MARCH 17, 2017
REMEMBERING
We had a
relatively slow week in Salem, so I thought I would change focus just this
once. Thursday the Senate did a very wonderful thing during our floor
session. We only heard one bill, and that was a memorial to Senator Alan
Bates who passed away this last summer. We think this is the first time
the Senate has taken this type of singular action, and in this case, it was
totally appropriate. Alan’s family was here and quite a few Senators,
including me, told stories about Alan and I thought it was a wonderful way for
us to remember a colleague and friend.
Over the
course of the last 16 years Alan and I worked together on a great number of
issues in the area of health care. In fact, we were two of the major
players in creating the pathway to what ultimately became Coordinated Care
Organizations. This work started when we were both members of the House
and the Republicans had the majority. It continued when we both moved to
the Senate and the Democrats had the majority. The reason I mentioned
these facts is because it had very little to do with the work we were able to
accomplish together. Many of the issues we deal with are not divided
based on political party lines, and that definitely goes for the work Senator
Bates and I were able to accomplish. Whether the issue was something like
scope of practice or drug addiction or any number of other topics the only
thing that mattered was, "will this help people?" and, "is it the right way to do it."
But, beyond
the policy work we did together, we were also good friends. In this
process one can develop good relationships with the people you serve with, even
if you disagree with them on the issues. However, there are some people
with whom you develop a very special relationship, and for me Alan was
definitely one of those types of friendships.
I am going
to keep this short, but I did want to acknowledge my friend and publicly thank
him for the many great things he did both in his community and for the state of
Oregon.
Senator
Doctor Alan Bates will long be remembered by those of us who had the privilege
of serving with him. I personally will keep him in my heart and also in
my mind as we continue to move forward on the various issues we worked on
together for almost two decades. Alan, you will be missed.
Sincerely,
Senator Jeff
Kruse
email: Sen.JeffKruse@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1701 address: 900 Court St NE, S-205, Salem, OR, 97301 website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/kruse
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