Oregon’s Supermajority: A Call for Business to Get Proactive

Come January, Democrats will hold a supermajority in the Oregon Legislature, which means they can pass new taxes without needing Republican support.

The most effective response, according to Capitol insiders, is for the business community to get involved early and stay involved.

“What I really think the business community needs more than anything else, is to get off of their heels and get in a more aggressive, proactive posture,” said Ryan Tribbett, president of Pac/West Lobby Group and a member of the Salem Business Journal editorial advisory board.

“Lobby 101 is ‘No one’s going to give you anything you don’t ask for.’”

Some legislators see businesspeople as only showing up to oppose something, a trait that makes lawmakers less receptive to their input.

“You should always be putting ideas into the ether – positive, proactive ideas – things that can be done,” Tribbett said. “Roll out that proactive agenda and in a way that will resonate with the sort of values that you know that certain Democrats have.”

The supermajority doesn’t change how businesspeople should approach the 2025 Legislature, because political success arises from establishing ongoing relationships.

“If the business community makes the effort to build genuine relationships, and be honest and forthright about their agenda, and take that proactive posture,” he said, “I think there’s a great possibility for the business community to actually bring home some wins.”

Next year’s supermajority was created at the Nov. 5 election when Democrats picked up one seat in the state Senate and one in the House. But House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, said the issues facing the Legislature are no different today than before the election.

Lawmakers this year established bipartisan groups to tackle transportation funding, Medicaid, hospital discharge policies, educator salaries and other complicated issues heading to next year’s legislative session. “That work to set us up for success in 2025 doesn’t really look any different based on the size of our majority,” she said.

Fahey comes from a private sector background, which makes her unusual among the Legislature’s recent presiding officers. She said businesspeople have the most impact when they approach issues through a problem-solving lens.

“I always think that connecting with your individual legislators is the most effective way to advocate,” she said.

Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, disputed the notion that Democrats aren’t aligned with business interests. She encourages local businesses, whether tiny or large, to deepen her understanding by inviting her for a visit.

“There’s no way we can legislate without good information,” she said.

Testify in person or remotely at committee hearings, or submit written testimony. Send lawmakers individually crafted emails that help them understand the nuances of an issue.

“There’s such a variety of different perspectives related to business,” Patterson said. “What is really helpful for me to understand is not just ‘140 businesspeople are opposed to something,’ but ‘what are the different ways in which this issue would affect 140 very different kinds of businesses?’”

Sen. Daniel Bonham, the Senate Republican leader and a businessman in The Dalles, urged folks to go further: Constantly be at the Capitol, interacting with legislators.

“Business interests come in all shapes and sizes,” he said. “The one thing I know for a fact is, in Salem the squeaky wheel gets the grease. And when it comes to massive public interest that shows up and advocates, mountains can get moved.

“My message to anybody in the business community, whether they are a small family shop or a massive investor-owned utility: You better be here and make your interest known. I don’t think it’s going to be enough to submit testimony or testify via a Zoom link.”