SALEM, Ore. — Most Republican lawmakers refused to attend a Tuesday night session of the Oregon House of Representatives amid a slowdown over anger at a sweeping bill on climate change.
Earlier, Republican lawmakers, who are a minority in the House, insisted that bills coming to the floor be read in their entirety instead of being summarized, which slowed things down substantially. The 2020 session of the Legislature lasts only 35 days, being an even-year short session.
House Republican leader Christine Drazan told reporters the Republicans were not attempting to deny a quorum but wanted to address pacing of the legislative session. Rep. Bill Post, a Republican from Keizer, said in a tweet Tuesday that instead of dealing with the so-called cap and trade bill on climate change, the Legislature should refer it to voters for the November election.
House Speaker Tina Kotek, a Democrat from Portland, said she was informed by Drazan that Republicans would not attend the Tuesday night session that is necessary in order to meet deadlines because the readings of bills in full delays progress.
