Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Saddle Up and Run for the Border
From the Oregonian:
Oregon’s Democratic governor, Kate Brown, has dispatched state troopers to find missing Republican senators and bring them back to Salem to legislate.
All 11 Republican senators are in hiding, at least some of them out of state, in order to prevent the Senate from having the quorum it needs to operate. They can’t abide the Democrat-backed carbon cap and spend bill that is up for a Senate vote today.
Senate Democrats also announced that missing GOP lawmakers would be fined $500 per day. The money will be deducted from their per diem and salary.
By Thursday afternoon, an online fundraiser had raised more than $3,000 in support of the Senate Republicans.
The cap and trade bill has been written in such a way that voters will not have the opportunity to vote on it, and it will definitely penalize rural counties. It will probably be the final dagger in the heart of the Oregon logging industry.
Hide and stay hidden, boys and girls, and end this legislative session.
Published in Politics
I didn’t like it when Democrats did it in Wisconsin and I don’t like Republicans doing it in Oregon.
I thought it was funny when the Democrats lit out for Illinois. I think this is funny too.
I agree. The Dems did it in Texas one year. All it does is delay the inevitable. Unfortunately, in this case the inevitable is a bad bill.
The hard left always give in to its authoritarian temptation.
I’m more of a; “No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe when the legislature is in session.” Oregon is a city-state, and dependent upon the whims of the residents of Portland, or Little Havana on the Willamette. Rural counties in Oregon have no way to defend themselves against the Friends of Trees, and have been economically devastated. By the way any group that has “Friends of” in their title is immediately placed on my enemies list.
Yes, inside every Progressive Democrat there is a totalitarian screaming to get out.
Which is exactly why The Friends of Brian Watt is so damn secretive about our meetings.
Texas Democrats did it too, back in 2003, in order to avoid voting on redistricting. Unless there’s a timed deadline involved, all the majority ever has to do is just wait the missing reps out, and whatever public support for the fleeing strategy eventually drops and the missing legislators are forced to return home.
(If this is a short-term strategy, designed to lay down markers for when voters in the future see how much the cap-and-trade bill is raising their energy costs, it might end up helping Oregon Republicans. But they’re not staying away forever from voting on the thing.)
I “liked” this because I hadn’t heard anything about it until now. At the same time, like some of the previous comments, I have very mixed feelings about the technique.
I think it’s great!
But how on earth can state troopers arrest legislators for not showing up?
What about the Friends of Bill W.?
If the state law allows it, they can.
I agree.
Update: The Go Fund Me website has now raised $17,175 to help Republican Senators pay any fines imposed by the Governor of Oregon for seeking political asylum from the Salem Asylum.
Do either of you live in Oregon?
I don’t, but I have. It was many years ago.
I’ve never lived in Wisconsin.
My stepson does and he posted a portrait style photo of the Republicans on facebook today.
My impression is that the bill they are avoiding is unconstitutional anyway. Something about funding requiring an initiative.
What’s a constitution to a Democrat?
A starting point for creative interpretation.
And then there’s this…
By the way the online fundraiser to pay the Republican Senator’s fines is now up to $30,585.
Glad the fine Citizens of Californy done ground those Friends of Abe folks down to the point where they guv up tryin’ to stay public.
Do you feel that way about “Friends of the NRA”?
And who is levying the fines? Under what authority?