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Associated Press

Democrats halt House action with boycott
By Charles E. Beggs

June 25, 2001

Democrats brought half of the Oregon Legislature to a halt Monday by refusing to
meet until majority Republicans back off in a ?ght over redistricting.

Protesting lawmakers haven?t shut down a session so dramatically since 1971, when
Senate Democrats? left the Capitol in a dispute over ratifying the federal constitutional
amendment allowing 18-year-olds to vote.

House Minority Leader Dan Gardner of Portland said the Democrats would refuse to
provide a quorum to do business until Republicans scrap a tactic to push through a
redistricting plan that would bypass Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber.

Two-thirds of the 60 House members, or 40, have to be present to do business.
Republicans control the chamber on a 32-27 count, with one independent.

Gardner, D?Portland, said only two Democrats came to the Capitol on Monday.

If a redistricting plan is not enacted by June 30, which is Saturday, the state
constitution says the task of redrawing legislative districts goes to Secretary of State
Bill Bradbury, a Democrat.

Lawmakers have adopted a Republican-backed plan for reshaping legislative districts
that?s opposed by all Democrats, and Kitzhaber says he won?t sign any plan that lacks
bipartisan support.

Among other reasons, Democrats oppose the GOP plan because it eliminates a House
district along the coast that often has elected Democrats. Also, Democrats say the plan
dilutes urban voting strength by dividing too many small cities.

Republicans pushed a measure out of committee Friday that put the GOP-backed plan
into a resolution, which unlike a bill wouldn?t go to the governor.

Gardner said a law can?t be passed without the governor participating.
?House Democrats refuse to be a party to an unconstitutional Legislature that

reinvents rules to suit its needs,? he told a news conference. ?We hope that the
speaker will come to his senses and allow us to get back to the business of the state.?

House Speaker Mark Simmons had no immediate comment on the development.

Gardner produced a written opinion from Greg Chaimov, the Legislature?s chief
lawyer, that says although the state constitution is not clear on the issue, ?the most
persuasive reading? is that the Legislature must reapportion legislative districts
through a bill that is subject to veto.

Senate Majority Leader Dave Nelson, R?Pendleton, called the walkout ?absolutely
irresponsible.?

Senate Democratic Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, called the House Democrats?
actions ?very appropriate under the circumstances.?

?Under certain circumstances, it?s fair to say we would use all tools available to us?
and stage a similar boycott, she said.

Legislative districts have to be redrawn after each 10?year federal Census to re?ect
population shifts. Gardner said he was refusing his $85 per day expense payment
that?s given during sessions and was urging other Democrats to do the same.