GOP denies Senate quorum in COVID-19 protest
By Terry Murry on Friday, February 26th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – Republicans in the Oregon Senate denied a quorum in Salem yesterday to dramatize their constituents discontent with Gov. Kate Brown’s handling of the pandemic. That came on the heels of Brown extending the state of emergency due to COVID-19.
A set number of Republicans were expected to be present on the Senate floor to conduct business. Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena), who is not required to be present because he lives in a rural district far from the capitol, said no bills were up for a vote. Hansell attended all of his committee meetings Thursday. He said his party wanted to get its point across without slowing democracy down.
“It’s not a walkout,” Hansell said. “We did not deny business the rest of the day. We denied a quorum to get people’s attention to a very serious issue that we’re dealing with statewide.”
He said that he checked with his staff and estimated that 75 percent of the emails his office receives are pandemic related.
“There’s frustration from parents who want their kids back in school,” he said. “There’s frustration from the elderly who are being lower-prioritized on their vaccines. Businesses are closed.”
Senate Majority Leader Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego)ripped the minority party for the action.
“This must stop,” he wrote in a prepared statement. “Oregonians will hold Senate Republicans accountable and responsible for walking off the job. There will be consequences for their breach of the public trust. We will advance new rules and laws that will deter future walkouts and provide accountability for all elected officials who refuse to show up for Oregonians.”
Republicans answered, calling for all schools to reopen, equitable vaccine distribution, and help for struggling residents to recover. With the Democrats holding a super majority, GOP senators are only left with one option to represent the opinions of their constituents.
“Throughout the pandemic, the Legislature has abdicated too much responsibility to the governor,” Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Lyons) wrote in a prepared statement. “We cannot sit by and watch the governor fail to deliver on the biggest issues facing Oregonians today. It’s time to take some of the responsibility and get to work on the issues that matter most to Oregonians.”
