Legislative perspectives

Legislative Perspectives reviews the always interesting, often tumultuous saga of Oregon politics in action from 1843 to the 1990s. Great achievements and vast reforms intertwine with fraud, bigamy, and payoffs. Whigs, Democrats, Know-Nothings, Republicans, Progressives, and the Ku Klux Klan are all part of the state's legislative heritage.

Oregon men and later Oregon women grappled with such diverse issues as the election of U.S. senators, salmon, bicycle paths, exclusionary and anti-alien laws, the initiative and referendum, tax reform, the beach and bottle bills, land use planning, and nuclear power.

Expanding on the writings of journalists and historians of the day while drawing on their own experiences with the legislature, Douglas Heider and David Dietz bring this unique and colorful history to life. This comprehensive view of the legislature's foibles and successes is a primer for anyone interested in the politics of Oregon.