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11 Oregon GOP senators flee to avoid climate change vote. They may be hiding in Idaho


You’ve heard the stories about how Idaho is a great place to live.

Some Oregon state legislators are reportedly checking out the Gem State for themselves after fleeing their home state.

Eleven Republican senators walked out of the Oregon Capitol on Thursday to block a vote on a climate bill. The bill has already passed the Oregon House and was expected to easily pass in the Senate, where Democrats hold a supermajority. But without at least two of the Republicans who left, there wasn’t a quorum to hold a vote.

Peggy Boquist, wife of GOP Sen. Brian Boquist of Dallas, 15 miles west of Salem, told CNN that the 11 senators are together out of state.

“They all left and are in Idaho. I don’t have a way of contacting him,” Peggy Boquist said.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, authorized the Oregon State Police to pick up the wayward lawmakers, but their jurisdiction ends at the Snake River that separates Oregon from Idaho. The Oregon governor has the authority to order the Oregon State Police to round up missing legislators for a vote.

“It’s time for the Senate Republicans to show up and do the job they were elected to do,” Brown said at a news conference, the Associated Press reported.

And the Idaho State Police aren’t offering any help, saying they lack jurisdiction.

“The Idaho State Police is not involved in the search for Oregon lawmakers, as these individuals are not suspected of breaking any Idaho laws,” ISP Col. Kedrick Wills said in a statement provided to the Idaho Statesman.

Brian Boquist caused a stir Wednesday as he issued a warning to the Oregon State Police as the threat of a walkout loomed.

“Send bachelors and come heavily armed,” Boquist said, in remarks reported by KGW-TV in Portland. “I’m not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon. It’s just that simple.”

Sen. Dallas Heard of Roseburg, 70 miles south of Eugene, told the Roseburg News-Review that he had arrived in an undisclosed state with “grumpy kids in the car.”

“And he had pretty sketchy cell service,” the newspaper reported.

Under state law, the missing senators will each be fined $500 a day, beginning Friday, until they return to the Capitol.

This is the second walkout during the six-month session, which by law must end June 30. Republicans left to block a school funding tax package. It lasted four days, until Brown agreed to shelve bills on gun control and vaccination requirements.

Peter Courtney, the Oregon Senate president, pleaded with the missing senators to return.

“I beg and beseech my fellow legislators to come to the floor,” Courtney said from the Senate floor, the Associated Press reported. “I need you, the Legislature needs you, the people of Oregon need you to pass budgets to take care of our citizens.”

The climate bill would place a limit on greenhouse gas emissions and require companies to buy permits to pollute. The number of permits would eventually decline and become more expensive, giving companies an incentive to invest in pollution-control equipment.

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Originally posted by jljones:
Oregon seems to be a pretty f-ed up place beyond the trending political beliefs.

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Originally posted by Sigmund:
This is not the first time. I remember something similar from the past, found this from Texas where Demokrats where hiding:

https://www.voanews.com/archiv...ting-vote-2003-05-15

Texas Democrats Flee to Neighboring State to Avoid Redistricting Vote - 2003-05-15
October 29, 2009 09:26 AM


Democratic state legislators in Texas adopted an unusual strategy this week in a political battle with Republicans; they fled the state to neighboring Oklahoma.

On Monday, the Republican-led Texas state legislature was preparing to convene when it suddenly became apparent that virtually all the Democrats in the Texas House were nowhere to be found.

Republicans quickly ordered state troopers and the legendary Texas Rangers to round them up. But the Democrats were one step ahead of the law. They fled to neighboring Oklahoma and set up shop in a hotel.

Democrats left the state to block an attempt by Texas Republicans to redraw the state's U.S. congressional districts. The redistricting plan would change several districts and make it likely that Republicans could win at least four more congressional seats from Democrats in the next election.

Since the Democrats did not have enough votes in the state legislature to block the plan, they decided to deny Republicans the quorum they need to conduct legislative business. The legislature requires at least 100 of the 150 house members to be present to debate and pass laws.

State Representative Jim Dunnam is one of more than 50 Democrats who fled to Oklahoma. "To our families and our friends and our supporters, I would like to say thank you," he said. "We miss you. We are doing fine."

Republicans like this state legislator accused Democrats of doing the unthinkable in Texas; running away from a political fight. "What we are witnessing right now is the tyranny of the minority," said a Republican legislator.

The Democrats may ihave blocked the redistricting plan for now, but Republicans say they are not giving up.

Republicans took control of the Texas House in January for the first time in 130 years. During the past 40 years Texas, which at one time was a bastion of Democratic support, has grown increasingly Republican.

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Originally posted by lizardman_u:

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Originally posted by jljones:
Oregon seems to be a pretty f-ed up place beyond the trending political beliefs.

Unfortunately like Washington the I-5 corridor makes the rules for the rest of us.

Over here in eastern Oregon we are mostly conservative, and we tend to keep to ourselves.

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Originally posted by flashguy:
If the law is about controlling pollutants, then it might be OK. If it is about "Climate Change" then it should not be passed. (CO2 is not a pollutant.)

flashguy

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Originally posted by flashguy:
If the law is about controlling pollutants, then it might be OK. If it is about "Climate Change" then it should not be passed. (CO2 is not a pollutant.)

flashguy

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Originally posted by XLT:
lots of great people here in Oregon, the problem is Portland Salem and (Eugene) where I live controlling the rest of the state mainly the Portland freak show. lots of us here cant stand her, lots of signs in the back of vehicles saying " Kate Brown sucks" or "if it's brown flush it down"
Oregon is a beautiful state and a great place to live, the Willamette valley being ideal, your 1 hour away from the coast or the mountains.


The problem is all the Californians moving up here years ago and pushing their ideas on everyone.


After traveling to lots of places I have been in the country the second you get off the plane and smell the beautiful fresh air, it's hard to imagine living any place else. lots of hunting and fishing, crabbing here. just wish we had the means to flip the state.
Trust me lots of people here hate where our state is going and we are doing our best to change it, we are just simply out numbered.

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Originally posted by XLT:
The problem is all the Californians moving up here years ago and pushing their ideas on everyone.

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Originally posted by PD:

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Originally posted by XLT:
The problem is all the Californians moving up here years ago and pushing their ideas on everyone.

Fair warning to Texas, Florida, and the rest who are on the receiving end of liberal migration.

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Originally posted by mbinky:
So exactly what statute authorizes the State Police to go to another state and apprehend someone? Is there a law are they in violation of?