Oregon Supreme Court Bars Ten GOP Senators From Re-Election
The Oregon Supreme Court ruled on Thursday to disqualify ten Republican lawmakers from running for re-election. This move comes after the GOP senators staged an extended walkout last year, lasting approximately six weeks, in protest of dem-proposed bills.
The court’s decision aligns with the requests from Democrats who sought a ballot ban for the GOP lawmakers. The ruling upholds the secretary of state’s authority to disqualify these senators under Measure 113, a voter-approved measure passed in 2022. This measure empowers the state constitution to prevent lawmakers from seeking re-election if they accumulate more than ten unexcused absences.
The walkout conducted by Republican senators disrupted the legislative session and caused delays in the consideration of numerous bills. Measure 113 aimed to address such boycotts by enforcing consequences for prolonged, unexcused absences.
The Oregon Senate Republican Caucus expressed strong criticism of the Supreme Court’s decision, accusing the court of favoring Democrats and union interests. They contended that the ruling effectively terminated the service of ten Republican senators, constituting one-third of the Oregon Senate.
Five of the banned lawmakers, including Senators Tim Knopp, Daniel Bonham, Suzanne Weber, Dennis Linthicum, and Lynn Findley, filed a lawsuit challenging the secretary of state’s decision:
Five lawmakers, among the ten who are banned from re-election, filed a lawsuit over the secretary of state’s decision. Republican Senators Tim Knopp, Daniel Bonham, Suzanne Weber, Dennis Linthicum, and Lynn Findley are named on the document.
“We obviously disagree with the Supreme Court’sCourt’s ruling,” Knopp, the chamber’s minority leader, said. “But more importantly, we are deeply disturbed by the chilling impact this decision will have to crush dissent.”
Weber said she was disappointed but not surprised the state’s Democrat leaders— Gov. Kate Brown and Gov. Tina Kotek— sided in favor of the “political rhetoric rather than their own precedent.”
“Every legal mind I’ve heard from, regardless of political leanings, has affirmed that when there is only one interpretation for the plain language of the law, that is final,” Bonham said. “The language incorporated into the Oregon Constitution was clear, yet the Supreme Court ruled that voter intent, which cannot be determined by any metric, supersedes the Constitution. There is no justice in a political court.” (Townhall)
The amendment specifies that lawmakers cannot run “for the term following the election after the member’s current term is completed.” The senators argued that they could seek another term, given that a senator’s term ends in January, while elections take place the previous November.
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