Posted on 02/24/2020 6:00:51 PM PST by lowbridge
On Monday, the Oregon Senate was scheduled to convene at 11 a.m. to conduct business in the short legislative session. Of the twelve Republican senators, eleven failed to attend, denying quorum and grinding the business of the Senate to a halt. Senate Minority Leader Herman Baertschiger (R-Grants Pass) blasted the President of the Senate for rigging the vote to move the bill out of the Ways and Means Committee for a vote on the floor.
This marks the third time in less than a year that Senate Republicans have blocked priority legislation of the Democrats by denying quorum. Oregon's Democrats enjoy an 18-12 supermajority in the chamber (and a 38-22 supermajority in the House). Last summer, the Republicans walked out twice, once to block severe gun-control bills and a greatly expanded vaccine mandate, and again to block cap and trade.
Oregon Democrats have made cap and trade their highest priority, and entered both legislative sessions confident that the supermajorities would mean smooth sailing for their agenda.
Baertschiger's full statement reads:
Today, Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) used partisan politics on the Joint Ways and Means Committee, the most powerful budget committee in the legislature, to move SB 1530 out of committee. He rigged the vote by joining the committee in an unprecetented move and cast his “yes” vote to get cap and trade out of committee.
Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger, Jr. (R-Grants Pass) released the following statement:
“Senator Courtney’s actions leave no other option for Senate Republicans but to boycott and deny quorum because cap and trade is on the way to the Senate floor. Democrats refused to work with Republicans and denied every amendment that was presented. Pay attention Oregon – this is a true example of partisan politics.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
Damn straight.
Hey, if it works, do it.
More power to him.
“Indulgences” of the old church are now the same “Indulgences” for new age green religion of rich liberals.
Democrats did that in Indiana a few years ago. Hid out in Illinois to prevent a quorum. P*ssed off the voters and now they are a mini-minority in both branches of the legislature.
Didn’t they do it in Wisconson, too?
I’ve never been to Oregon but I’ve seen enough pics — and eaten enough Oregon-grown apples — to know it’s a beautiful state.
As I understand it, once you get out of Portland and a couple other cities, it’s pretty conservative.
Anyway, it’s always good to see Pubbies who are willing to FIGHT!
Was it about a humongous tax for cap and trade...???
Good for them!
Yes.
You make no sense
The Republicans were trying to pass legislation to de-unionize state employees.
Elephants Behaving Badly!
Nice!
Nice to finally see some Republicans growing a pair.
Hang in there Repubs this bill is a disaster.
Cap and trade allows those that are rich to pay for their carbon transgressions. So go ahead, jet around the world, just pay more for your sins. Its the same as the Catholic Church which allowed “Indulgences”, where if you paid the church more, you could gamble and whore around and would be absolved.
There was a time when what indulgences were was taught in school.
Sad, really.
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