Oregon Senate Republicans made history with the longest legislative walkout ever.
Oregon Senate Republicans Hold Historic Walkout, Face Disqualification
Oregon Senate Republicans made headlines this year with the longest legislative walkout in state history, effectively stalling the progress of numerous bills until negotiations were reached with the majority Democrats.
This week, the secretary of state announced that 10 state senators will be disqualified from seeking reelection in the next term due to their violation of a measure that limits representatives and senators to no more than 10 unexcused absences during the legislative session.
Feud Over Voter-Passed Measure 113
Republicans are currently embroiled in a dispute over the language of Measure 113, which was passed by voters. The walkout officially ended in June after Republicans reached a compromise to modify certain Democratic bills that had sparked the boycott.
Let’s take a look at the timeline of events leading up to the walkout and the key points of contention between the parties.
What Triggered the Walkout?
On May 3, several Republicans and one independent senator staged a walkout at the state Capitol in protest of Democratic-backed legislation.
Senate Republicans argued that several Democratic bills were not written in plain language, citing a state law from 1979 that requires legislation to score above a 60 on the Flesch readability test. This test assesses the readability of a text, with bills expected to be at an eighth- or ninth-grade reading level.
Contested Bills
One of the most contentious bills for GOP members was House Bill 2002, which aimed to protect abortion providers and expand transgender medical care. Republicans attempted to remove the bill from consideration, but their efforts were unsuccessful. However, they did manage to remove certain language from the bill that they deemed extreme, such as criminalizing concealing a birth and restricting reproductive healthcare at college-based health centers.
Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp argued that the expansion of rights for transgender minors violated parental rights, further fueling the dispute.
Another major point of contention was legislation containing multiple gun control measures. House Bill 2005 sought to ban ghost guns, grant cities or towns the authority to ban firearms in public areas, and raise the minimum age for purchasing most guns from 18 to 21. Republicans successfully negotiated to pass only a portion of the bill, focusing on penalties for building, importing, or selling ghost guns.
The Walkout Timeline
The walkout began in early May and lasted for over 40 days, preventing the chamber from reaching the necessary 20-member quorum to conduct business.
By the 12th day of the walkout, four lawmakers had been banned from running for reelection.
In late May, House Speaker Tina Kotek engaged in negotiations with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in an attempt to end the walkout. However, the parties remained deadlocked over the reproductive and transgender care bill. Republicans proposed returning on June 25, one day before the session ended, to pass the state budget and bipartisan bills, but Kotek rejected the offer.
As the walkout approached the one-month mark, Senate President Rob Wagner and the Democratic caucus imposed fines of $325 per day on the absent senators.
Republicans finally returned to work on June 15 after Democrats agreed to modify certain language in House Bill 2002, including allowing providers to notify parents about their minor’s abortion.
Who Are the Disqualified Senators?
A total of 10 state senators, including nine Republicans and one Independent, accumulated more than 10 unexcused absences, rendering them ineligible for reelection under Measure 113.
The following lawmakers are barred from running in 2024: Republican Minority Leader Tim Knopp, along with state Senators Daniel Bonham, Dennis Linthicum, Cedric Hayden, Lynn Findley, Bill Hansell, Kim Thatcher, Art Robinson, Suzanne Weber, and Independent Brian Boquist.
While Hansell has announced his retirement, Findley has yet to decide whether he will seek reelection. As of August 2, four senators have officially declared their intention to run despite Measure 113: Knopp, Linthicum, Robinson, and Boquist.
Understanding Measure 113
Measure 113 stipulates that state lawmakers who accumulate 10 or more unexcused absences during a single legislative session are prohibited from running for election in the subsequent term.
Last November, Oregon voters added this measure to the state’s constitution in an effort to prevent future walkouts by Republicans. It received overwhelming support, with 68.3% of voters in favor.
What’s Next?
Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has pledged to uphold Measure 113, stating that her decision aligns with the voters’ intent to disqualify members who have excessively missed sessions without valid reasons.
Some banned Republicans argue that the language of the measure is unclear, suggesting that they may be eligible to run for reelection in 2024 but not in 2028.
Republicans have issued a statement expressing their intention to challenge Griffin-Valade’s decision in court.
“After repeated unlawful and unconstitutional actions by President Rob Wagner and other Democrat leaders in the 2023 Session, Senate Republicans held them accountable by peacefully pausing the session to gain compliance with Senate Rules, Oregon Law, and the Oregon Constitution,” said Minority Leader Tim Knopp in a press statement.
Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.
Oregon Legislature’s History of Walkouts
Oregon Republicans in both chambers have a history of staging walkouts to protest legislation supported by Democrats. In May 2019, Senate Republicans opposed a tax plan aimed at funding state schools, arguing that the additional $1 billion from Democrats would not effectively address the issues in the education system and would unnecessarily increase costs. Negotiations resulted in Democrats tabling two bills that Republicans opposed in order to pass the tax plan.
In February 2020, House and Senate Republicans boycotted a climate change bill aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. After several days of Republican absence, the Democrats ultimately tabled the bill.
In February 2021, Republicans protested executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, refusing to come to work for five days.
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