Kotek gives 2 Senators an escape hatch

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

We have a hard time finding any news stories on Oregon Governor Kotek actually signing Senate Bill 952.

This SB 952 removes voters from having the right to vote on candidates who are running to fill vacant U.S. Senate seats that are vacant.  Instead SB 952 gives the voting decisions completely to the Governor as a big fat power grab.   This anti-voter bill is not popular and maybe why Governor Kotek wanted to keep it more private and secretive.

There was media speculation in 2022 that U.S. Senator Ron Wyden might not be able to complete his term.  At age 76, every year that passes increases the risk of a health surprise.  Senate Bill 952 now provides Wyden a way to leave without having to worry about voters electing the wrong person. A safe escape hatch.

At the same time, there was much media speculation over U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley on why he was so late to announce his re-election.  He even bypassed his own deadline he set.  As a result, several contenders began placing campaign websites in anticipation of him deciding not to run.  Belatedly, Merkley just announced a few days ago he will run.   Did Merkley decide to wait until Senate Bill 952 was signed by Kotek on June 11th to announce?  If so, Senate Bill 952 provides election insurance that if he leaves early a state election will not be held (and voters will not decide), but rather the seat will safely be in Kotek’s hands.  Senator Merkley can have influence in that decision.

Willamette Week did report that Senator Merkley said that the decision was very “difficult”, and that it was his wife who helped convince him.  This is a strange statement for someone who is a shoe-in to the most powerful position Oregon has to offer.

This is only speculation.  Yet, there were enough unusual clues in this election cycle to raise suspicion.

We feel it is important to remind our readers on the terrible anti-voter bill of SB 952.   They need to learn about it now in case something happens and voters wake up having their election effectively taken away and handed to the Governor to decide.   Voters need to know how that happened and who was responsible.

— Was this helpful? If so, contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).