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.