Sufficient Republican senators ended a six-week absence in the Oregon Senate, allowing the Legislature to resume its work and address bills on abortion, transgender health care, and gun safety.
The boycott was initiated in response to a far-reaching proposition regarding abortion and gender-affirming care, which Republicans deemed as excessive. The Senate’s inability to attain a two-thirds quorum posed an obstacle to the advancement of bill approvals.
Oregon Senate Republicans End Walkout
The proposed legislation would grant doctors the ability to perform abortions regardless of the patient’s age, without obligating medical providers to inform the parents in specific situations involving minors.
As part of the resolution to conclude the boycott, Democrats consented to a provision stipulating that if minors seek abortions but wish to avoid disclosing this to their parents, such as in cases of incest, a second provider’s approval would be necessary.
Democrats argued that this measure would still uphold access to abortion and safeguard healthcare providers against anti-abortion or gender-affirming care laws enacted in other states. Additionally, the legislation would mandate health insurance coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming care.
The walkout also impeded the passage of the state’s two-year budget and a gun safety proposal, opposed by the GOP, which aimed to raise the minimum purchasing age for semiautomatic rifles to 21.
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Democrats Make Compromises on Controversial Bills
Democrats agreed to remove the age restriction from the broader legislation that prohibits the production or transfer of untraceable ghost guns. Initially, GOP Minority Leader Sen. Tim Knopp had stated that the boycott would only conclude on the final day of the session, which is June 25, upon passing bipartisan bills and the budget.
However, a positive atmosphere pervaded the Capitol this week as leaders from both the GOP and Democrats engaged in negotiations to find compromises.
On Thursday, during the Senate session, Knopp expressed his optimism for concluding the session in an exceptionally bipartisan manner.
The Senate consists of 30 members, with 17 being Democrats. Therefore, a minimum of three Republican or independent members must be present to achieve a quorum.
During Thursday’s session, there were five GOP members in attendance, and Democratic leaders verified that Republicans have committed to supplying sufficient senators to fulfill the quorum requirement for the rest of the session.
Read more: House Republicans Unite In Support Of Social Security Retirement Age Increase
