Leader Rep. Drazan: Statement on Special Session

Leader Drazan Statement on Special Session
By Christine Drazan
Oregon State Representative and House GOP Leader

SALEM, Ore. – With news that the Oregon Department of Forestry was insolvent, and riddled with ongoing bureaucratic dysfunction which left it unable to pay staff or outstanding invoices without loans, House Republicans pursued bi-partisan cooperation to address the state’s duty to pay workers who risked their lives on the fire lines.

“We remain committed to fixing what’s broken in Oregon. The Governor has responded to closed-door calls for a special session with her announcement today. Good for her. While we have had zero communications from the Governor on this monumental challenge, we are glad to hear she is willing to allow the legislature to work cooperatively to fix her insolvent agency’s problems, for the first time in the press. Evidently, the Governor will be communicating via press release rather than a phone call. That is her prerogative.

“Despite this bizarre approach to leadership, Republicans welcome the opportunity to solve this problem by ensuring the people who work to protect Oregon communities during wildfire season are paid for their service,” said Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “This bi-partisan legislative call for a special session will immediately address those compensation needs—many of which are months in arrears.”