Group alleges Carter’s hiring at DHS violates Oregon Constitution
By Michelle Cole, The Oregonian
December 29, 2009, 5:28PM
SALEM — Common Sense for Oregon filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Marion County claiming the Oregon Department of Human Services, agency director Dr. Bruce Goldberg and deputy director Margaret Carter violated a provision in the state Constitution designed to prevent legislators from creating jobs for themselves.
The conservative group, started by former state Republican chairman Kevin Mannix, initiative activist Russ Walker and land-use attorney Ross Day, argues that Article IV, Section 30 of the Oregon Constitution prohibits lawmakers from taking a for-profit job created by the Legislature during their term of office.
Carter was a member of the Oregon Senate and co-chair of the powerful Ways & Means budget committee when Goldberg hired her in August to fill a newly created job that pays $121,872 a year.
The group alleges that Carter helped pass House Bill 2009, a comprehensive health reform measure which created the Health Authority and led to her new position.
Patty Wentz, a chief spokeswoman for the agency said, “We have not yet seen a copy of the lawsuit, but based on the news release it seems there is some confusion. House Bill 2009 created an agenda for health reform in Oregon and did not create positions in the Department of Human Service.”
An Attorney General’s opinion issued earlier also cast doubt on whether the constitutional provision applies.
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