Oregon GOP Senator to State Police “Send bachelors and come heavily armed”

Arcangl86

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Context is so necessary

Sen. Chuck Riley, D-Hillsboro, sits at his desk in Oregon state Senate chamber in Salem on Thursday. Gov. Kate Brown dispatched the state police to find the 11 Republican senators who left the Capitol, denying Democrats the quorum necessary to conduct business.​

The Democrats are trying to pass a bill that the Republicans want no part of. So they held a walkout.

So the Democratic Governor calls up the State Police to compel them to attend.

There is no balance on either side.

Is this how the Democrats reach across the aisle?
I don't see why the context is important. The Republican senators know they are going to lose a vote on this bill, so they decide to be absent so that the vote can't happen, and the Senate is then exercising its COnstitutional right to compel a quorum. It's pretty cut and dried.
 
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I don't see why the context is important. The Republican senators know they are going to lose a vote on this bill, so they decide to be absent so that the vote can't happen, and the Senate is then exercising its COnstitutional right to compel a quorum. It's pretty cut and dried.

They should go to his house then, heavily armed as he requested.
 
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FreeinChrist

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This is a well written article about what is going on in Oregon:

Oregon Republicans Say They'll Return To Senate If Cap And Trade Is Referred To Voters

Part of the stalemate, it seems, is how little Republicans and Democrats have left to fight over. Democrats have passed a raft of big policies this session — from statewide rent controls to a $1 billion a year business tax for schools — over GOP objections.

Now, House Bill 2020 is the main event.

The highly contentious legislation would institute a sweeping cap-and-trade program in Oregon, setting a ceiling on the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and charging polluters for what they emit.

Republicans walked out, they said, after major changes they’d proposed to the policy weren’t accepted. But Democrats have already made a host of concessions — from reduced regulations on gas utilities to fuel rebates — to address concerns that the bill would unduly burden businesses and low-income Oregonians. They don’t appear ready to give more.......




The argument has been a common refrain among Republicans in recent weeks. HB 2020 contains an emergency clause, which ensures that it would take effect once signed by the governor. Otherwise, the law wouldn’t kick in until 91 days after the legislative session adjourns. (The actual cap-and-trade system wouldn’t roll out until 2021.)

The emergency clause also makes fighting the policy tougher for opponents. It means they can’t use the state’s referendum process to refer the cap-and-trade law to voters in the November 2020 election, though they’d still have another, more difficult option open to them. Republicans have railed against this fact.
 
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rjs330

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Well, if you don't like what the Oregon Constitution says, then have it changed. We know that the Conservatives in Oregon are out numbered by the leftists. The rural voters don't have much say. It is what it is. If you don't like it then move or somehow change the Constitution. I honestly don't know what else is available for the Oregonians who don't like what's happening in their state. It's kind of that way among the entire left coast.
 
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Radagast

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the Senate is then exercising its COnstitutional right to compel a quorum. It's pretty cut and dried.

But, as I understand it, the Oregon Constitution doesn't spell out what "compel" means.

Oregon has used State Troopers this way before, but it seems unlikely to me that the original intent was to use deadly force on absent senators. If a senator responded to deadly force in kind, it might well constitute legal self-defence.
 
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Radagast

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This seems to be a somewhat ill thought out attempt at obstructionism by trying to hold the state hostage.

A proud US tradition, I understand.

Abraham Lincoln once, for similar reasons, once fled the (locked) Illinois capital building by jumping out of a second-story window.
 
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This seems to be a somewhat ill thought out attempt at obstructionism by trying to hold the state hostage. Sort of a "if I can't set the rules I won't play" ploy.

If it were just any other bill, I would agree. You cast your vote and let the chips fall where they may. But when it is an issue that you believe to be truly evil and that will do great harm, sometimes conscience has to prevail. Think Mr. Smith goes to Washington.

Returning to work allows the bill to pass. And those senators are determined to do whatever they have to do to prevent that. It is the only weapon they have as a matter of conscience.
 
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Arcangl86

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But, as I understand it, the Oregon Constitution doesn't spell out what "compel" means.

Oregon has used State Troopers this way before, but it seems unlikely to me that the original intent was to use deadly force on absent senators. If a senator responded to deadly force in kind, it might well constitute legal self-defence.
Idk. There is a long legal history of placing absent legislators under arrest to bring them to a vote. Compel implies some level of force.
 
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Radagast

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Idk. There is a long legal history of placing absent legislators under arrest to bring them to a vote.

Really? Can someone be arrested if no crime is involved?

From what the police have said, they seem pretty clear that they have no authority to arrest any senators.

Compel implies some level of force.

It would seem to, but it's certainly not spelled out in the constitution.
 
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JacobKStarkey

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But, as I understand it, the Oregon Constitution doesn't spell out what "compel" means.

Oregon has used State Troopers this way before, but it seems unlikely to me that the original intent was to use deadly force on absent senators. If a senator responded to deadly force in kind, it might well constitute legal self-defence.
Only the screwy state senator was talking about deadly force, which puts it on him, so there would be no legal self-defense for him if LEO had to protect themselves.
 
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Radagast

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People may be arrested for compelling reason absent a crime, yes.

Under what laws or regulations?

Only the screwy state senator was talking about deadly force

As I understand it, he was talking about resisting deadly force in kind.

Obviously, if he committed a crime, the legal situation would instantly resolve itself; the state troopers could arrest him for that.
 
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Arcangl86

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Really? Can someone be arrested if no crime is involved?

From what the police have said, they seem pretty clear that they have no authority to arrest any senators.



It would seem to, but it's certainly not spelled out in the constitution.
The law states that the Oregon State Police can be used to enforce the regulations of other branches.
ORS 181.050 - Duty to enforce laws and regulations of agencies - 2013 Oregon Revised Statutes and both houses have a Rule stating that they can compel the attendance of members, so it appears yes.
 
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I don't see why the context is important. The Republican senators know they are going to lose a vote on this bill, so they decide to be absent so that the vote can't happen, and the Senate is then exercising its COnstitutional right to compel a quorum. It's pretty cut and dried.
Yes, whoever heard of something getting less than half the eligible vote and it becoming law? (Or President).
 
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Ana the Ist

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A state senator threatening to kill state troopers. Crazy.

Oregon Republican senator threatens state troopers, warns them to ‘come heavily armed’

Tensions were already smoldering in the Oregon Senate Wednesday, when Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, poured gasoline on the situation, suggesting he would shoot and potentially kill any state trooper sent to haul him unwillingly back to the Capitol.

“Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I’m not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon. It’s just that simple.”


Oregon Republican senator threatens state troopers, warns them to ‘come heavily armed’

It should be easier than this. If they have to send police after you to bring you in to do your job....you should simply be removed from office.
 
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Ana the Ist

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I and others do.

It is demonstrating absurdity by being absurd

Those legislators have a duty. If they think a particular piece of legislation is bad...they have an ethical obligation to vote against it and explain why.

Yes...they will lose the vote...but that's how democracy works. Avoiding your duty as a legislator is not a valid tactic for preventing a piece of legislation from being passed.

I'd say this regardless of what the legislation was about.
 
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