Prison measure
may be delayed
By BRAD CAIN
Associated Press
Saturday, June 20, 2009 4:15 PM PDT
SALEM — The Oregon Legislature’s majority Democrats are pushing a plan to phase in a new get-tough-on-crime law as a way to prevent cuts to the Oregon State Police and other public safety programs.
At issue is Measure 57, the law approved by Oregon voters last fall that requires longer sentences for repeat property and drug crime offenders.
House and Senate Democrats said Thursday they want to delay full implementation of Measure 57 until January 2012 to maintain other public safety services.
It’s a controversial idea, given that Measure 57 was put on the ballot by the Legislature as a less costly alternative to a more stringent proposal that was defeated by voters.
The Democrats’ proposal would delay the measure’s stricter sentences for some offenders while keeping the longer time for those who commit aggravated theft or identity theft against the elderly and those who sell significant quantities of drugs to minors.
Rep. Jeff Barker, who helped draw up the alternative, said Democrats want to honor the wishes of voters, but with the recession and resulting $4 billion budget shortfall, a phase-in of Measure 57 is necessary to prevent cuts in the public safety budget.
Those cuts would include shutting down some juvenile correctional facilities and eliminating at least 39 Oregon State Police troopers, which means the state would not have 24-hour coverage, Barker said.
“We’re going to slow Measure 57 down a bit for two years, then it will go into full effect. We just want to buy some time,’’ said Barker, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Such a move would require Democrats to round up a “supermajority’’ of votes in both chambers — 40 votes in the 60-member House and 20 votes in the 30-member Senate.
That could prove to be difficult. On Thursday, Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bob Tiernan issued a statement accusing Democrats of ‘’ignoring the will of the voters.’’
“Measure 57 was passed by Oregon voters and this debate clearly demonstrates just how out of touch the Democrats are with the majority of Oregonians,’’ Tiernan said.
But a key Democratic supporter said that, given the state’s tough budget situation, phasing in Measure 57 is a responsible step.
“It’s the best plan we can put forward that provides the greatest safety and creates savings that will keep other public safety programs intact,’’ said Sen. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
