Oregon lawmakers stay mum on Smith

When it comes to state Rep. Greg Smith’s behavior, Oregon lawmakers don’t want to talk. In the days after the commission voted to fine the longtime eastern Oregon representative $12,000 for using his position as head of a public development authority to enrich himself by maneuvering a raise without the knowledge of the authority’s board and approving his own excess paid vacation time, Alex Baumhardt reached out to every one of Smith’s Republican colleagues, as well as Democratic legislative leaders, to ask whether Smith should remain in the Legislature, stay in GOP leadership and keep his committees. Most ignored her or declined to comment.

Of the three senators who answered, Sen. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, said he respects voters’ decision-making. Sen. Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook, said lawmakers have a responsibility to maintain trust and accept consequences when they fail to do so (she’s barred from running for reelection for participating in a six-week walkout in 2023). And Sen. Noah Robinson said it’s hard for him to believe Smith deliberately and repeatedly broke the law. Smith denies intentional violations and in public comments shifted blame to the Columbia Development Authority’s lack of internal policies.

“I think we should give people latitude for mistakes,” he said. “If there’s a pattern of fraud, that’s a different matter.”

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