OPB: Profile of Bicycle & Cannabis Caucus Chair Earl Blumenauer

Below find the raw public radio script for Matt Laslo’s audio profile of Rep. Earl Blumenauer that aired on Oregon Public Broadcasting — or OPB — in 2007.

Editors Note:

There are two versions in your ftp. One with the Queen song included (BLUMENAUER_DITL_W_QUEEN_OPB_04-27-07).

One without (BLUMENAUER_DITL_NO_QUEEN_OPB_04-27-07)

(The Queen song is saved separately as QUEEN_BICYCLE_RACE_OPB_04-27-07)

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Suggested Host intro: Earl Blumenauer represents Portland in the US House of Representatives. He doesn’t fit the Congressional stereotype. There are common, bizarre and even playful aspects to his not so normal life. In the next installment of our occasional series on Oregon's congressional delegation, Capitol Correspondent Matt Laslo (Laz-lo) followed Blumenauer around Capitol Hill.

NARR: (AMB- BIKE_PEDALS)

Congressman Earl Blumenauer starts his day with a six am bike ride. While pedaling and wearing a dark sweat suit and bulky helmet Blumenauer explained why.

amb1-bike-pedals/ AMB2-more-bike-pedals (just pedals – to loop under narr in studio)

BLUME2-SAVED AND BURNED

:15 You know you never have to worry about parking – you burn calories instead of gas. I have saved hundreds of hours here in DC riding a bike and have burned off a little reception food riding a bike

Blumenauer lives in a town house close to the Capitol. So he usually takes some extra laps just for exercise. Though today it’s too nasty for that routine. 

BLUME5-ONE DAY OFF

:09 It’s a little more challenging riding your bike in the snow and ice. There has been a couple days this year where it is a bit of a challenge. 

Around Capitol Hill he’s the Congressman on a bike.

AMB_TRUCK BEEPS and AMB2-more-bike-pedals (to provide change in place setting)

BLUME8-SECURITY

:10 Me: So do all the security guards recognize you

Blume: Yeah, pretty much. I’m kind of a regular. 

He pulls up to a back entrance of his office building, locks up his bike and heads to the House gym for a workout.  Reporters are not allowed inside.

------------------- Scene 2 ----------------------------

 SCENE_2_NEW_HALL

 Blumenauer emerges awhile later looking like a real congressman. He’s dressed in a charcoal blue suit and sports a red polka dotted bow tie. On his lapel Blumenauer wears a white plastic bicycle pin – a gift from an Oregon bike shop. His first meeting is with the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. It’s a non-profit business group that lobbies for regional funding.

PORT-OF-PORTLAND1-INTRO

:17 I’m Judy Johansson with the Port of Portland, and it is my honor to introduce Congressman Blumenauer who is from Oregon’s third Congressional district and great friend to the port of Portland

PORT-OF-PORTLAND2-THE DRILL-

:00 I appreciate the chance to visit with you again. (FADE-HERE) And I know the drill is you’ve got your things that you want to talk about so I won’t take too long. But I’ve got some things I want to talk about.

SCENE_2_BLUME_SPEECH_AMB (loop his speech under your voicing).

Blumenauer talks about reforming the Army Corps of Engineers and the upcoming farm bill. He ties everything back to his number one priority: the environment.

PORT-OF-PORTLAND4-STRONGER TIGHTER

:08 we are not going to be weakening environmental standards in this country. We are gonna get stronger dealing with energy, water and air.

After his brief comments Judy Johansson speaks up.

PORT-OF-PORTLAND3-bio mass

:16 Judy: I actually have a question for you – in the farm bill, is that a vehicle perhaps for incentives for our farmers to grow crops for bio fuel?

Blume: Absolutely. One thing we can do with your help is to change the carbon foot print of farmers and ranchers.

Blumenauer wants conservation and alternative energy subsidies placed in the legislation. He’s been bringing up the bill at a lot of his meetings, hoping to rally support for a greener than usual bill.  

----------------------Scene 3 -------------------------

After the meeting he sneaks off to his favorite spot on Capitol Hill.

LIB-CONG1-ENTERING (some of audio to be used under narration)

:15 Let me just show you the reason to be in Congress. We are entering the library of Congress, which is my favorite building in the world. This is the Jefferson building completed about 110 years ago.

Blumenauer hikes upstairs to the ornate members only reading room. Atop its 25 foot high ceiling are golden tobacco leaves and painted images of angelic women. Olive-green silk coverings adorn the walls. Blumenauer is one of a handful of members who still use the room.

