Oregon senators leave due to controversial bills on abortion, gender transition, and guns.

Republican Walkout Delays Oregon Senate Action on Controversial Bills

A walkout by most Republicans and two independent members of the Oregon Senate starting May 3 has delayed action by the majority Democrats on bills related to restricting access to guns, and increasing access to abortion, and gender-transition services.

Because Oregon’s legislative rules require a two-thirds quorum to conduct business, the session ground to a halt.

The walkout enters its second week on May 8 with no end in sight.

Republicans Cite Unconstitutional Process

GOP leaders are saying that the “work stoppage” is not tied to any one particular bill but rather what they say is an unconstitutional process of passing bills that fail to meet legal requirements for using language that the public can understand.

Oregon statute requires bill summaries to be written at an 8th-grade reading level, which correlates with a Flesch-Kincaid readability score of 60. The bills in question score as low as 30, corresponding to the reading level of college graduates.

“Laws are to be plainly written and easy to understand,” explained Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp.

“When the majority of bill summaries demand a post-graduate degree to understand what the bills do, we disenfranchise Oregonians across the state and violate the law in the process.”

Democrats claim the argument has no merit, although it is codified in statute. They allege Republicans are using the tactic to try to kill controversial bills that reached the chamber last week.

“The people of Oregon are not fooled,” said Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber in a press conference. “It is no coincidence that the Republicans are employing these tactics just at the time that we were about to address House Bill 2002.”

What’s in the Healthcare Bill?

HB 2002 would dramatically expand access and public funding for abortion and gender-transition procedures in Oregon. It would also allow both to take place without parental consent or notification.

Two Republicans who walked out last week are adamant about their objections.

“The bill is a massive overhaul of Oregon healthcare to focus on a relatively small group of people and would completely upend our healthcare approach to minors,” Sen. Dennis Linthicum told The Epoch Times.

“A minor of any age could get an abortion or a minor age 15 or older could begin gender transition without parent permission or notification.”

Democratic House Speaker Dan Rayfield said HB 2002 was “the result of a year-long collaboration between dozens of legislators and stakeholders” following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last year, according to a statement released last week.

But Linthicum called that a strawman argument.

“This legislation has nothing to do with that decision,” he said  “Oregon already protects abortion rights up to the moment of birth.”

The bill would require all health plans in Oregon to cover abortion procedures and gender-affirming care.

Services will be offered through the state government’s “Healthier Oregon” program, which provides health coverage to low-income individuals who “live in Oregon“ regardless of immigration status, or residency.

“There would be no requirement for patients to establish residency to qualify for services,” Linthicum explained. “The bill would, by design, attract out-of-state people seeking free care in Oregon.

“The costs to taxpayers and insurance ratepayers could be enormous.”