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Governor signs; Hannon pledges slower commute Legislature '99 By PETER WONG SALEM -- A rare moment of levity last week eased tensions, if only momentarily, between Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber and Republican legislative leaders. Kitzhaber was seating himself at the desk in his ceremonial office, preparing to sign the two-year budget for the Oregon State Police that adds 100 troopers by mid-2001. It is the first major agency budget that Kitzhaber and legislative leaders have been able to agree on; Kitzhaber vetoed the higher education budget two weeks ago. "It's been five days, so I'm going to have to sign it," Kitzhaber said, referring to the deadline he has to sign bills during the session. "This is a new experience, Governor," said Senate President Brady Adams, R-Grants Pass. "I'm glad I can sign a budget with the resources in it," Kitzhaber said. "I actually have it in me." The other light moment came when Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, spoke at the ceremony. "I do want to tell my friends in the State Police that I will alter my driving habits between here and Medford," he said. His reference was to a 1997 ticket he received for driving 81 mph; the ticket is in a plastic frame on his desk. As the audience laughed, OSP Superintendent LeRon Howland added, "It's about time." First-term Rep. Jason Atkinson has found out again that enacting a simple concept into law takes a lot more work than meets the eye -- even if it involves only fluorescent orange paint. The Republican from Jacksonville said House Bill 2801 was instigated by a constituent who sought an alternative to the posting of no-trespassing signs, which must be at least 8 inches by 11 inches. Atkinson came up with Montana's requirement of a blaze of orange paint, which his bill specifies at either 50 square inches or the top 6 inches of metal fence posts. "While this sounds a little bit comical at first, after looking at how this law has been popular and effective in Montana, we have tried to employ it in Oregon for a simple means of posting private property off-limits for people who hunt and fish in rural areas," Atkinson said. The bill underwent three hearings and two work sessions before it emerged from the House Water and Environment Committee. The debate was less about paint than about the penalty. A violation would be considered third-degree "criminal" trespass, though punishable only by a maximum fine of $1,000 and no jail time. The bill passed 49-10 and moves to the Senate. During last week's debate about the use of Oregon's proceeds from the national tobacco settlement, Atkinson mentioned his father, Perry -- general manager of Medford radio station KDOV and state Republican chairman -- as an influence for his support of a trust fund. "The first advice I ever got was from my dad, who told me that whenever I got a paycheck, I needed to put 10 percent into savings and give 10 percent to a church or charity, and live on 80 percent," he said. "It's probably some of the best advice and has gotten me through financing big things I could never have done if I hadn't had a little discipline up front." Only the earnings from the trust fund, which would be available for state spending. Those earnings are estimated at $2.8 million in the 1999-2001 budget. House Majority Leader Steve Harper, R-Klamath Falls, gave his personal justification for his vote in favor of a bill to require a parent to be notified 48 hours before a girl under age 18 undergoes an abortion. His daughter was required to obtain parental permission before obtaining a navel ring, since state rules require it of minors for piercing of a body part other than an earlobe. "What I find unacceptable is that in this state, my same daughter can get an abortion without us ever having to know about it," he said. House Bill 2633 proceeded to the Senate on a 34-25 vote. Bipartisanship, at least briefly: Harper and Rep. Judy Uherbelau, among others, dancing on the same floor, though not together, to the tune of "Staying Alive." The dancing concluded last week's biennial party that legislators and lobbyists sponsor before adjourning the Legislature. A dress code for legislators? Sen. Tony Corcoran, D-Cottage Grove, said it would make as much sense as student uniforms in public schools, a notion that Senate Bill 751 would encourage for districts. Corcoran's "code" for legislators? "No ugly ties, no ugly dresses, and facelifts for everybody." Reach reporter Peter Wong in the Mail Tribune Salem bureau, (503) 588-8826. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA