Posted on 06/22/2019 9:32:25 AM PDT by Kaslin
Faced with the prospect of a carbon cap and trade scheme being passed in the upper chamber, Republicans in the Oregon state Senate have fled the capital (and the state in at least some cases) to deny the Democratic majority a quorum needed to hold a vote. This has prompted Governor Kate Brown to dispatch the State Police to hunt them down and, if necessary, to physically drag them back to Salem. And believe it or not, this isn’t even the first time it’s happened during this session. (LA Times)
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has deployed the state police to try to round up Republican lawmakers who fled the Capitol to block a vote on a landmark economy-wide climate plan that would be the second of its kind in the nation.
Minority Republicans want the cap-and-trade proposal, which is aimed at dramatically lowering the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to be sent to voters instead of being instituted by lawmakers — but negotiations with Democrats collapsed, leading to the walkout, Kate Gillem, a spokeswoman for Senate Republicans said Thursday.
Oregon State Police can force any senators they track down in the state into a patrol car to return them to the Capitol, although the agency said in a statement that it would use “polite communication” and patience to bring the rogue lawmakers back.
The Republican opposition to the bill is understandable. It’s yet another ruinous Democratic scheme to place unrealistic carbon emission caps on businesses, forcing them to buy “pollution credits” if they can’t meet the unrealistic goals. The effect this would have on small businesses, particularly those working in logging or other operations requiring trucks and other vehicles is obvious. These so-called cap and trade schemes are a way to soak money out of the system to force compliance, similar to what the EPA does on a national level through the Renewable Fuel Standard to mandate ethanol use.
The GOP in the state Senate wanted to put the measure to a referendum and let the voters decide. But likely knowing the public wouldn’t support it, Democrats opposed that plan and negotiations collapsed, leading to the flight of the Republicans. At least some of them have crossed the border into Idaho where State Police lack jurisdiction to pursue them.
But as bad as the cap and trade scheme is, this flight to avoid their jobs isn’t something we should support. You’ll recall that back in 2003, Texas Democrats fled the Lone Star State and holed up at a motel in Oklahoma to prevent the Texas legislature from having a quorum to vote on a new redistricting bill. They were widely pilloried by Republicans at home and across the country, even though their tactic eventually succeeded. To turn around now and cheer on these Oregon Republicans would be rank hypocrisy.
The Oregon GOP is in this position because Democrats hold a supermajority in the legislature. If you want to effect change and promote more conservative policies, you do so by making better arguments and winning more elections. I realize that’s difficult in such a blue state, but it’s been done before. And when jobs begin disappearing and costs begin rising due to this cap and trade scheme, it won’t be the Republicans that voters blame. Go home, do your jobs and bide your time. The voters will be looking to you once the damage from this legislative package begins hitting home.
The Left didn’t care when Dem’s fled Wisconsin.
Another horrific mess created by STUPID, IGNORANT VOTERS. Giving the state to the socialist RATS.
Live with it, fix it, and don’t do it again. Learn from your mistakes. Like the lib voters of California are going to learn....both states are losing their states.
“...Governor Kate Brown to dispatch the State Police to hunt them down and, if necessary, to physically drag them back to Salem...”
How is this legal?????
Oh, that FACE!
Hey, Jazz...they are DOING THEIR JOBS! The Dems in Oregon make almost EVERY bill in the Legislature an “Emergency”, and that legally prevents it going in a measure to the citizens for a vote.
What an ugly woman...Both inside and out...
Within the state of Oregon there is evidently a law saying they can pick them up. Out of state...SOL
In the US senate
“The Sergeant-at-Arms can compel Senators to go to the Senate chamber to ensure a quorum. Upon the orders of the Senate, he or she can arrest or detain any person who violates the rules.”
“In 1877, in response to proliferating filibusters that employed tactics designed to keep the Senate from attaining the 51 percent quorum needed to conduct business, the body amended its rules to allow the sergeant at arms, upon receiving Senate orders, to arrest members.
“
When the Dems did this in Wisconsin a few years back, we at FR condemned them and called on the Governor to send the State Police to pick them up.
We should hold the Repub state Senators to the same standards. If the A-Holes in Oregon want a Carbon Tax, let them have it.
The Repub Senators need to go back and do their job.
When the pain of the Carbon Tax hits the people, then maybe they will smarten up.
Except for the: “The reason for the emergency clause is to keep the public from voting on it,”
Now and forever.
https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-senate-walkout-cap-trade-climate-bill/
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“To turn around now and cheer on these Oregon Republicans would be rank hypocrisy.”
Governor Rick Perry tried this in his term, but the TX Democrats were too shrewd and fled to OK or NM, where the warrants are invalid. Eventually they had to come back in defeat regarding redistricting.
Kate Brown led a Senate flight years ago.
Same here when Indiana Dem fleebaggers hid out in Illinois over Right to Work
Why should the Conservatives bend over? They’re right to flee the state. I would had done the same thing if I’m in their shoes.
That is very interesting. Can you dig up info?
BTW—was talking to a guy in southern Ohio who grew up in Indiana in a place where they played STQ south coast style. His daughter teaches in a Catholic grade school that has banned tag as hazardous.
Yep, that smug, smarmy, know-it-all look of today’s feminists, school teachers and soccer moms.
It's s look. Oregon Speaker of the Housd Tina Kotek.
The damage from this cap and scam bill won’t be easily undone, so it’s best to do everything and anything possible to prevent its passage right now. Like California, Oregon is ruled by three counties. Rural voters have no voice. The Repubs are doing the only thig they can do right now.
This bill is all about our troll governor trying to burnish her legacy. She doesn’t care who she screws to get that accomplished.
Sadly, most voters in this state aren’t paying attention.
LOL...Tina or Tim????
Could’ve been either....
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