Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining ... Bumper crop ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining ... Bumper crop ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... OUR VIEW Our View: Dems should take it slow in Salem Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Nov. 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News Oregon Democrats can't be blamed for celebrating a little after they not only held on to their control of the Legislature but added to their majorities in both the House and the Senate. But legislative leaders should be wary of letting that power go to their heads. Heading into the 2014 campaign, Republicans appeared poised to pick off a seat or two in the Senate, maybe resulting in a 15-15 tie or even a slim GOP majority. Sen. Alan Bates, D-Oregon, was considered the most vulnerable, having held onto his seat in 2010 by fewer than 300 votes against Republican Dave Dotterrer, who was back for a second try. Bates not only beat Dotterrer again, and by a much more comfortable margin, but Sen. Betsy Close, R-Albany, lost her seat to Rep. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, boosting the Democrats' total to 17 seats. The breakdown could be 18-12 If Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, loses his re-election bid; that race was still too far close to call Friday. That would give the Democrats a three-fifths majority in the Senate, enough to push through tax increases without a single Republican vote. In the House, it appeared at week's end that the Democrats will remain one vote shy of a supermajority in that chamber. That means Democratic priorities will be back on the table, including green-energy initiatives and the clean-fuels bill that failed in the last session. There will be considerable pressure from interest groups for the majority party to flex its new muscle. We wouldn't be unhappy to see some bills pass that Republicans have succeeded in blocking, such as reasonable background checks on private gun sales. But there is little sense in running roughshod over the minority party, and considerable danger for Democrats if they do. House Minority Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, told The Associated Press that, "If the Democrats continue to move to the left and are high-jacked by the extreme, then they will be rejected by the voters in the next election." Oregon may be a blue state, but its voters are not staunch partisans. The state's biggest problem remains its sluggish economy and a lack of good jobs, especially outside the Willamette Valley. Sweeping initiatives that spend state resources without addressing that won't sit well with the electorate. Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, who won re-election despite being targeted by the Republicans, clearly understands that. "All kinds of expectations will be out there," Courtney told the Statesman-Journal, "and we have to be careful not to overreach." The rest of the legislative majority should heed that advice. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501