Lubricated Legislators: Drinking on the Job Appears to Be a Problem

The allegation first surfaced in a guest viewpoint by Anne and Bruce
Pratt, published in The Register-Guard last September. The Spring-
field couple, who lost their son to a drunken driver in 1998, lobbied
the Legislature for tougher drunken driving laws. During the closing
days of the 2005 session, they witnessed "LUII" - legislating under
the influence of intoxicants.

"Alcohol is apparently still an acceptable political lubricant in
Salem. We and several others saw this while contacting legislators
during the final day and evening sessions of the Legislature," the
Pratts wrote.

"While we are neither prohibitionists nor members of the Temperance
League, we do believe the time to celebrate is when the work is done,
not while deciding serious matters for the state of Oregon."

The Pratts are not alone in that belief. They told their story to the
Public Commission on the Legislature, which voted unanimously Monday
to recommend House and Senate rules against legislating while under
the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The commission, appointed by
the House and Senate leaders, is working on recommendations to improve
the Legislature's credibility and efficiency. Ensuring that lawmakers
stay sober while on the job would serve both goals.

What's amazing about the Pratts' story is that any legislator would
talk to anti-drunken driving activists while showing the effects of
alcohol. That's dumber than wearing a fur coat to an animal rights
rally. How would someone so stupid get elected?

But apparently some do. The Pratts would not identify drunken
legislators, but said they encountered several. Sen. Avel Gordly,
D-Portland, a member of the commission, agreed that "we have had
members vote while drunk." Lobbyist Dave Barrows, who has worked in
the Capitol since the 1950s, said drinking while conducting public
business is less common than it used to be, but it still happens -
particularly in the closing days of a session.

The commission left it up to the Legislature to decide what an
anti-drinking rule should say. Apparently the rule of common sense,
which ought to suffice, isn't enough. Attaching Breathalyzers to the
voting equipment would be going to far.

How about this: Legislators under the influence of alcohol or other
drugs shall not vote or conduct other public business, and the reason
for their absence from legislative proceedings will be noted publicly.