Ballot Measure 113
Exclusion from Re-election for Legislative Absenteeism Initiative
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 1,292,127 68.32%
No 599,204 31.68%
Results by county
Yes:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
No:      50–60%

Oregon Ballot Measure 113, the Exclusion from Re-election for Legislative Absenteeism Initiative, was approved by Oregon voters in the 2022 Oregon elections. Measure 113 amended the Constitution of Oregon to provided that members of the Oregon Legislature with ten unexcused absences from floor sessions are disqualified from serving in the legislature following their current term. It is codified as Article IV, Section 15 of the Oregon Constitution.

Background and provisions

Unlike most state legislatures (in which a majority is a sufficient quorum), the Oregon Constitution requires that two-thirds of the Oregon State Senate or Oregon House of Representatives be present to conduct a session. The purpose of this amendment is to discourage members of the minority party from walking out (i.e., being intentionally absent) from legislative sessions in order to block passing new laws that they do not have the voting majority to prevent through normal democratic processes.[1] Measure 113 was a response to Republican members of the legislature, who in the three years before Measure 113's passage (from 2019 to 2022) repeatedly walked out of the State Capitol to block Democrats from passing Democratic legislative priorities, including a business tax to fund education and greenhouse gas cap-and-trade legislation to limit Oregon's carbon emissions.[1][2][3]

In 2022, a Republican walkout forced the 2020 legislative session to end early, effectively killing many bills.[2] Republicans also used the tactic to block vaccine and gun bills.[3] The Republicans' use of a walkout three years in a row was unprecedented; previous Oregon walkouts were rare.[2][3][4] Democrats had last used the strategy in 2001, when they were in the legislative minority, to block a Republican attempt to draw the boundaries of legislative districts (the Republican-controlled House had tried to pass their redistricting plan as a resolution rather than a bill, an attempt to evade a veto from then-Governor John Kitzhaber, a Democrat).[5]

Prior to 2022, Oregon law provided that legislators may be compelled to attend floor sessions or expelled (by a two-thirds majority) for "disorderly behavior"; however, there were no automatic consequences for failure to attend sessions, nor is "disorderly behavior" clearly defined.[2][6] This allowed legislators to abscond out of state (beyond the reach of Oregon law enforcement) during walkouts, and then return without consequence.[2] Under Measure 113, the state Constitution was amended so that state Senators and state Representatives with ten unexcused absences from either a regular or a special floor sessions of the legislature are barred from holding office as a legislator for the term following their current term of office.[6] Measure 113 also clarified that a failure to attend ten or more legislative floor sessions in a session constitutes "disorderly behavior” through unexcused absences is disqualified from serving as a Senator or Representative for the term following the end of the legislator’s current term.[6]

Campaign

Measure 113 was supported by Oregon Democrats and their allies in labor unions and other groups.[3][7] No formal opposition to M113 was filed, but The Oregonian/OregonLive and Willamette Week endorsed a "no" vote on the ground that measure gave too much authority to the Senate president and House speaker to determine when a member's absence was excused or unexcused, and because it could leave some legislative seats vacant.[7][8][9]

Passage

In the general election in November 2022, Oregon voters approved Measure 113 by an overwhelming majority.[3] The results were 1,292,127 "yes" votes (68.32%) and 599,204 "no" votes (31.68%).[10]

Measure 113 was codified as Article IV, Section 15, of the Oregon Constitution, which states: "Failure to attend, without permission or excuse, ten or more legislative floor sessions called to transact business during a regular or special legislative session shall be deemed disorderly behavior and shall disqualify the member from holding office as a Senator or Representative for the term following the election after the member's current term is completed."[11]

