Republicans say lesbian lobbyist violated House rules

SALEM — House Republicans raised a stink Monday because a lesbian lobbyist sat with her partner — state Rep. Tina Kotek — at her desk on the House floor last week during a lengthy debate about gay rights.

Kotek and labor lobbyist Aimee Wilson sat together as the House passed bills to give same-sex couples the benefits of marriage and to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. Kotek kissed Wilson on the cheek after the bills passed.

On Monday, the House Republican leader complained that Wilson’s presence violated House rules that prohibit lobbyists from being on the House floor while the chamber is in session.

“Registered lobbyists should not have access to the House Floor, regardless of the circumstances,” House Minority leader Wayne Scott said. “I consider any violation of the rules of the House to be a very serious matter.”

The GOP lawmaker also asked House Speaker Jeff Merkley and the House chief clerk’s office to investigate the matter.

Kotek, a Democratic lawmaker from Portland, brushed past reporters Monday as she declined to discuss the GOP criticism.

“I don’t want to talk about that,” she said.

Wilson, who’s a political organizer for the main public employee union, Local 503 of the Service Employees International Union, said she felt it was important to sit with Kotek as the House debate the domestic partners bill.

She also questioned the timing of the GOP criticism a week after the House debate.

“I was acting in that capacity as her spouse,” Wilson said. “I just have to wonder whether this is about really protecting the process or if this is really about the issue at hand.”

A spokesman for the House speaker’s office, Russ Kelley, said allowing Wilson to sit on the House floor was an inadvertent mistake and that Kotek had apologized for the oversight.

“It never crossed anyone’s mind that Amy was a lobbyist, or would have been there as a lobbyist,” Kelley said.

He also said Kotek was upset that the Republicans were raising the issue now.

“She is beside herself. She is so mad that they made it into an issue,” Kelley said.

Wilson said last week that she and Kotek plan to register as domestic partners as soon as the new law takes effect.