LIB-CONG3-1897

:13 When this was open in 1897 this is where members came to get work done. And I retreat here several times a week. It’s not heavily used, which is part of its charm. 

In the library Blumenauer prepares testimony on the Iraq war for the house foreign affairs committee. He also works on a speech about bicycles for the League of American Bicyclists.

---------------------- Scene 4 ------------------------

(ARRIVAL_AMB - sound of arriving for address)

At noon Blumenauer files into the house chamber to hear King Hussein of Jordan address a joint session of congress.

KING_GOOD_CUT

:08 (applause) (greeting) Honorable Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Honorable Senators and members of Congress.

Blumenauer was the only member who took notes during the address, though he says the session was largely symbolic.

KING2-SUPPORT HIM

:07 It’s an opportunity to sort of show the world that we care about this situation and support for him

---------------- Scene 5 --------------------------

 From heads of state to sewers. Blumenauer later gives a floor speech about Portland’s sewage problem. He complains about the Bush Administration’s priorities.

WATER1-MORE IN IRAQ

:14 It’s a little frustrating, we’ve spent more money on water and sewer systems in Iraq than we have in the US in the last four years. And this is something that touches not just Oregon but 1,100 other communities around the country 

Blumenauer has dealt with this issue since 1986 when he served as Portland’s Commissioner of Public Works. Debbie Sease is the National Campaign Director for the Sierra Club. She says Blumenauer helped cut sewer overflows into the Willamette. He also worked on many other environmental issues.

SEASE2-RECYCLING

:08 I think back in the eighties when he was in Portland. Those big yellow tubs for recycling, well that is something he started.

Sease says it’s been hard to get environmental legislation through because the Republicans have controlled the House for the past twelve years. But she says Blumenauer has had some victories.

SEASE5-MT HOOD

:18 He reached across the isle to Rep. Walden and has actually had the House pass a bill to protect Mt. Hood. That is something that is bold and environmental but it’s also practical and he was able to bring in colleagues across the isle on it.

In committee the House and Senate failed to come to an agreement on the legislation. It will be reintroduced in both chambers later this year. Sease says Blumenauer has become a respected voice in the House.

SEASE3-SHAPER

:11 I look to him as somebody who actually shapes the environmental message and agenda of his party. 

--------------- Scene 6 ----------------------------

And that may work in his favor in the coming years. Blumenauer has left open the possibility for a Senate run in 2008. He told the Oregonian that he’ll bow out if Congressman Peter Defazio runs in the Democratic primary. Defazio has officially stepped out of the race, so analysts predict Blumenauer will make a run. Political Analyst Bill Lunch thinks Blumenauer would have a tough time in a statewide race. 

LUNCH1-URBAN ANIMAL

:14 Blumenauer is clearly an urban animal and he takes the positions that an urban liberal democrat would take. His ability to appeal to people in these more far flung corners of the state is more limited.

Blumenauer was born and raised in Portland. He was politically active as a student at Lewis and Clark College, and got elected to the Oregon Legislature at just 23. Lunch says his urban roots could hinder him from attracting rural voters. As for next year’s Senate race, Blumenauer says it’s really too early to think about it.

SENATE1_EXHALE

:12 I think everybody would be better off if they would just (breathe) exhale. If they would maybe let the returns from the last election, you know the ink dry and get a little work done here.

--------------------- Scene 7 ------------------------

Part of that work is making time to meet with people from back home.

(RECEPTION_AMB _BACKGROUND – to be looped under narr)

Blumenauer spends the last part of the day at various receptions. The first was hosted by council members from cities and counties across Oregon. Those around him drank cool beer and nibbled on hot shrimp. Blumenauer seemed tired at the event. Some guests inquired about his schedule.

RECEPTION1-VARIOUS INVITES

:15 In the course of a week there are probably three times or four times as many invitations, visits, receptions than you can [attend] – so we try and balance them

Blumenauer made a few rounds. He then went back to the gym and pulled his sweat suit and helmet back on.

(STREET_AMB – truck, puddles)

It had snowed all day but the warm roads quickly melted it, leaving only puddles and salt behind. Blumenauer was disappointed. He keeps a pair of cross country skies in his office and was hoping there would be enough snow to use them. Instead he hopped on his trusty Trek and peddled home.

LEAVING1-BIKE IN PUDDLES (bike riding off)

For OPB, I’m Matt Laslo reporting. (with bike noise looped under)

QUEEN_BICYCLE_RACE (SONG SEPERATLEY)

(:20 Cue up Queen’s “ Bicycle Race” – play for closing)