The Oregon State Senate has 30 members, 17 Democrats, 11 Republicans and 2 independents. When the Republicans didn’t want the legislature dealing with issues they oppose (gun safety, women’s Choice, taxes, Climate Change, transgender health care…) they would just walk out and stay away making 2/3 quorum impossible. In 2022 the voters overwhelmingly passed Measure 113 which amended the constitution to prohibit members with 10 or more unexcused absences from running for reelection. It was a landslide— 1,292,127 (68.3%) to 599,204 (31.7%). Even all but 3 of Oregon’s reddest rural counties voted for it.
But that didn’t stop the Republicans last year. Republican minority leader Tim Knopp led several walk outs and exceeded the 10 days for 10 senators. Last summer Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade ruled the 10 would not be on the 2024 ballot. They sued. Yesterday, the state Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the Republicans. A federal district court had already ruled against them as well.
The Associated Press noted that “Last year’s boycott lasted six weeks— the longest in state history— and paralyzed the legislative session, stalling hundreds of bills… The 2023 walkout paralyzed the Legislature for weeks and only ended after Republicans forced concessions from Democrats on a sweeping bill related to expanding access to abortion and transgender health care and another measure regarding the manufacture and transfer of undetectable firearms, known as ghost guns.”
The Statesman Journal reported that “During a legislative session preview on Wednesday, Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) said Republicans would have no reason to show up if the Supreme Court did not side with them. After the ruling, Knopp said Republicans want to be respected and involved, and ‘we still have the opportunity to pause the session if we need to for any reason.’... Organizers of Measure 113, which voters approved in 2022, said they hoped it would prevent legislators from walking out. But the longest legislative walkout in state history shut down the 2023 Legislature for six weeks when Republican state senators walked out, preventing a quorum needed to hold votes.”
If you'd like to help make Oregon bluer... we have a page for that.
Accountability! What a good idea.