Oregon Senate Session Canceled After Militia Threat

Senate floor sessions were planned for this weekend, but Saturday’s session was canceled after militia groups threatened to show up at the Capitol in Salem, state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward tweeted Friday evening.

Oregon State Police confirmed to KATU that Saturday’s session was called off. The Associated Press reported a spokeswoman for Senate President Peter Courtney said state police recommended the Capitol be closed Saturday.

For the last two days, Senate Republicans have staged a walkout in protest over a controversial cap and trade bill Democrats say is needed to curb human-caused climate change. The walkout has denied the Senate a quorum.

In her tweet, Steiner Hayward, a Democrat, attached a text message informing members to stay clear of the Capitol.

After media began reporting on her tweet, Steiner Hayward deleted it. But before she did, KATU News had grabbed a screen capture of it.

Before this week’s walkout, rhetoric became heated and Republican state Sen. Brian Boquist made threatening remarks toward other lawmakers and OSP troopers as Gov. Kate Brown and Senate Democrats considered calling in state police to bring missing senators back into the Senate chamber.

Far-left group with foreign ties undermining US under guise of protest, report warns

SCOOP: Trump ally Kid Rock jumps into key governor’s race with high-profile endorsement

The world’s top nuclear powers have no arsenal limits, here are the countries with nukes

Affirmative Action Quotas in Question as Female, Minority Pilots Caused Half of Pilot-Error Crashes

The single crushing problem American cattle ranchers wish Trump would fix instead

‘The View’ Under FCC Investigation Over Interview with Texas Dem

‘We Will Pay’: Savannah Guthrie Responds to Kidnapper Demands Via Video

Turning Point USA’s ‘All-American Halftime Show’: Everything you need to know

American Skiers Buried Under Avalanche of Criticism Over Anti-ICE Comments

Super Bowl Sunday: Here are some of the political, social commercials you can expect during the big game

Op-Ed: In a Politically Divided America, Where Does Relocation Fit In?

LA city councilwoman previously backed by DSA running for mayor in primary challenge to former ally Bass

Details on Maine Plane Crash Victims Released: They Were Researching up to $30k-per-Night Destination for Wealthy Travelers

Chief CNN Analyst: Not One Racial Group in America Is Falling for the Dems’ Lies on Voter ID Laws

Tom Homan Reveals How Many Anti-ICE Agitators Have Been Arrested: Many Are Paying the Price

Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek, both Democrats, issued a joint statement Friday afternoon condemning Boquist’s remarks.

“We strongly condemn the comments made this week in the Oregon State Capitol by Senator Brian Boquist threatening lawmakers and Oregon State Police troopers. Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day in the name of protecting Oregonians and should never be subject to these kinds of threats, let alone from a public official. His comments have created fear among employees in our workplace. We will always defend free speech and welcome frank policy discussions, but threats like these are unacceptable.”

When Republicans began their walk out Thursday, Brown called in state troopers to find the senators and bring them back to the Senate, but most have reportedly left the state.

Shortly after it was announced the Senate had canceled its Saturday session, the Oregon Republican Party tweeted the Democrats had canceled the session because of a “fear that Republican voters may show up.”