SALEM, Ore. - Oregon Senate Democrats plan to start funding their absent colleagues amid a month-long Republican walkout, a move they hope will pressure boycotting lawmakers to return to the chamber as hundreds of bills languish amid the partisan stalemate.
In a procedural move Thursday, Democrats voted to fine senators $325 every time their absence denies the chamber the two-thirds quorum it needs to conduct business. The amount reflects lawmakers' average daily pay, according to Democratic Senate President Rob Wagner.
Oregonians work for a living everyday, and they don t get paid when they don t show up, Wagner said. There are a huge stack of bills sitting on that cart, just waiting for us to take them up, to debate and to vote. The Republican walkout, which was the longest-running in the Oregon Legislature, again prevented the Senate from reaching a quorum on Thursday. Democrats' minority leader, Kate Lieber, cited an article in the state constitution, asked the Senate to compel absent members to attend and fine absentees $325 for every day a quorum is not reached. She was voted on and approved by other Democrats present on the Senate floor.
The article of the Oregon Constitution states that even if two-thirds of members are not present, a smaller number may meet and compel the attendance of absent members. Most Republican senators haven't shown up for floor sessions since May 3, denying quorum and stalling hundreds of bills, including abortion, gender-affirming care and gun control that have sparked fierce debate in the Legislature.
Republicans will return to the Senate on June 25, the last day of the legislative session to pass the budget and bipartisan bills.
Democrats are calling for the governor to step down from office. Tina Kotek said she has failed in her talks to end the impasse, and that Knopp wants the bill on abortion and gender-affirming care to be significantly amended or dead. Kotek told the House that negotiating on that measure, which has already passed the House, is not an option.
After Republicans staged previous walkouts in 2019, 2020 and 2021, voters approved a ballot measure by an nearly 70% margin that was supposed to stop walkouts. Lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences would be disqualified from reelection in the next term, according to the measure's title and summary.
The text of the bill says the disqualification applies to the term following the election after the member's current term is completed. Secretary of State Ben Morris said the department is looking at a legal opinion from the Oregon Department of Justice and will follow its advice. The Justice Department is currently working on the legal opinion, said Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department.
Republican senators are expected to filed court challenges if the secretary of state's election division blocks them from registering as candidates in September.