We have states attempting to bar Trump from the November ballot and then there is the state of Oregon….in an attempt to bar dissenters from re-election….
The Oregon Supreme Court said Thursday that 10 Republican state senators who staged a record-long walkout last year to stall bills on abortion, transgender health care, and gun rights cannot run for reelection. The decision upholds the secretary of state’s decision to disqualify the senators from the ballot under a voter-approved measure aimed at stopping such boycotts. Measure 113, passed by voters in 2022, amended the state constitution to bar lawmakers from reelection if they have more than 10 unexcused absences, the AP reports.
Last year’s boycott lasted six weeks—the longest in state history—and paralyzed the legislative session, stalling hundreds of bills. Five of the 10 GOP senators who racked up more than 10 absences sued over the secretary of state’s decision. “We obviously disagree with the Supreme Court’s ruling,” said one of them, Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp. “But more importantly, we are deeply disturbed by the chilling impact this decision will have to crush dissent.” Democratic Senate President Rob Wagner welcomed the decision. “Today’s ruling by the Oregon Supreme Court means that legislators and the public now know how Measure 113 will be applied, and that is good for our state,” he said in a statement.
Political advocacy groups that backed Measure 113 had similar reactions, per the AP. “Walkouts allow a relatively small number of lawmakers to nullify the will of the majority, and that is to the detriment of our democracy,” said Alejandro Queral of the Oregon Center for Public Policy. All parties in the suit had sought clarity on when the ineligibility takes effect before the March filing deadline for candidates who want to run in this year’s election. Oregon voters approved the measure by a wide margin following Republican walkouts in the legislature in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
While I enjoy any time a GOPer gets in hot water I just do not see this as an answer…..but if the people decided then I guess we must go along with their decision, after all it is their state and their elections.
Any thoughts?
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergpo scribo”
In Saner Thought 
Since Oregon voters approved the measure I assume that must include som Republicans which shows they too are getting fed up with the time wasting of these so called law-makers.Perhaps if these measures were brought in everywhere, and asxan added incentive penalised the time wasters in their pay packets, more laws would be passed in the time alloted.There might even be more bi-partisanship in order to ensure decisions are made which can surely only be good ?
Good idea….I believe that all such decision should be made by the voters. chuq
People in general are not smart enough to think for themselves, Chuq– that is why they elect representatives to do their thinking for them– isn’t that right? Anyway that seems to be what the elected representatives are thinking these days, isn’t it? It is definitely what T-Rump thinks, isn’t it?
Sadly but you are accurate…..voters go for personality instead of issues….and here we are with this crapped up mess of a system. chuq
Voters go for what their drinking partners or their pot-smoking friends tell them….and most of them are under some kind of cloud all the time…either an alcoholic haze or a drug-induced stupor—and I think somebody has programmed the system to work that way—
I have never been one of those that feels I must ‘fit in’…..I have always traveled my own road. chuq
You are not “down” where these creatures live.
Thanx and I hope I never feel the need to ‘fit in’…..chuq
The amount of members of parliament here who fail to show up on a regular basis is a national scandal. The only option here is to force a re-election and supply a new candidate, and that can only be done by members of the same political pary in the constituency represented. It has not happened that often, but actually happened three times in 2023.
Best wishes, Pete.
Our members of Congress work about 4 days a week 6 months total after all the stupid breaks and holidays….in essence they are part-time help. chuq