Senate votes down good government, transparency bills

Senate Republicans Vote for Good Governance and Transparency
Democrats voted down the entire package
By Oregon Senate Republicans,
On the Senate floor, Senate Republicans attempted to withdraw six pieces of legislation increasing oversight and accountability in state government. The result: Democrats voted in lock step to say ‘no’ to good governance and transparency.

“Senate Republicans want to have robust discussions about critically important issues like unchecked executive authority related to commutations, pardons, and emergency declarations, and further securing Oregon elections,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend), a chief-sponsor of the ‘Good Governance’ package.

“Governor Brown used her executive authority to pardon or commute more sentences than any other governor in the state’s history and more than all of Oregon’s governors from the last 50 years combined,” said Senator Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook), who made a motion to withdraw SJR 11, a measure requiring approval by majority of the Senate of any reprieve, commutation, or pardon.

“Democrats continue to reject efforts to reign in unilateral executive branch authority and restore appropriate balance to government decision-making, creating a power vacuum and a serious lack of accountability,” concluded Senator Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles), who made a motion to withdraw SJR 13, a measure establishing an impeachment process for statewide elected officials.

“Democrats had the opportunity to give Oregonians a greater balance of power between their separate branches of government and instead, they doubled down on the status quo,” concluded Weber.

The complete ‘Good Governance’ Package Senate Democrats rejected can be found here.