Former Governor Brown on Making Change Happen

PORTLAND, Ore.–When Kate Brown served as a lawmaker, before becoming governor, things were different.

“One party is in control of the legislature right now. That wasn’t the case when I was in the legislature. Of my 17 years in the legislature,  I was in the minority, 14 out of 17 years.”

She says, getting things passed meant, “Finding a key champion or a warrior for my legislation.”

Brown describes one of the battles she fought herself.

“It was a bill to make it a felony to blockade a women’s health center. And Republicans control both chambers. The.Judiciary Committee Chair Del Parks, was both a really good friend and a colleague of mine. In March of that year, it was unfortunate.  A doctor was gunned down at a women’s health clinic in Florida, and as a result of that incident Del Parks moved the legislation through the House and then through the Senate.”

Ordinary citizens turned into extraordinary advocates. It’s the path that a lot of Oregon’s laws and lawmakers have followed.

“That’s how Governor Roberts got her start. Her son is autistic. He was kicked out of school. school. There are laws against that now, because Governor Barbara Roberts said, “Hell no, my son deserves an education.”

She says many laws and state lawmakers careers originated from citizens looking to right a wrong.

“Legislation that prohibited discrimination based on mental health, mental illness, and insurance coverage, to our mammogram bill. Dr. Steiner got her start advocating for mammograms. All of that came because people saw something wasn’t right or was unjust and they worked to make it better.”

She told the Women’s Foundation of Oregon, “You can make a difference.”

You can hear much more this coming Sunday morning at 7, on Speaking Freely with Annette Newell, on KXL.