OR Senate Republicans End Walkout After Six Weeks

The Associated Press reports:

Ending a walkout that held up key bills for six weeks, Republicans showed up for work in the Oregon Senate on Thursday. The longest walkout in the Oregon Legislature’s history happened despite voters passing a ballot measure in 2022 that disqualifies lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from reelection.

“A whole bunch of legislators aren’t going to be able to come back to this building,” Democratic Senate President Rob Wagner said.

But Republican senators are likely to sue over the measure if they’re not allowed to register as candidates, starting in September, for the 2024 election. Republicans also walked out in 2019, 2020 and 2021. On June 1, Senate Democrats voted to fine senators $325 every time their absence denied a quorum.

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Enough Republicans members showed up in the Oregon Senate on Thursday to end a six-week walkout that halted the work of the Legislature and blocked hundreds of bills, including some on abortion, transgender health care and gun safety. https://t.co/BTBECvvGBc

— Kearney Hub (@KearneyHub) June 16, 2023