John,

For over a week, multiple Republican senators have walked out on their jobs as lawmakers, and the Oregon Senate has been brought to a halt. At a time like this, we need to tell these lawmakers to stop their undemocratic walkout and voice our support for the lawmakers who are doing their jobs, showing up to work and representing our interests.

When lawmakers walk out on the job, they are walking out on all of us. These Republican lawmakers are holding captive bills that Oregonians strongly favor, such as support for stable housing, accessible healthcare, our rural economies, and protection from drought and wildfires exacerbated by the climate crisis.

Senate Republicans have a history with walking out on their jobs. They walked out three years in a row from 2019 to 2021, and they’re doing it again now. In the past, these walkouts resulted in them playing hooky. They demanded lawmakers kill bills that many Oregonians support (like bold climate action) in exchange for their return to work.

As Oregon voters, we do not support walkouts. Just last fall, voters in 34 of 36 Oregon counties — including communities that Senate Republicans represent — overwhelmingly voted in favor of Measure 113, sending a clear message that lawmakers need to show up and do their job. That’s the will of the people. Help us remind them that we want them to do their jobs, not hold bills hostage. And if you have a Democratic state senator, thank them for showing up to work and ask them to stay strong against the demands of these walkout Republicans.

In partnership,

Julia DeGraw

Coalition Director, OLCV