Jo Ann Bowman, Bruce Starr, R-Aloha (chairman); Alan Brown, R-Newport; Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin; Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls; Jeff Merkley, D-Portland; Donna Nelson, R-McMinnvllle; Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland; Joanne Verger, D-Coos Bay; Cliff Zauner, R-Woodburn. WATER AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE Betsy Close, R-Albany (chairwoman); Mark Hass, D-Portland; Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton; Deborah Kafoury, D-Portland; Al King, D-Springfield; Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg; Jan Lee, R-Clackamas; Laurie Monnes-Anderson, D-Gresham; Susan Morgan, R- SMART GROWTH AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE Bill Witt, R-Portland (chairman); Alan Bates, D-Eagle Point; Alan Brown, R-Newport; Janet Carlson, R-Salem; Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin; Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls; Elizabeth Johnson, D-Scappoose; Tim Knopp, R-Bend; Jerry Krummel, R-Wilsonville; Laurie Monnes-Anderson, D-Gresham; Vicki Walker, D-Eugene.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE Vic Backlund, R-Keizer (chairman); Phil Barnhart, D-Eugene; Elaine Hop-son, D-Tillamook; Bill Morrisette, D-Springfield; Donna Nelson, R-Mc- COMMITTEE Jeff Kropf, R-Halsey (chairman); Robert Ackerman, D-Eugene; Dan Doyle, R-Salem; Elaine Hopson, D- Tillamook; Al King, D-Sprlngf leld; Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach; Donna Nelson, R-McMlnnvllle; May Nolan, D-Portland; Tootie Smith, R-Molalla D-Portland; Wayne Krieger, H-uora Beach; Kathy Lowe, D-Milwaukie; Charlie Ringo, D-Beaverton; Lane Shetterly, R-Dallas; Cherryl Walker, counts on Shop At Home Furniture and save an additional mm Douarmueonaa 7 purchases Vi w-fcTf I'JT1 -J $599 or more (up to 30 miles) Thomasville 'y by Mtrch IS) 20,000 Sq. Ft. of Quality Furniture, Gifts, and Accessory Items. IP -I I OBroyhia AMERICAN LEATHER BENTWOOD 3, 6, 12 Month Same Cash Financing 0AC. Open Mon Sat 10-7 Sun 12 I rule ruimiuic n.Mwiiw i "Our Customers are iwe amity .11 IK.AW OAT-flQ auhv silent Wilson 2nd ana Eiiswonn uownwwu.