Oregon Public Broadcasting

Competing efforts are underway in Salem to slam a revolving door shut, at least temporarily.  Critics say too often state lawmakers land lucrative jobs in state government without an open competition. Chris Lehman reports.

Portland Democrat Margaret Carter served more than 20 years in the Oregon legislature. Last summer she resigned to take a $120,000 a year job in the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Like many long-time lawmakers, Carter was honored by her colleagues in a ceremony on the floor of the Senate.

Senate President Peter Courtney praised Carter for being a pioneer.

Peter Courtney: "She is the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon House back in 1984. First African-American woman to chair the Democratic Party of the state of Oregon. First African-American woman elected Senate President Pro Tem."

Carter wasn't alone in landing a state job. She was one of three lawmakers, all Democrats, to do that in the two months after last year's session ended.

That outraged Republicans because DHS hired Carter with no outside search. One conservative group even filed a lawsuit. And while Carter's former colleagues in the Senate were singing her praises, a House panel was discussing a pair of bills that would prevent future lawmakers from following Carter's path into the executive branch.

Republicans like House minority leader Bruce Hanna favor the stricter of the bills, which would prohibit lawmakers from taking state jobs until the next legislative session begins.

Bruce Hanna:  "A mandatory waiting period may be the only way we can assure a fair process for hiring people or promoting current employees within an agency."

Democrats say that goes too far. Representative Sara Gelser prefers a plan that would require recently retired lawmakers to participate in an open hiring process before landing a job.

Sara Gelser: "I don't know that the consequence of stepping up to serve should be that we shut off opportunities for people in public service to continue to apply for jobs in order to support their families."

Carter declined comment on the pending bills. The issue is queued up for a special session next month. Lawmakers will have to hurry if they want to get through a thorny ethics issue in a short time span.