money Unexcused absences again bring Oregon Senate to a halt
The Oregon Senate has come to a halt for the second day in a row after five unexcused absences.
There were 12 absences total Thursday, which meant the Senate could not reach the 20-member quorum required to work through the agenda. Most of those absent were Republican lawmakers and the Legislature's one Independent.
"I don't know what they want. Besides killing legislative priorities," Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, said shortly after the Senate dismissed.
On Wednesday, Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said Republicans are protesting the behavior of Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, and bills they allege violate a little-known statute requiring that bill summaries be written in a manner that results in a score of at least 60 on the Flesch readability test — essentially requiring them to be written in plain language that most adults could understand.
It's an argument Democrats have called "meritless." They allege Republicans are using the tactic to try to kill controversial bills that this week reached the chamber, particularly legislation adding restrictions to gun ownership and use and expanding protections for abortion and gender-affirming care.
Lieber said she has daily conversations with Knopp, including one right before the floor session began.
Democrats are willing to continue conversations but are not willing to kill legislative priorities, she said. She remains "fully confident," she said, the Senate is going to move forward.
Republican walkouts to halt chamber work have been successful tactics in prior legislative sessions. But some had hoped a new voter-approved law would stop them.
Lieber said Oregon voters were clear when they passed Measure 113 about what they expected of their elected leaders. Measure 113 prohibits senators and representatives from being reelected if they have more than 10 unexcused absences in one session.
It's a rule Knopp has suggested Republicans may be planning to challenge to help boost a possible legal attempt to overturn the measure.
On Thursday, senators Daniel Bonham, R-the Dalles; Brian Boquist, I-rural Polk and Yamhill counties; Lynn Findley, R-Vale; Cedric Hayden, R-Fall Creek; and Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls were absent. They are the same senators who had unexcused absences on Wednesday.
The Senate is scheduled to meet again Friday at noon.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon Senate fails to meet quorum a second time
