Oregon Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton & SW Portland) attempts to call Republicans to get back to work after they refused to attend the floor session claiming a willfull lack of upholding the law by Senate President Rob Wagner.

Lieber is calling Republicans to return and honor Measure 113 passed by voters, which limits the number of unexcused absentees a legislator can have to 10 or be prohibited to run for reelection. Lieber states, “By walking out today, Senate Republicans are abandoning all who believe in our democracy, particularly the voters who sent them to Salem to vote on their behalf. Voters were clear last year when they passed Measure 113 by an overwhelming margin and in every state senate district: elected lawmakers should be in the Capitol doing their jobs. Republicans are, once again, undermining our democracy and ignoring the people of Oregon.

During Monday morning’s floor session, Senate Republicans pointed out that bills being considered by the Senate violate the law by being noncompliant with Senate Rule 13.02 (5), ORS 171.134, and Article 4 § 21 of the Oregon Constitution. The Senate recessed and when it reconvened that evening, the Presiding Officer ruled that it did comply, but Republicans claimed it failed to provide any reasoning to substantiate the ruling despite many objections. Republicans attempted to appeal the ruling several times.

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend) stated, “Let’s be clear – Wagner’s ruling was inappropriate, unjustified, and unlawful. It unequivocally violates Senate Rules, Oregon’s Constitution, and Oregon statute. We will not sit by and allow these actions without consequence. We have made a simple request: that bills comply with the law. Senate Rules are clear and Senate Democrats are violating them. It is the responsibility of the clerks in both chambers, as well as Legislative Counsel, to ensure a measure summary complies with Oregon Revised Statutes, Chamber Rules, and the Oregon Constitution... We cannot allow the Senate to operate in an unlawful and unconstitutional manner, nor can we allow this reckless behavior to continue. In an act of deep partisanship, Wagner ruled with total disregard for the integrity of the Senate to dictate his party’s extreme, unconstitutional agenda onto Oregonians at all costs. It is for these reasons we were compelled to take the unprecedented step of voting to remove Wagner from his role as Senate President, and why we are engaging in a constitutional protest today.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Lieber is advocating for a democracy - rule of the majority. Knopp is standing on the Constitutional Republic of representation. Lieber wants to use the Constitution to get Republicans back to the Senate floor, but ignore the rules and procedures set out in the Constitution that Republicans want followed.

Republicans Senator Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook) and Representative Emily McIntire (R-Eagle Point) want to solve the matter in court. They filed a lawsuit against legislative leaders contending that the bill summary of House Bill 2002 violates Senate Rule 13.02, ORS 171.134, and Article 4 § 21 of the Oregon Constitution. Weber and McIntire will be represented by Oregon Right to Life.

The statute and rule require bill summaries to be written at an 8th-grade reading level, which correlates with a Flesch-Kincaid readability score of 60. House Bill 2002 scores well below 30, corresponding to the reading level of college graduates. “The Senate operates within the confines of the Constitution, state law, and chamber rules, all of which are being willfully ignored by the Senate President and the majority party. It is clear that legislation we adopt must be plainly written and easy to understand. Anything less disenfranchises Oregonians across the state and violates the law in the process. If Democrats refuse to comply, it is our responsibility to hold them accountable to process and rules,” said Senator Weber

Many questions about the impacts of House Bill 2002 remain. During committee work sessions, legislative counsel was unable to answer several questions about the bill. Still, it was pushed through the House despite serious concerns.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-05-03 17:10:01

Last Update: 2023-05-04 00:49:29