Cue Alanis

Cuing Alanis

After repeated walkouts by Republican state senators in Oregon, a voter initiative was passed (by more than 2:1) Oregon Measure 113, amended the state constitution to forbid legislators with excessive absences from standing for reelection.

They have walked out against abortion rights, trans rights, taxing rich people, gun control, etc.

Well, following repeated walkouts by Republicans in the state senate, 10 Republicans, ⅓ of the senate, are facing the ban.

Let me be clear, this is not ⅓ of the 'Phants, there are 30 seats in the senate.  It's ⅓ of the whole damn body.

I think that this qualifies as irony:

One third of all Oregon senators are now ineligible for another term following the 13th day of a Republican walkout in the Senate.

Six more Republicans on Thursday joined three Republicans and one conservative Independent in having at least 10 unexcused absences from Senate floor session roll calls. That triggers a new state law that bars them from another term in office.

Thursday's roll call was emotional and had an air of resignation.

Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, used the "courtesies" section of the agenda — usually reserved for noting dignitaries, friends, families or others in the Senate — to offer courtesies to the senators who had walked out. He called putting their political careers possibly on the line to block the abortion and transgender medical care guarantees in House Bill 2002, along with gun controls in House Bill 2005, "selfless acts." Both bills were nearing a vote in the Senate after approval by the House and would have then gone to Gov. Tina Kotek to sign into law.

Brock Smith and Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, were the only Republicans on the floor. Their presence was not enough to create the two-thirds quorum required by the Oregon Constitution for lawmakers to meet. Oregon is one of just four states that require more than a simple majority.

………

The biggest impact is on the six no-shows who are newly barred under law from another term or running for office in the House: Knopp and Sens. Art Robinson, R-Cave Junction, Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook, Lynn Findley, R-Vale and Bill Hansell, R-Athena. They join Sens. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, Cedric Hayden, R-Roseburg and Brian Boquist, I-Dallas, who had previously hit the 10-absence mark.

Isn't it ironic?