NEW: GOP Calls To Push Back Clean Fuel Bill After Hayes Disclosures
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Friday, January 30, 2015
Joanna Evoniuk, GoLocalPDX Contributor
Republican legislative leaders called for House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney to suspend discussion of Low Carbon Fuel Standards on the session calendar, in light of allegations Cyliva Hayes received an $118,000 payment for promoting the policy for Oregon.
The legislation, SB 324, would keep Oregon's Low Carbon Fuel Standards in place instead of expiring in 2015.
After a press conference by Governor Kitzhaber, House Republican Leader Mike McLane said in a media statement Kitzhaber indicated the Ethics Commission will answer if Cylvia Hayes violated the law by receiving payment from private interests to advocate the policy to the Governor.
“Ms. Hayes received payments to influence the Governor on, among other things, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard program overseen by the Department of Environmental Quality,” McLane said. “Due to the investigations on the conflict of interest and the many unanswered questions that remain, SB 324 can no longer be evaluated on merit alone.
"Therefore, the Legislature must suspend our work on SB 324 until the Ethics Commission's work and all investigations are completed.”
This week Democrat leadership has indicated they plan to go ahead with a vote on Low Carbon Fuel Standards early in the session, with a public hearing for the proposed legislation on Monday, Feb. 2, according to a press release from the House and Senate Republican offices. The release said the rushed legislation raised questions about the involvement of former legislators and clients who would benefit from the policy.
“For the Democrats to run this bill right at the start of session is irresponsible and harmful to Oregon families, given the cloud of secrecy surrounding its conception and advocacy,” said Senator Ted Ferrioli, the Senate Republican Leader. “The Legislature should be focused on the priorities that matter to Oregon taxpayers, including a transportation package that improves public safety and infrastructure for all Oregonians.
"Democrats should know that moving forward with a party-line vote on the Low Carbon Fuel Standard will affect any future opportunities for bipartisan cooperation throughout session.”
Related Slideshow: What Governor Kitzhaber Said at His Jan. Cylvia Hayes Press Conference
Governor John Kitzhaber held a press conference on Jan. 30, 2015, where he fielded questions surrounding his fiancé and Oregon’s “First Lady” Cylvia Hayes.
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Kitzhaber told media Friday, Jan. 30 he would not consider resigning.
“Of course not,” he said. “I was elected by the people of this state to do a job, and I intend to do it.”
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The Governor said he did not see any problem in hiring Ball Janik, a firm that lobbies for Oregon in Washington, D.C., to defend him and Cylvia Hayes against allegations that include lobbying.
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Kitzhaber said he has not been contacted by the FBI.
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The Governor said he did not instruct his attorney Leanni Reaves to loosen ethics guidelines for Cylvia Hayes.
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“Our intention has always been to try to navigate this undefined area of First Lady,” Kitzhaber said during the press conference.
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The Governor does not believe that an independent investigation is necessary, when asked if a body other than the ethics commission appointed by him should investigate.
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When asked why the Governor did not keep Cylvia Hayes physically out of her office, he answered, “We tried to draw that line.”
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“I am in love,” the Governor said. "I do not believe I have been blinded by love, I am 'eyes wide open.'”
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“I have no idea whether she [Cylvia] is legally a member of my household.”
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Cylvia Hayes is in Sweden visiting friends, the Governor said.
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The Governor at one point compared himself to controversial Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.
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The Governor said he is not trying to reach a deal with the ethics commission.
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The Governor does not believe that an independent investigation is necessary, when asked if a body other than the ethics commission appointed by him should investigate.
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“The government ethics commission has a process and a sanction process. We will embrace that,” Kitzhaber said. “Well the Government ethics commission has a process and has a series of sanctions that it can take and we will obviously and have been complying and cooperating fully with the commission and we will embrace whatever decisions and sanctions they feel is appropriate."
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“Cylvia and I have a number of areas of common interest, climate change being one, low carbon fuels being one,” Kitzhaber said. "The fact that we have a convergence of intents does not seem to me to apply that if those issues apply in my administration that influence has been exerted."
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Cylvia Hayes will play no role in the Governor’s office for the next four years, according to Kitzhaber.
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