SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon legislators went back to work on Monday, beginning a four-week session expected to touch on budget repair, job creation and aid to people hurt by the recession.
The session started at 9 a.m. with an acknowledgment from House Speaker Dave Hunt that the results of a recent tax referendum campaign will affect the atmosphere of the special session.
Last week, measures to increase taxes on the wealthy and on business were approved in statewide votes. That followed a tough match pitting business interests and Republicans against public employee unions and Democrats.
"There is no doubt that as we convene here in between the January referenda campaign and the November legislative elections that emotions are running high," said Hunt, a Democrat and key figure in the tax increase campaign.
In a statement to members of the House, he expressed optimism the session would find "many areas of bipartisan agreement."
Approval of the tax measures eased the pressure on legislators. The taxes are expected to raise $727 million over the life of the two-year state budget. Making up that amount would have made for a scrappy session.
But a forecast due next week is expected to show that revenues are down $100 million from expectations. Legislators could trim budgets, use reserves, or a little of both. Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski has urged lawmakers to reform the state's unique and popular "kicker" provision that returns revenues to taxpayers when the state treasury is flush.
The kicker has been popular with voters, who put it in the state constitution. Kulongoski and others say it would be good for Oregon to use at least some of that money as a reserve for hard times.
Legislative leaders such as Senate President Peter Courtney say the bad feelings over the tax campaign would make it hard to build a coalition to back the constitutional amendment that would be needed.
The Legislature also is expected to take up measures to help more small businesses get loans through a state program and to extend for a few more weeks unemployment benefits for recipients who have exhausted their eligibility.
