Do Emergency Sessions Subvert the Initiative Process?

With each passing day of the unconstitutional, twice-called “emergency” February legislative session, it becomes clearer it is taking place to promote biennial sessions. Beyond the urgency to deal with unlicensed counselors or therapists, I ask OregonCatalyst readers: Is legislation enacted during such “emergency” sessions immune from alteration or repeal by the initiative process?

This question pops to mind due to a disturbing trend that has developed in Washington. Jason Mercier at the Washington Policy Center highlights, Evergreen State Legislators are attaching emergency clauses to controversial, but non-emergency, legislation in order to eliminate the people’s right of referendum on that legislation. State lawmakers have routinely abused the exemption by attaching such a clause to more than 700 bills since 1997, including 75 during the 2007 legislative and special sessions.

Read Mercier’s report “Ending Abuse of the Emergency Clause: Restoring Our Right of Referendum“ to learn more about the subversive public servants to our north. Alos read the Feb. 8, 2008, page B1 Oregonian article, “Bill to ban unlicensed therapists advances.” You, like me, will wonder how a year ago, the Oregon legislative sages knew this issue would storm the state.

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