The second special session of the Oregon legislature kicked off today, with the Oregon Capitol building declared off limits to the Oregon public, legislators and staff being the only personnel allowed inside.

Senator Fred Girod (R-Stayton) and other republicans voted against these special rules today, and in hopes of include those members of the public, the Senator has issued a statement regarding his vote on the Senate Rules.

Largely the same as the rules in the first special session, they exclude Oregonians from the legislative process by locking them outside the Oregon Capitol. Girod said, “This is the building of the people, and it is wrong for the super majority party to continue to lock Oregonians out of the legislative process. It is a symbiotic relationship: Oregonians have a right to be involved in the creation of legislation, and legislators need their input and advocacy to craft sound policies for the state. I shouldn’t have to say this, but we are elected to represent Oregonians, not bulldoze them to appease special interests.”

The Majority party Democrats are unlikely to grant such a request for the public to be included, which critics are noting could lead to policy creation that will likely be unsuccessful and not in the interest of Oregonians.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-08-10 18:29:05