Governor sends police after GOP senators who fled Capitol

[TexasTowelie]

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown deployed the state police Thursday to try to round up Republican lawmakers who fled the Capitol to block a vote on a landmark economy-wide climate plan that would be the second of its kind in the nation.

Minority Republicans want the cap-and-trade proposal, which is aimed at dramatically lowering the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to be sent to voters instead of being instituted by lawmakers — but negotiations with Democrats collapsed, leading to the walkout, Kate Gillem, a spokeswoman for Senate Republicans said Thursday.

Oregon State Police can force any senators they track down in Oregon into a patrol car to return them to the Capitol, although the agency said in a statement that it would use “polite communication” and patience to bring the rogue lawmakers back.

Under state law, the absentee senators will be fined $500 a day per person starting Friday if enough of them remain absent to prevent a vote. Democrats have an 18 to 12 majority in the chamber, but need 20 members present for a quorum.

Read more: https://www.apnews.com/1a3dd1c7c6424a4f9b71226e3d5c7e32

[Snackshack]

1. Good for the Governor.

[trev]

2. There's an earlier thread on this.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=12206331

[Dawson Leery]

3. After what the GOP did in Texas in 2003 combined with what they did in Wisconsin,

hardball must be played. The Governor has no choice.

[quakerboy]

4. I have some thoughts on this, as it stretches out

First.. I get their first fleeing. They are greedy cowards and didn't want to accept the consequences of losing elections. So be it.

But once they negotiated a return, it should have been done for the session. I would strongly argue that this second cut and run should invalidate all deals made on the first return. Everything that was promised and/or delivered to them is now null and void, and should be called back for votes as soon as possible.

Second.. Keep up the fines, start the special session as soon as legally allowed after the end of the current session, keep it open as long as legally allowed. And keep calling sessions and having state police searching for our lost senators until they can be returned, as long as it takes.

Third.. Lets get on the residency requirements. How long does it take before they are legally considered to have taken up residency elsewhere, or at least given up residency in Oregon? What are the laws surrounding Oregon State Senate members who move to other states?