There they go, Making America Healthy Againโข๏ธ
๐ซ
@djgrayber.bsky.social
Oregon State Representative. Union Firefighter. Mom. Likes lifting heavy things, running far, nerdy policy. Personal account. Resolute sin of empathy practitioner.
There they go, Making America Healthy Againโข๏ธ
๐ซ
Iโm all in on this, Senator. And working with a few Reps in the water issue. Maybe we can bridge the all-too-often House & Senate divide.
21.02.2026 22:09 โ ๐ 7 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0I love jobs. I love technology! And I know we can do better: w/ community benefit agreements that ensure growth centers & brings prosperity to actual residents, labor agreements that educate, grow, & sustain local workforce, & environmental guardrails that consider the 7th generation. Nothing less.
21.02.2026 21:07 โ ๐ 13 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0And speaking of things that disappoint me, in the year 2026 with everything we know about the exploitative and environmental impacts of AI/ Data Centers that the convo in Salem is about how to encourage more.
I am not the one.
I made it home in time from Salem last night to go see โWuthering Heightsโ with Matt. We had to stifle giggles, frankly. Main characters still assholes, and I knew the movie was going to be ridiculous from the opening scene. Has Salem made me that cynical? Clearly. (OG novel still is much darker).
21.02.2026 21:07 โ ๐ 8 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Many of these are flying below the radar with the churn of the news cycle and they are very tangible and prospective efforts by House Dโs fighting fed over-reach, helping families get into homes, and keeping our communities safer. More to come. For a short session, we are cooking.
20.02.2026 06:10 โ ๐ 8 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Between DOL/ LCD news & future councilors w/ guns! & inadvertently becoming the face of stifling freedom of press, OR news is wild today. Time to log off. But 1st: Iโm so proud we passed the federal recourse bill, 90-day hold on private equity home scoops, natโl guard bill off floor, among others.
20.02.2026 06:10 โ ๐ 14 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Thank you Julia. As I hope you know I have great respect for you and truly am not trying to stifle thorough investigative reporting and journalism. I am glad I flagged that concern clearly, and I recognize the unintended consequences of the current law.
20.02.2026 06:02 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Donโt forget the complimentary ulcer!
20.02.2026 05:44 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Forgive me, but I am new to this bill as of its intro to Rules (despite being its apparent covergirl now). Was the journalism org that was part of the ongoing workgroup not considered representative? A quick google ask gave me this. Iโm not trying to be glib, genuinely curious.
20.02.2026 05:12 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Thanks Vik! Also they need to find a new favorite picโฆ the legislature ages you in dog years.
20.02.2026 05:01 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0That bill is the result of solid, detailed and intense work of Rep Sosa and the workgroup, which included journos. And I think the late-breaking concern raised is very real and worth paying close attention to, but the law needed to be changed ASAP. And, I firmly stand by my vote.
20.02.2026 04:58 โ ๐ 8 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0But in all seriousness- I was not part of the work group, not a bill sponsor, not on the originating committee, not the chair or vice chair of Rules, and in fact the person that raised the โwe should really watch thisโ flagโฆand THATโS the headline and accompanying photo they used? ๐คฃ
20.02.2026 04:58 โ ๐ 5 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0I guess my friends at the O missed me? Itโs been a few weeks since someone wrote an angry editorial about what a labor shill I am or UI for striking workers or who is the worst legislator and why is it me.
20.02.2026 04:58 โ ๐ 7 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0The current system is completely unworkable. We have local electeds that canโt talk to constituents without violating the laws as written, and that needed to change, stat. And the SPJ was part of every workgroup, apparentlyโฆ until they skipped the last two meetings.
20.02.2026 04:47 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Eric that just isnโt true. The 35 days are when we have the power of the vote. But our work- and our fightโ doesnโt stop the minute we step out of these walls. Itโs more than a FT job in and of itself. (And no one likes the 35 days, itโs awful).
18.02.2026 15:29 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0But I should also note their rep apparently skipped the last 2 workgroups soโฆ
18.02.2026 06:30 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Journalist orgs coming in hot against it FYI.
18.02.2026 06:28 โ ๐ 7 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 2 ๐ 0๐คฃ This is what happens when I step away for brunch and a rainy hike? Thank you for the kind vote of confidence however *no thank you*. But I am a true believer, which is my greatest asset and biggest downfall. I love this work. I love this state. Iโll keep grinding where I am for now.
16.02.2026 05:09 โ ๐ 10 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0The March 4th Marching Bandโ they are always sheer fun and bootyshaking.
14.02.2026 06:16 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0I love our city so much. Where else, in February, in the rain?
The joy! The palpable, pulsing vibrant joy.
Um Lil Jon would like a word. ๐ฌ
14.02.2026 06:08 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Final thought for the night while my brain starts to unwindโ sessions could & should be more balanced. What about two 3-month sessions instead? 35 days is ridiculous, and we are long past the era where itโs just the clean-up lap. The world has changed; we should reflect those changes.
Night all!
Buckle up because next week we get into the shield law on the floor (โค๏ธ), the very last day of first chamber deadline work session, and more urgent work around immigration and meeting the moment. (SO many moments that need to be met). All in 35 days, which, imo, is stupid. ๐
13.02.2026 08:04 โ ๐ 3 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0And although this is probably not healthy, I LOVE being the last out. The absolute stillness & hush of the rotunda at night. (I wish theyโd let it go dark but I get it). Itโs justโฆ reverent.
Being a floor manager (aka whip) easily adds an extra 2 hrs to my day. But it also gives me these moments.
And thenโฆ itโs off to the races. Non stop. Will it let up? Probably not before March 8th. Did I fake getting a phone call in committee today because my bladder was going to burst & Iโd had no, I mean zero, break? Yes, yes I did. Do I love every minute of it, even when it breaks my heart?
Also yes.
Itโs short session, why am I not blue skeeting?
Itโs not for lack of want! My days start early, and I love that the rotunda is back open. Thereโs a gorgeous suspense to it first thing in the morning, before the echos of chatter and laughter and occasional singing. I love the early morning light.
Itโs the conditions of use that increase the danger to FFโs. Most people arenโt wearing their fire retardant clothing into actual fires.
11.02.2026 15:37 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Most firefighting gear has PFAS, has for decades. Our structural turnouts especially. Itโs a bigger deal than gen pop because of intense heat/ friction/ skin absorption. And there is currently no replacement gear that can do the same protective job.
11.02.2026 15:35 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0This is the balm I needed tonight.
06.02.2026 05:32 โ ๐ 8 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0