Oregon’s Democrat Governor Kate Brown authorized state police to find the state’s missing Republican lawmakers after they failed to show up for a vote on a climate bill.
Eleven of the Oregon Senate’s GOP lawmakers deliberately failed to show up to the capitol, effectively preventing Democrats from passing a climate change-based cap and trade bill, officially known as H.B. 2020.
As the Hill notes, the bill “seeks to create a cap-and-trade system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in several public sectors.”
Republican state lawmakers released a statement Thursday, describing their eight-hour negotiation attempt as “fruitless.”
“After more than 8-hours of fruitless negotiations late into last night, the Democrats failed to offer a reset on House Bill 2020,” the statement read.
Senate Republicans made the decision to walkout and have left the state to protest cap and trade because it should be referred to the ballot so every Oregonian has a voice. #capkillsjobs pic.twitter.com/Cwszwvdsbx
— Oregon Senate Republicans (@ORSenateRs) June 20, 2019
Upon realizing their absence, Senate President Peter Courtney requested the sergeant at arms to locate the lawmakers, to no avail. Courtney followed up with Brown, who gave state police the green light to find the missing lawmakers and bring them back to the capitol.
Brown released a statement, accusing the missing Republican lawmakers of abandoning their obligations to constituents.
The Senate Republicans have decided to abandon their duty to serve their constituents and walk out. The Senate Democrats have requested the assistance of the Oregon State Police to bring back their colleagues to finish the work they committed to push forward for Oregonians. As the executive of the agency, I am authorizing the State Police to fulfill the Senate Democrats’ request.
Brown added that it was “absolutely unacceptable” for Republicans to “turn their back on their constituents who they are honor-bound to represent here in this building.”
“They need to return and do the jobs they were elected to do,” she added.
The missing lawmakers will also face a $500 per day fine.
Democrats enlisting the state police to find Senate R's & are going to fine Senate R's $500 per day starting tomorrow for walking out and standing up for Oregonians AGAINST #Hb2020 #orpol #orleg #capkillsjobs
— Oregon Senate Republicans (@ORSenateRs) June 20, 2019
True to their word @ORSenDemocrats are following thru with threats. Senate Pres Peter Courtney is threatening arrest, @SenBurdick threatening fines & @OregonGovBrown threatening defunding rural districts for needed projects all in retaliation to Senate Rs standing for Oregonians pic.twitter.com/iiyb9I2hAw
— Oregon Senate Republicans (@ORSenateRs) June 20, 2019
#ICYMI: in 2001 then Sen-Dem Leader @OregonGovBrown called the House Dems walkout in 2001 VERY APPROPRIATE & said, "Under certain circumstances, it's fair to say we would use all tools available to us & stage a similar boycott." Well here we are, Senate Rs fighting for Oregonians pic.twitter.com/EvzPixfKF3
— Oregon Senate Republicans (@ORSenateRs) June 20, 2019
According to Oregon Live, Oregon’s constitution “allows the majority party to ‘compel’ the attendance of absent members of the legislature.”
It appears Republican state lawmakers knew it could come to this.
“We have endured threats of arrest, fines, and pulling community project funds from the Governor, Senate President, and Majority Leader,” Senate Republican Leader Herman Baerschiger Jr. said.
“We will not stand by and be bullied by the majority party any longer. Oregonians deserve better. It’s time for the majority party to consider all Oregonians – not just the ones in Portland,” he added.
This is not the first time this type of ordeal has occurred. In 2011, Wisconsin Democrats blocked a Republican-backed anti-union bill by failing to show up for the vote and fleeing the state.
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