Turning our attention now to Salem,
where the GOP walk out in the Senate,
hit day #13 and another six senators
collected that 10th unexcused absence.
That list includes a total now of 10
senators, 9 Republicans and one independent,
including the Minority Leader in the Senate.
That's Tim Konope.
They are all ineligible for
reelection following their current
term thanks to Measure 113,
which Republicans have said
they will challenge in court.
There are few, if any, signs that the
walkout is going to end anytime soon.
Democratic Senate President Rob
Wagner says negotiations between the
two sides mostly been unproductive.
He said neither side is willing to budget.
Dems want their abortion and
gun bills rammed on through.
The GOP wants those set aside
before they return.
Wagner says Democrats are not
going to drop or change bills
just because Republicans don't
like them and don't support them.
He argues that voters elected Democratic
majority to see policies like these past.
A lot of you have asked what Governor
Kotek is doing or has done to try
and bring the two sides together.
So far, she's largely stayed out of it.
She told reporters yesterday that
she's doing a lot of listening
and telling lawmakers there's an
expectation to get back to work.
She's also said that she would
consider calling a special session
if lawmakers cannot pass a budget
by the end of the current session,
which is June 25th.
But what about the extraordinary
option that she does have to send
Oregon State Police to round up
truant Republicans and force them
back into the Senate chamber?
She had ruled that out earlier,
but in comments to the media yesterday,
she threatened to change her mind.
Right now I'm sticking
to what I said earlier.
State police are very busy, by the way.
I'm excited and pleased with the
work they've been doing and stopping
fentanyl on I-5 and working with.
The Portland police,
on issues like street racing,
they have work to do.
I haven't changed my mind on that.
At this point.
I'm not saying I wouldn't,
but right now I worry it.
I'm treating people with respect.
Get back to work.
I don't need to chase you down,
get back to work,
quote. I'm not saying I wouldn't.
That's what we call a double negative,
which actually becomes a positive.
So it means, yeah, I sure could.
So there's that.
By the way, Senate President Rob Wagner
basically said the same thing today.
He reminded reporters that he said on the
first day of the walkout that he would not
ask state police to bring members back.
Then he added, is that something we could do?
It's still a potential, but I'm not
saying that we're ready to go there.
By the way, the power to force legislators
back is part of the state constitution.
It's an Article 4, Section 12.
It reads 2/3 of each house shall
constitute A quorum to do business,
but a smaller number may meet,
adjourn from day-to-day and compel
the attendance of absent members.
The keyword there of course compel.
What that means is the Senate President
Wagner could compel the attendance of the
Republicans by asking the Governor to
use the State police to round them up,
since Wagner has no authority
over the State police.
Hopefully it does not come to that,
but it is possible.
And in my opinion,
the fact that the governor and the
Senate President would not rule
it out when asked about it, well,
that makes it likely, in my mind,
very likely that the state police will
be used to find these Republicans and
drag them into the Senate chamber.
But again, it's just my opinion.
I might be wrong. I hope I am.
Hopefully it won't be needed.
We'll see.
You don't have to agree, by the way,
with my opinion.
I'm just throwing it out there
to get you thinking.
In the meantime, we want to hear from you.
What do you think of this walkout tactic?
We're especially interested in hearing
from those of you who live in the
districts where the senators are on
the list of the 10 unexcused absences.
Tell us where you are and tell
us what you think about this.
Are they doing the right thing,
or do you think they need to get back
to the chamber to continue to work?
What do you think?
Send us an e-mail, will you?
The address is the story at kgw.com or
you can call and leave a voicemail.
The number is
503-226-5090.