A series of Oregon Republican State Senator walkouts began in May 2019 when Oregon Senate Republicans refused to attend floor sessions of the Oregon Senate in an effort to stymie Democratic efforts to pass House Bill 3427. The bill would have provided $2 billion for K-12 schools through a new tax package. The senators eventually returned after reaching a deal with Oregon Senate Democrats and Oregon Governor Kate Brown, but elected to "vanish" the following month over another bill, House Bill 2020. House Bill 2020 is designed to institute a carbon tax in Oregon. Republican senators argue that it would unduly burden their constituents, while Democrats argue it is necessary to place Oregon at the forefront of the fight against climate change.
Previous Oregon legislative walkouts have occurred. Republicans walked out in 2001, and Democrats walked out in 1971, 1995, and 2001.
May walkout
editIn May 2019, Republican state senators refused to attend senate sessions for four days, opposing a $2 billion tax package for K-12 schools. They only returned after making a deal with Oregon Governor Kate Brown that Democratic state senators would not field bills with provisions related to guns and vaccines and that a cap-and-trade bill would "reset". In exchange, Republicans promised not to walk out again.[1][2]
June walkout
editFrom June 20, 2019, all 11 Republican state senators for Oregon, including Girod, refused to show up for work at the Oregon State Capitol, instead going into hiding, some even fleeing the state. Their aim was to prevent a vote on a cap-and-trade proposal that would dramatically lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to combat climate change. The Senate holds 30 seats, but 1 is vacant due to the death of Republican Jackie Winters. Without the Republican senators, the remaining 18 Democratic state senators could not reach a quorum of 20 to hold a vote. The legislative session is slated to end by June 30, 2019.[3][4]
Oregon Governor Kate Brown sent the Oregon State Police to bring the absent Republican senators back to the Capitol, and has imposed a daily fine of $500 on the politicians.[2] In response to the search by the Oregon State Police, Republican Oregon Senator Brian Boquist said: "Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I'm not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon." Right-wing militia groups have offered support for the Republican senators, with 3 Percenters declaring they would be "doing whatever it takes to keep these senators safe", and the Oath Keepers stating: "Gov. Brown, you want a civil war, because this is how you get a civil war". On June 22, 2019, a session of the Oregon Senate was cancelled when the Oregon State Capitol was closed due to a warning from the state police of a "possible militia threat".[5][6][7][8]
Several of the senators are believed to have fled to Idaho, including Tim Knopp and Cliff Bentz.[2] Police in Idaho are not involved with the search for the politicians, as they have not broken Idaho state law.[2]
Senators involved
editThe Oregon State Senate is composed of 18 Democrats and 12 Republicans. The Senate holds 30 seats, but 1 is vacant due to a death.
| District | Senator | Party | Residence | Assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Heard | Republican | Roseburg | 2018 |
| 2 | Herman Baertschiger Jr. | Republican | Grants Pass | 2013 |
| 10 | Denyc Boles | Republican | Salem | 2019 |
| 12 | Brian Boquist | Republican | McMinnville | 2009 |
| 13 | Kim Thatcher | Republican | Keizer | 2015 |
| 20 | Alan Olsen | Republican | Canby | 2011 |
| 26 | Chuck Thomsen | Republican | Hood River | 2010 |
| 27 | Tim Knopp | Republican | Bend | 2013 |
| 28 | Dennis Linthicum | Republican | Bonanza | 2017 |
| 29 | Bill Hansell | Republican | Pendleton | 2013 |
| 30 | Cliff Bentz | Republican | Ontario | 2018 |
References
edit- ^ Loew, Tracy (June 20, 2019). "Oregon legislators in the minority have often used walkouts as leverage". Salem Statesman Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Lovett, Ian (24 June 2019). "Where Are Oregon's Senate Republicans? Check Idaho". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Oregon Republicans walk out on state Senate over climate change bill as governor threatens police roundup". CBS News. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ^ Osborne, Mark; Youn, Soo (June 23, 2019). "Oregon's Republican state senators go into hiding over climate change vote amid militia threat". ABC News. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
- ^ Zimmerman, Sarah; Flaccus, Gillan (June 22, 2019). "Militia threat shuts down Oregon Statehouse amid walkout". Associated Press. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ Radnovich, Connor (June 22, 2019). "Saturday Senate session canceled after potential threat of militia protest violence". Salem Statesman Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ Szekely, Peter (June 23, 2019). "Oregon Capitol building closed as precaution amid partisan dispute". Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ Lubben, Alex (June 25, 2019). "Let's Check In on Those Oregon Republicans Who Fled the Capital, Shall We?". Vice News. Retrieved June 25, 2019.