Negotiations to end the Oregon Senate walkout have reached an impasse, Gov. Tina Kotek said Wednesday.
The Oregon Senate has been unable to conduct business since May 3 when Senate Republicans and an Independent stopped attending floor sessions, denying the Senate the 20-member quorum required.
Republican leadership initially said the walkout was motivated by frustrations with Democrats’ failure to follow laws and statutes requiring bill summaries to meet specific readability scores.
But at the center of the walkout has been opposition to House Bill 2002, which would require insurance to cover gender-affirming care, establish further protections to health care providers who perform abortions, and allow minors under the age of 15 to have an abortion without their parent’s consent.
Oregon, with its legislative Democratic majority and Democratic governor, has been one of few states this year advancing measures to expand abortion and LGBTQ protections instead of restricting them. But the walkout has put the minority Republican lawmakers in a unique position of power to squash the effort.
Oregon is one of four states that requires a two-thirds majority to conduct legislative business.
How did the governor get involved?
All but three Oregon Senate Republicans have now violated Measure 113 with their unexcused absences. The measure was approved by voters last year in an effort to end walkouts by disqualifying a lawmaker from another term after 10 unexcused absences.
Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, and Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, have been the only two Republicans to appear on the floor the past several days. Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, remains excused for medical reasons.
When Democratic legislative leaders failed to negotiate an end to the walkout, Kotek stepped in.
But according to the statement from Kotek Wednesday, her talks with Senate Republican leadership have also fallen apart.
“After a week of productive conversations and continued attempts to work with the Senate Republican caucus to revive a number of their priorities, I am disappointed that Senator Knopp has made clear to me that there is not a path forward unless House Bill 2002 is substantially amended or dead,” Kotek said.
Democrats and Kotek have been clear throughout the walkout that the bill was not up for negotiation.
What deal was offered?
Kotek said she has met with all four legislative caucuses, held five meetings with Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, and held conversations with Senate and House leadership over the past nine days.
Kotek said she put forward “an earnest proposal” based on Senate Republicans’ priorities and concerns that “included compromises by the Senate president and speaker of the House on a variety of process and policy issues.”
The exact details of the proposal were not released. But in a follow-up email, Kotek’s office said items from the Republicans’ priority list were discussed in addition to process changes they were looking for.
Knopp, in a statement, alleged Kotek “was focused on a return to the status quo: an agenda that is unlawful, uncompromising, and unconstitutional.”
“If Democrats want us to provide a quorum before June 25, they must agree to follow Senate Rules, follow the law, and work to put forward constitutional, bipartisan bills that don’t violate a parents’ sacred right to love and care for their child,” Knopp said.
What happens next?
Knopp has said Republicans would return to work on June 25, the last day of session allowed, to vote on a budget and “substantially bipartisan” legislation, essentially giving them veto power over bills.
Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, has said he would not allow Republicans to use that tactic.
“The people of Oregon were clear when they amended our constitution last fall: Walkouts are not an acceptable part of our legislative process. It is well past time for Senate Republicans to return to work and earn their taxpayer-funded pay,” Wagner said in a statement demanding an end to the walkout. “We have hundreds of bills that have gone through our rigorous committee process. These bills must have an up or down vote on the Senate floor.”
Hundreds of bills remain stalled in the Senate.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at[email protected] or on Twitter @DianneLugo