Oregon lawmakers have been in a mad dash to approve hundreds of bills and billions of dollars in spending before the legislative session ends on Sunday, after a six-week Republican walkout caused stacks of legislation to pile up.
The walkout also overshadowed the cross-aisle cooperation that did occur, some lawmakers say.
Whether walkouts remain in the rearview mirror of the Oregon Legislature remains to be seen. Republicans also staged walkouts in 2019, 2020 and 2021 - describing them as the only way for the minority party to protest the majority Democrats’ agenda. This year’s boycott occurred despite the passage of a 2022 ballot measure that disqualifies lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from reelection.
Recognizing that the latest effort to stop walkouts may become embroiled in a court challenge, Democrats are looking to amend the state constitution’s quorum rule that has allowed walkouts to be so disruptive. Two-thirds of lawmakers must be present for the state House orto conduct business and pass bills, making Oregon one of just five states where quorum is higher than a simple majority.
“When it’s out there as a tool, there’s an expectation it’s going to be used, and it just creates many difficulties,” he said of walkouts. “To be honest, we approached the cliff and were able to retreat from it. … We came very close to a disaster.”
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