State Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls) believes that the Governor’s call for a special legislative session, to start on June 24th, is riddled with contradiction.

Yesterday the Governor declared the Oregon State Legislature is to hold a special session starting next Wednesday, for an undetermined amount of time, to pass policy updates surrounding COVID-19 relief and Police reform.

“The fact is that Marion County remains in Phase I of Reopening. Even if the Governor were to grant Marion County Phase II status, it does not meet legislative criteria for a fair and open process to the public. The Governor says the Capitol building is to be open for legislative business, but closed to the public. Holding a legislative session while significantly limiting public access is the antithesis of the legislative process. Direct public input, transparency of process and public safety are all criteria that must be met in order for the legislature to meet and properly conduct the people’s business.”

Article IV, Section 14. of the Oregon Constitution requires legislative sessions to be open to the public. “The deliberations of each house, of committees of each house or joint committees and of committees of the whole, shall be open. Each house shall adopt rules to implement the requirement of this section and the houses jointly shall adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section in any joint activity that the two houses may undertake.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-06-17 14:47:05

Last Update: 2020-06-17 14:47:15