Senate Republicans are missing again (Oregon)

OregonLive ^ | 5/8/2019 | Chris Lehman

[Rio]

For the second day in a row, most Republicans in the Oregon Senate did not show up for a scheduled floor session on Wednesday.

The action means that Democrats, who hold the majority in the chamber, cannot proceed with legislative business. At least two Republicans need to be on the floor in order for a quorum to be present.

[Rio]

Remind me where this happened once before... Was it Texas?

Anyway, this doesn't seem to be getting much press, but the Republicans have been no-show for two days now. One of them caved today. It seems that the Senate can deploy the Oregon State Police to try to locate another R senator, many of whom have left the state. There is at least this huge corporate tax bill and a terrible anti-gun bill ready to be voted on.

[Rio]

Oregon PING

[GraceG]

this sort of crap is how civil wars start...

[Zathras]

Democrats doing this in WI...Good
Republicans doing this in OR...Bad

[Mr. Blond]

Do your job.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Reminds me of Wisconsin a few years ago.

[rellimpank]

-—yeah-—the Dems went and hid in Illinois-—

[AmericanCheeseFood]

They’re saving the State!

Next Oregon can do a new experiment by voting all Democrats out!

[Vaquero]

Can it start soon?

[Yosemitest]

It's about STOPPING a tax increase.

" ...The ongoing political dust-up is over House Bill 3427, which would raise billions of dollars in new taxes to boost spending on public schools and early childhood education. Although some Republicans have said that’s a worthy goal, they object to getting the money by raising business taxes.

Republicans have also demanded legislative action to reduce public pension costs. Senate GOP leader Sen. Herman Baertschiger, R-Grants Pass, said on Monday that his caucus would not come to the floor without seeing substantive progress on a pension bill. He also wants the tax bill to be sent back to committee for more input from the business community. ..."

Republicans ARE doing their job !

[HighSierra5]

Like right now.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I am against this type of tactic. The rules about needing minority representation are meant to protect the minority — from the majority calling sessions without informing them.

To abuse that by stopping lawful business, just because the business is stupid, is to thwart the rule of law. Like it or not, the people in that state actually elected these people to do bad things to them.

[backwoods-engineer]

Excellent, SHUT IT DOWN!

[Deplorable American1776]

Are the Oregon Republicans hiding in Idaho?

[FreeReign]

I am against this type of tactic. The rules about needing minority representation are meant to protect the minority — from the majority calling sessions without informing them. To abuse that by stopping lawful business, just because the business is stupid, is to thwart the rule of law. Like it or not, the people in that state actually elected these people to do bad things to them.

I haven't seen the Oregon Constitution but I would think that the majority can change the quorum rules.

[aimhigh]

The local news is using an old NPR tactic when reporting this. They let the Democrats give their arguments for the bill. When they interview Republicans, they only show their comments about the process, never the arguments. Equal time, but unequal coverage.

[GraceG]

[ Can it start soon? ]

Democraps and RINOcraps are too good at dragging crap out and exhausting the opposition to death....

Civil war only starts after a solar flare or a alien invasion or economic collapse...

[CharlesWayneCT]

Probably, which would be a bad thing, because then you wouldn’t have this protection against the majority locking you out so they can do what they want without interference.

[pas]

Indiana Dems did this

[tet68]

Democrats believe in punitive taxation.
If you want less of something (tabacco etc.)
you tax it.
Yet we see them taxing “wealth” and “business”.
It’s not hard to see where they are going.