SALEM, Ore. – During a floor vote today, Democrats running the House chamber refused to acknowledge a vote by Rep. Lucetta Elmer (R-McMinnville) that would have provided the winning vote on HB 4036, the Republican bill to end Measure 110.
Democrats called the vote at 30-29, despite Elmer standing in front of the dais with her thumb up in the air indicating a “Yea” on the bill. Democrats ruled that she was out of order and refused to count her vote, thus depriving the bill of the 31st vote needed to pass.
The bill failed on a second vote after Rep. Paul Evans (D-Monmouth) switched his “yea” to a “no,” causing the count to again result in a 30-29 defeat.
“Democrats denied my vote today to save their disastrous Measure 110 policy. This is an affront to democracy, all to appease the most radical pro-drug elements of our society. It is outrageous that the majority would stoop to these lengths to play politics and defeat a bill that earned the bipartisan votes needed for passage,” said Elmer.
“The majority’s antics today were shameful but unsurprising. They have pulled out every stop to keep Measure 110 alive because their loyalties lie with pro-drug activists. Republicans will continue to advocate for the people of Oregon who want to see an end to the drugs, crime, and homelessness caused by Measure 110’s abject failure,” said Helfrich.
The Republican HB 4036 would have reimposed Class A Misdemeanor penalties for drug possession, stiffened penalties for drug dealers and manufacturers, increased penalties for those who deal drugs that result in the death of another person, and mandated treatment through court diversion programs in order for offenders to avoid jail. It would have ended the activist-led boards that distribute tax dollars to ineffective drug-enabling organizations and redirected funding to county-level treatment initiatives.
Overdoses in the state of Oregon continue to skyrocket, and our streets are increasingly flooded with fentanyl, heroin, and meth. Fentanyl overdose deaths have increased by more than 1,500% in the years that have followed Measure 110’s passage. Oregon led the nation in increases in overdose deaths last year. Despite Measure 110’s promise of providing treatment for drug addiction, Oregon ranks last in the country in providing addiction treatment.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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