Oregon Public Broadcasting

It was not business as usual in Northwest state capitols Tuesday morning. Lawmaking slowed or came to a halt as President Barack Obama was inaugurated.

In Olympia, lawmakers watched the ceremony in their caucus rooms and on the floor of the Senate.

Rosa Franklin is the state’s first African-American woman senator. She says Mr. Obama’s success depended on a younger generation.

Rosa Franklin: “I can’t praise the youth enough of what they’ve done this election. Because it was like a fire that let under these and I saw them in action and I keep telling them it’s their generation.”

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire attended the inauguration in person. State taxpayers picked up her thousand dollar plane ticket.

In Oregon, the inauguration was a low-key event with some lawmakers watching on TV. Unlike in the Washington State Senate, committee hearings weren’t cancelled.