Oregon lawmakers end walkout, make concessions on abortion legislation

(National Review) Republican lawmakers returned to the Oregon Senate on Thursday, ending a six-week walkout after reaching a deal with Democrats on new language for measures concerning abortion, gender-transition treatments, and gun rights.

For more than a month Republican lawmakers refused to show up to work as part of a boycott of a series of bills proposed by Democrats, which they said were too extreme. The move kept the state Senate from meeting a two-thirds quorum required to pass legislation.

Around abortion, Democrats had initially proposed allowing abortionists to provide their services regardless of a patient’s age, without even needing to notify a minor’s parents in many cases. The new compromise language would allow an abortionist to forgo notifying parents of patients under 15 if they believe it would not be in that patient’s best interest to notify the parents, but only if another medical provider agrees. The provider would not need a second opinion in cases where telling a parent or guardian could lead to the abuse or neglect of the patient.

The new agreement would also see the removal of language about expanding abortion and contraception access on college campuses and in rural parts of the state.

However, the bill would still codify access to abortion in the state and would shield caregivers from other state laws restricting abortion or gender transition treatment. It would also require insurance providers to cover some gender-transition procedures, including facial hair removal.

After the walkout, which was the longest in state history, Republicans also got Democrats to agree to nix several amendments on a gun-control bill that would have increased the buying age for semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21, and that would have allowed cities and counties to restrict some concealed-carry rights. The bill still would punish the manufacturing or transferring of so-called “ghost” guns that can’t be traced.

Democrats also agreed to drop a proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to same-sex marriage, abortion, and gender-transition treatment.

Republicans celebrated the concessions — despite the fact that the walkout may disqualify ten of the boycotters from running for reelection under a ballot measure that passed last year.

“Senate Republicans and Independents stood firm as the last line of defense for parental rights and the rule of law,” Senate Republican leader Tim Knopp said in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of their steadfast determination to give their constituents a long-overdue seat at the table.”

A 2022 ballot measure could prevent lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from running for reelection. “A whole bunch of legislators aren’t going to be able to come back to this building,” Democratic Senate president Rob Wagner said.

Knopp and others have said they will bring a legal challenge against the ballot measure, according to The Oregonian newspaper.

Democrats filed the new versions of the agreed upon measures on Thursday and the Senate passed the bills shortly thereafter. The revised bills will head back to the House before heading to the desk of Democratic governor Tina Kotek.

“I’m encouraged that we were able to come to an agreement that will allow us to finish the important work Oregonians sent us here to accomplish,” Wagner said.

State lawmakers are on a time crunch to pass hundreds of bills that have stalled in the Senate during the boycott, including the state budget. The legislative session ends June 25, though the governor can bring lawmakers back for a special session to pass the budget, if needed.

Editor’s Note: This article was published at National Review and is reprinted here with permission.

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