A day of firsts in Salem today

Oregon’s 76th Legislature convenes today in Salem, and Democrat John Kitzhaber will be sworn in for a record third term as governor (Oregon’s 37th Governor), the first person to return to that office in Oregon’s 152 years as a state. The House, split 30-30 for the first time, is set to choose Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) and Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay) as the first-ever co-speakers. The Senate, where Democrats hold 16 seats and Republicans 14 seats, is poised to choose Democrat Peter Courtney of Salem for a record fifth two-year term as president.

The House convenes today at 8 a.m., and the Senate convenes at 9:30 a.m.  Governor Kitzhaber’s inauguration will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the returning governor will give his Inaugural Address to the Joint Assembly in the House Chamber at 10:45 a.m. You can watch his address live online here.

Committees for the 2011 Session were announced last week, and committee assignments will be announced today on the floor.

Today’s sessions will officially end in time for the start of the Ducks game.

The legislature will meet through Thursday of this week and then will they will break until they reconvene on Feb. 1 and meet through Jun. 30.

Story in the Statesman-Journal

House, Senate Schedules for Monday, January 10, 2011