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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 2019)
A3 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2019 Republican walkout throws end of session into doubt State police searching for senators By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE, AUBREY WIEBER and MARK MILLER Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The political standoff over a plan to cap carbon emissions in Oregon has left the Legislature list- ing toward its fi nal deadline at the end of the month. Eleven Senate Republi- cans have gone on the lam, leaving Democrats two sen- ators short of having enough senators present to vote on bills. Democrats spent most of Thursday confi ned to the Senate fl oor, awaiting the return of colleagues who don’t appear to be coming back anytime soon. They chatted, scrolled on their tablet computers or sat in silence. Meantime, rumors fl ew around the Capitol building, suggesting some senators had high-tailed it to Montana and Idaho. A supporter started a crowdfunding page to pay for their expenses while they’re beyond the grasp of the Oregon State Police. By Thursday evening, the effort had raised nearly $10,000. Amid the fracas, Gov. Kate Brown called an after- noon press conference at which she spoke for less than fi ve minutes — charging that Republican senators “failed to do their job” and insist- ing they return to the Capitol — before shaking hands with youth environmental activ- ists arrayed behind her and departing, ignoring shouted questions from reporters. In a move not taken by a governor in more than a decade, Brown authorized the Oregon State Police to locate absent senators and bring them back to the Capitol. Several Republican sena- Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau Senate President Peter Courtney looks out over empty desks in the Senate on Thursday. tors said Thursday they had left the state, placing them outside the state police juris- diction, and that their peers have done likewise. Brown said Thursday she’s confi dent in the state police’s abilities. “Today, I’m utilizing established relationships to have polite communica- tion with these senators,” OSP Superintendent Travis Hampton wrote in an internal email to troopers Thursday afternoon. “While we obvi- ously have many tools at our disposal, patience and com- munication is and always will be our greatest strategic asset.” “Out of state resources” are assisting the state police , according to the agency. The agency declined to elaborate further or say how many state troopers are part of the effort, but that it has been in contact with “sev- eral” of the senators. “As the superintendent of the Oregon State Police, I respect Oregon’s Constitu- tion, and I am duty-bound to protect the rights described in it, just as I am duty-bound to enforce our laws irrespec- tive of any personal or polit- ical beliefs I may have,” Hampton wrote to his agency employees. “In this case, we will work with the governor’s offi ce and members of the Legislature to fi nd the most expeditious way to bring this matter to a peaceful and con- structive conclusion. “With the help of the good and committed people we have on our team and both sides of the Oregon Legis- lature, I’m confi dent we’ll get it done. I just want to ensure you all I am person- ally engaged in this issue and confi dent we will do our part to uphold the best traditions of the department.” Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, asked Brown to dispatch the state police after formally sum- moning all 29 senators for what is known as a “call of Clatsop Animal Assistance would like to thank the following for helping make our 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner a wonderful success for the pets! Thank You To Our Sponsors! Miriam Dunning Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency Danny and Sue Stein Providence Seaside Hospital Bayshore Animal Hospital Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals The Wine Shack Westport Winery Kramer Vineyards the Senate” just after 11 a.m. Thursday. Courtney also approved a motion by Senate Major- ity Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, to dock absent senators $500 for every day they don’t show up, starting Friday. Republicans threat- ened to sue over the fi nes. “This is the saddest day of my legislative life,” Court- ney said. His voice cracked at times as he implored sen- ators to return to the Capitol. “I beg and beseech my fellow legislators to come to the fl oor. I need you. The Legislature needs you. The people of Oregon need you,” Courtney pleaded. “If you’re mad, and you’re angry and upset, take it out on me. Say things about me. Come at me. Don’t do this to the peo- ple of Oregon. Don’t do this to this branch. You’re too good. You’ve been chosen.” After concluding his remarks, Courtney sank into a chair behind the dais and buried his face in his hands for several minutes. Courtney was fi rst elected to serve as president of the Senate — then evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans — in 2003. When most of the Senate Republican caucus skipped out on a week’s worth of fl oor sessions in May, play- ing hardball over a busi- ness tax proposal, Courtney declined to fi ne them or ask the governor to have police pursue them. Courtney previously had then-Gov. Ted Kulongoski send state troopers to fetch a Republican senator in 2007 so that Democrats could approve a tax plan that Sen- ate Republicans opposed. That senator, Roger Beyer, of Molalla, told the Oregon Capital Bureau he was preparing to go to Salem with the state police when the Democratic leaders called it off, having secured a 20th senator for the vote through negotiations. Negotiations also put an end to last month’s walkout, when Republicans skipped fl oor sessions for several days. Brown stepped in person- ally to resolve it. She made an agreement with Senate Minority Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr. that Democrats would drop a gun control bill, as well as a con- troversial proposal to end non medical vaccine exemp- tions that only one Repub- lican senator publicly sup- ported, in exchange for Republicans returning to work for the rest of the legis- lative session. The Oregon Capital Bureau confi rmed Thursday that Democrats, who believe Republicans reneged on their earlier deal, are considering reviving the gun and vaccine bills. Republicans say that it was Democrats who welched on the accord between Brown and Baertschiger. They were promised an undefi ned “reset” of the cap- and-trade plan in House Bill 2020, which Republicans said Thursday never took place. “They essentially left us with no choice but to protest the breaking of the agree- ment,” Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said. Asked about the prospect of Democrats bringing back the gun and vaccine bills, Knopp responded, “I think if they are looking for a solu- tion, they will not move in that direction.” Brown said Wednesday that if Republicans walked out again, they would be going back on their word. But she dodged a ques- tion at Thursday’s brief press conference about whether she regrets making the May deal. “I think it’s critical that the Oregon Legislature move forward on legisla- tion to tackle global climate change,” Brown said. “Ore- gon needs to move forward, and we must do it now.” The Clatsop County Fair July 29 - Aug 3 And To The Local Businesses Who Donated To Our Live Auction! Laser Print and Copy, Cannery Pier Hotel, Bridgewater Bistro, Liberty Theatre, Columbia River Bar Pilots, Buoy Beer, Malama Day Spa, Lighthouse Oceanfront Resort, Chef Andy Catalano, Commodore Hotel, T. 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