Update Friday 10:45: Republican senators were still absent Friday morning, extending their walkout from Senate floor sessions into a second day. It’s unclear how much negotiation is happening between Senate Democratic leadership and the absconded GOP.
Original story:
Gov. Kate Brown authorized the Oregon State Police to bring Republican senators back to the Capitol building Thursday after all 11 members fled Salem to deny Democrats the opportunity to pass a sweeping greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade bill.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that the Senate Republicans would turn their back on their constituents who they are honor-bound to represent here in this building,” Brown said in a statement. “They need to return and do the jobs they were elected to do.”
A vote on House Bill 2020 was scheduled for Thursday morning.
Dem rep identifies himself as one of this year’s State of the Union designated survivors
Evil: Newsom’s Team Decides to Free Child Molester Whose Crimes We Can’t Fully Describe Here (and You Wouldn’t Want Us To)
Pure Gold: GOP Gov. of Mississippi Offers to Send Reading Teachers to Coach Gavin Newsom Since Black Students in MS Are 2.5x Better Readers Than in CA
Growing number of Democrats skipping Trump’s 2026 State of the Union
Savannah Guthrie offers $1 million family reward for recovery of Nancy Guthrie
France restricts Trump ambassador’s access to officials after missed summons
Idaho woman accused of attempting to set fire to DHS building with stolen ambulance
Alert: Massive Development Reported in DOJ’s Sedition Case Against Mark Kelly, Others – Bad News for Trump Admin
Speechwriters from Reagan to Biden agree: Trump’s SOTU is a critical test for his second term
California GOP infighting could destroy any chance at governorship
Trump to come face-to-face with Supreme Court justices who rejected tariffs at State of the Union
Prosecutors: Utah Mom Who Wrote Children’s Book About Grief After Husband Died Actually Killed Him
FBI records contradict claims Biden was ‘not aware’ of Mar-a-Lago raid
Conservative super PAC drops six-figure ad buy in major move to defend Trump’s trifecta
EXCLUSIVE: Trump to center SOTU on working families with sweeping economic case
Declining to show up for the floor session means the Senate lacks the quorum needed to conduct business. With 18 members in the Senate, Democrats hold the majority, but they need two Republicans to reach a quorum of 20.
Republicans said they are walking out in part because Senate Democrats broke their word. Part of the deal that ended Senate Republican’s previous walkout this session was a promise from Democrats that there would be a “reset” on HB 2020.
Before then, Republicans complained that they were being kept out of closing negotiations.
When they were finally allowed a seat at the table, Republicans said none of their suggestions were adopted in meaningful ways.
“We are not going to provide a quorum to pass a progressive, liberal agenda that damages the constituents from our districts,” Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said while driving.
Democrats disagreed. They said some Republican suggestions were included in the bill and it’s actually Republicans who have broken their word by walking out. Furthermore, the bill is not open to further amendments.
Dem rep identifies himself as one of this year’s State of the Union designated survivors
Evil: Newsom’s Team Decides to Free Child Molester Whose Crimes We Can’t Fully Describe Here (and You Wouldn’t Want Us To)
Pure Gold: GOP Gov. of Mississippi Offers to Send Reading Teachers to Coach Gavin Newsom Since Black Students in MS Are 2.5x Better Readers Than in CA
Growing number of Democrats skipping Trump’s 2026 State of the Union
Savannah Guthrie offers $1 million family reward for recovery of Nancy Guthrie
France restricts Trump ambassador’s access to officials after missed summons
Idaho woman accused of attempting to set fire to DHS building with stolen ambulance
Alert: Massive Development Reported in DOJ’s Sedition Case Against Mark Kelly, Others – Bad News for Trump Admin
Speechwriters from Reagan to Biden agree: Trump’s SOTU is a critical test for his second term
California GOP infighting could destroy any chance at governorship
Trump to come face-to-face with Supreme Court justices who rejected tariffs at State of the Union
Prosecutors: Utah Mom Who Wrote Children’s Book About Grief After Husband Died Actually Killed Him
FBI records contradict claims Biden was ‘not aware’ of Mar-a-Lago raid
Conservative super PAC drops six-figure ad buy in major move to defend Trump’s trifecta
EXCLUSIVE: Trump to center SOTU on working families with sweeping economic case
Carbon plan: Oregon House passes economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions
HB 2020 received more than 120 amendments this session.
“2020 is in its final form and it needs to be on the Senate floor,” Senate Democratic Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, said. “2020 is not going to change.”
The Senate, through Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, needed to request that Brown use the state police, per the state Constitution. They did, and Courtney read the letter sent to Brown on the Senate floor.
He then lamented his actions and the inability for the body to function as intended.
“This is the saddest day of my legislative life,” Courtney said. “There is no joy in my heart for what I just read. Pure and simple, my heart is broken.”
He went on to literally beg Senate Republicans to return to the Capitol building, imploring them to return to do the people’s business.
“We cannot do it without you,” Courtney said during an impromptu speech from the dais. “If you’re mad, and you’re angry, upset, take it out on me. Say things about me. Come at me. Don’t do this to the people of Oregon, don’t do this to this branch.”
