Senate confirms governor’s appointments en bloc after brief debate over process

The Oregon State Senate confirmed en bloc a broad slate of gubernatorial appointments on April 16, voting to approve the list after a short debate about the executive-appointment process.

Senator Jama moved that the Senate confirm in block the appointments and reappointments listed on the calendar. The motion passed; the clerk recorded a final tally reported on the floor as 22 ayes. The roll call included named ayes and several members recorded as excused for the vote.

Senators who announced votes against the en bloc confirmation said their opposition was not to the nominees themselves but to the governor’s process for making appointments. Senator Bonham said he found many nominees “well qualified” but cast a protest no vote to push for more transparency and engagement in the selection process. ‘‘I will say that the governor's office has been great with the willingness to talk about this moving forward. But because we're in the midst of session ... I continue to rise in opposition,’’ Bonham said, adding that committee members should have more information about who applied and why particular candidates were chosen.

Senator Nash also announced she would vote no, saying the process was improving but still needed more solicitation and transparency: ‘‘I was solicited by two individuals this time, so I think the process is getting slightly better,’’ she said.

The list confirmed en bloc contained scores of appointments to state boards and commissions, from the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs to the TriMet board and university trustee slots. Specific nominees and the boards named were read into the record and incorporated into the journal as part of the confirmation action.

The Senate did not take up individual roll-call votes for each appointment; the en bloc motion carried and the appointments were recorded as confirmed. Several senators explicitly noted they supported the nominees while opposing the process used to present the slate.

The confirmations conclude a portion of the session calendar that places many executive appointments before the Senate for advice and consent. Members who opposed the process called for improved access to applicant materials and more opportunities for senators to participate in candidate selection.

The Senate moved on to other calendar business after the vote; the confirmed appointees and the journal entry listing them are part of the public record.