“With the events of this past week when she chose to cheat Oregonians and breach an agreement, Tina Kotek has exhibited disorderly conduct and must be censured by this body.

I would assert that those with power demand our highest standards and greatest commitment to accountability.

The inability of the Speaker of the House to keep her word, or conduct her affairs in the execution of her duties at the highest ethical standards affects our ability as a body to function.

If we cannot trust Tina Kotek’s word, if we cannot trust that what she says is true in her capacity as Speaker of the House, if she is allowed to reap the benefits of an agreement without the obligations it imposes, this House cannot function. She has impacted the ability of this body to operate as a fair law-making body.

Today I willingly face political reprisals and urge this body to exercise the power given to us to hold our members accountable for their conduct when it has grave and far reaching impacts.

We cannot silence the voices of the minority when they are inconvenient to the majority.”