In Oregon, where Democrats dominate both chambers, Republicans were unapologetic about their efforts to slow the state’s adoption of an emissions-reduction program by disappearing — and keeping the Democrats from having enough lawmakers present to call a vote.
Brian Boquist, one of the Republican senators who went missing, issued what sounded like a warning to any police officer who might try to arrest him. “Send bachelors and come heavily armed,” Mr. Boquist said he told Travis Hampton, superintendent of the Oregon State Police. “I’m not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon. It’s just that simple.”
It was the second time in six weeks that Oregon Republicans have walked out of a session to try to prevent a vote. This week, all 11 Senate Republicans left, holding the Democrats short of a 20-person quorum needed to vote on the climate change bill, fiercely opposed by Republicans.
Local 2A activist Rob Taylor just called for Boquist to have his firearms removed. per Oregon’s new red flag law.