Why a group of US state senators are being hunted by police

[G_j]

https://bbc.in/2IBM38X

Eleven Republican senators from the state of Oregon are in hiding.

They walked out of Salem's Capitol building on Thursday and state police have been given authorisation to track them down.

This bizarre series of events has unfolded amid a deep rift between the state's rival parties.

Oregon's Democrats, who have a clear Senate majority, want to pass landmark climate change legislation. Local Republicans have fled to stop that happening.

This weekend, the state capitol had to shut down altogether amid apparent security threats from militia groups.

On Thursday, the 11 Republicans who currently hold seats failed to show up for floor proceedings after negotiations broke down, blocking the legislation's progress.


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[no_hypocrisy]

1. State governments should amend their constitutions.

Something like if a block of senators refuse to show up to do their legislative duties, like vote, a quorum shall be declared as a penalty and voting to be executed and recorded.

If this issue isn't addressed, you'll find this to be a new MO for any state legislature. Kind of a microcosm of the obfuscating that McConnell's doing in the federal Senate.

[JHB]

4. From what I (SORTA) remember about the aftermath of the 2011 Indiana walkout...

...where Democratic legislators walked out to block an anti-union "right to work" bill, the Republican legislators tried to have that be made subject to criminal charges.

I don't recall whether they passed that bill, but I do remember someone noting that the Supreme Court had stuck down a similar law in the 1970s as unconstitutional.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. They have broken their oath of office and are derelict in their duties. Remove them.

[cutroot]

3. Wouldn't this be a perfect time to bring up some other legislation that does not require a quorum?

Perhaps they could bring up some pet republican legislation and shoot it down and shelve it without so much as a whisper of resistance. The Democrats could turn this into an advantage.

[former9thward]

6. All legislation requires a quorum.

If it didn't the Senate leader could come in at 2 am and pass legislation by themselves.

[bluecollar2]

5. Texas Democrats

Did this same thing a couple of times...State Senators bolted for New Mexico and State Representatives went to Oklahoma if I recall correctly.

[former9thward]

7. They are not really being "hunted"

All they have the power to do is ask them to return if they find them. Anything more than that they need to ask the head of the state police. He will not agree to do anything more because of constitutional concerns.

[in2herbs]

8. Innocent citizens will be affected, but since the Oregon government does not have a

quorum to conduct business, why not shut the government down? When state workers stop being paid the 11 senators who are hiding may reconsider and come out of hiding -- hopefully to the wrath of the voters!