Newberg Graphic Online

9-30 Editorial

You can’t create change from outside

• Published: 9/29/2009 1:13:17 PM
• Last Updated: 10/1/2009 10:10:32 AM

   Ah, the Gary George model of leadership: get elected to the Legislature, raise a stink and stomp your feet instead of effecting positive change, until you are thrown off committees important to your constituency.
   Apparently, George’s model appealed to Jim Weidner, the first term state representative for much of Yamhill County. Weidner was removed last week from two of his three committee assignments by House Speaker Dave Hunt.
   Why? Although he voted twice in favor of House Bill 2001 – the landmark transportation bill that, among other things, allotted $192 million for the Newberg-Dundee bypass – Weidner was one of the few legislators to vote against the bill when it reached the House floor. Weidner suggested an amendment putting the tax clauses of the transportation package to a vote of the people, but he never offered the amendment to the committee, who weren’t in favor of the referendum anyway.
   Weidner claims Hunt was motivated by partisan politics and that the tax increases would hurt residents in a down economy. To the contrary, officials have said the transportation package will create hundreds of jobs and give a needed boost to the Oregon economy.
   We have seen this pattern before from the conservative delegation currently representing Yamhill County: give the appearance of working toward consensus on important issues, then pull support at the last minute to appeal to their party and their supporters. It is disingenuous, it thwarts addressing important issues and it does nothing to improve the beleaguered image of legislators among the majority of voters.

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