Implementation

During the 2023 session, Republicans in the state Senate defied Measure 113 by continuing to walk out on sessions, depriving the chamber of a quorum. In early May 2023, a Republican walkout (led by Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp and Deputy Senate Minority leader Daniel Bonham) exceeded ten days.[12][13] By May 18, 2023, nine Republican senators (Knopp, Bonham, Lynn Findley, Bill Hansell, Cedric Ross Hayden, Dennis Linthicum, Art Robinson, Kim Thatcher, and Suzanne Weber), and one Republican-aligned Independent Party senator (Brian Boquist) reached the ten unexcused absence limit set by Measure 113 by not showing up to vote in session.[11][14] Oregon Republicans formed a new political action committee to raise campaign funds touting their walkout.[11]

On August 8, 2023, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade confirmed she would enforce the measure and prevent the ten legislators from filing for reelection.[15] Five Republican Senators filed a lawsuit in response arguing that the measure's wording allowed them to serve one additional term before being barred from reelection.[16] Three Senators filed for reelection in September citing this interpretation of the measure.[17] On October 24 the Oregon Supreme Court agreed to hear the case with arguments beginning December 14.[18]

On December 15, 2023, a federal district court judge rejected a separate request to block the implementation of Measure 113, finding that the measure was working as intended by Oregon voters.[19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Anna Griffin (October 18, 2022). "Measure 113 would make legislative walkouts much harder in Oregon". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Claire Withycombe. "Midterm ballot measure to decide if Oregon lawmakers will be punished for absences". Statesman Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hillary Borrud; Gosia Wozniacka (November 8, 2022). "Oregon voters pass Measure 113, punishing lawmakers for walkouts". Oregonian/OregonLive. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  4. ↑ Walkouts in Oregon politics used to be rare, but not anymore Archived 2023-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press/KGW (June 20, 2019 ).
  5. ↑ Anthony Macuk, Here's a list of every walkout held in the Oregon Legislature Archived 2023-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, KGW (May 4, 2022).
  6. 1 2 3 "Online Voters' Pamphlet". Oregon Secretary of State. 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-10-23. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  7. 1 2 Dirk VanderHart, Oregonians limit legislative walkouts as Measure 113 passes easily in unofficial returns Archived 2023-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Public Broadcasting (November 8, 2022).
  8. ↑ Editorial endorsement November 2022: Vote 'no' on Measure 113's political manipulation Archived 2023-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, The Oregonian/Oregon Live (October 19, 2022).
  9. ↑ WW's General Election 2022 Endorsements: Ballot Measures Archived 2023-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, Willamette Week (October 19, 2022).
  10. ↑ November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes Archived June 12, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Secretary of State.
  11. 1 2 3 Lauren Dake & Dirk VanderHart, Oregon voters tried to put an end to legislative walkouts. So, what happened? Archived 2023-05-24 at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Public Broadcasting (May 16, 2023).
  12. ↑ Britany Robinson, State Republicans Defy Measure 113 with Ongoing Boycott Archived 2023-05-24 at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Business (May 17, 2023).
  13. ↑ Grant Stringer, Bucking new law, 10 Oregon senators disqualified from reelection with boycott Archived 2023-05-24 at the Wayback Machine, OregonLive/The Oregonian (May. 22, 2023).
  14. ↑ Evan Watson, 10 Oregon senators now ineligible for re-election as GOP-led walkouts continue Archived 2023-05-24 at the Wayback Machine, KGW (May 18, 2023).
  15. ↑ VanderHart, Dirk (August 8, 2023). "Oregon secretary of state: Senators who walked out can't run next year". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  16. ↑ VanderHart, Dirk (August 29, 2023). "Challenge to anti-walkout law could go straight to Oregon Supreme Court". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ Selsky, Andrew (September 14, 2023). "GOP senators who boycotted Oregon Legislature file for reelection despite being disqualified". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  18. ↑ VanderHart, Dirk (October 24, 2023). "GOP senators' challenge to walkout penalties lands before Oregon Supreme Court". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  19. ↑ Rush, Claire (December 15, 2023). "Federal judge rejects request from Oregon senators who boycotted Legislature seeking to run in 2024". Associated Press. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
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