Kotek and key Democrat see possible end to Senate walkout

By GARY A. WARNER and DICK HUGHES
Oregon Capital Bureau

Gov. Tina Kotek and a top Senate Democrat are pointing to progress in talks that could bring the Senate back to session for the first time since May 3.

“The positive news is everyone is continuing to talk,” Kotek said Friday during a media briefing in Tillamook.

The optimistic attitude was reflected Sunday night in the weekly constituent newsletter of Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, a senior lawmaker among the 17 Democrats who make up the majority in the Senate.

“It’s too soon for me to say much of anything about these negotiations, but I can say that they are promising at this point,” Dembrow wrote Sunday. “If they work out, we could be back voting on the Senate floor by midweek.”

It was a change in tone for both Kotek and Dembrow, who have expressed pessimism that the boycott by 10 senators — nine Republicans and one conservative Independent — could be resolved prior to the constitutionally mandated end of the 2023 legislative session on June 25.

The governor had withdrawn from negotiations earlier this month because of the impasse. But on Friday she signaled that she was back in the mix, encouraging discussions.

“I think when people stop talking, that’s when you know it’s over. People are talking both between chambers (and) between parties about how to resolve this.”

Kotek said Friday that over 500 bills by lawmakers and 68 pending appointments by her for state commissions and offices were bottled up by a the walkout of senators to deny a quorum required for the Senate to conduct any business. 

Kotek described her role as encouraging continued talks and to offer advice as needed.

“Trying to get people together kind of as an outside cajoler at this point,” Kotek said. “I’m waiting to see if there is a next step on where the conversations are going. We have to resolve this crisis.”

Both Kotek and Dembrow stopped short of saying a deal was done to bring the Senate back. Neither spelled out what the deal might look like if reached, including the fate of House Bill 2002, an abortion rights and transgender medical care package.

“I don’t want to say anything to jinx the current state of play, but I will say that at this point I’m optimistic,” Dembrow said late Sunday. “But as I’ve said before, life in the Legislature can be a roller coaster.”

While Republicans have pointed to several reasons for the Senate walkout, HB 2002, along with the HB 2005 gun control bill, have been most frequently mentioned as the wedge between Democrats and Republicans. Both bills have passed the House and were awaiting final Senate action when the walkout began.

Kotek made her comments during a Friday afternoon media availability at Tillamook Creamery, part of stops in Clatsop and Tillamook counties scheduled for her “One Oregon Listening Tour.” Tillamook and the neighboring area around the city of Astoria are represented by Sen. Suzanne Weber, one of the lawmakers who has walked out to prevent the 20 senators required for the 30-member Senate to meet.

Negotiations are racing the calendar: The Oregon Constitution allows the Legislature to meet for 160 days in odd-numbered years. That would require the 2003 session to end by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 25.

With a little over two weeks until the constitutionally-required adjournment of the 2023 session by June 25, Kotek said that developments were hopeful, but “the next couple of days will be important.”

Hopes for ending the impasse grew last week when Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, began back-channel discussions with Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, who is leading the walkout. It was a change from previous attempts at discussions led by Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego.

Knopp has a history of working with Taylor, unlike his often openly hostile relations with Wagner.

Kotek pointed to cooperation with Weber and other Republicans on issues where they shared common solutions. Asked about this spring’s shutdown of the Sunset Empire Transportation District in Clatsop County, Kotek said she had immediately agreed with Weber on the importance of restoring transit service.

“I am very pleased to see some level of service has been restored,” Kotek said.

Democrats up to now have said HB 2002 and HB 2005 should get an up or down vote in the Senate. Kotek agreed. 

“I think all these pieces of legislation should get a fair vote on the floor and should pass,” Kotek said.

But the governor added that she would support whatever move legislators can reach to resolve the impasse.

“This is a practical conversation,” Kotek said. “One can want things to be different, but you need to have people be willing to take the votes to either edit the bill (or) move the bill. What I am hearing is there could be a possibility of something that could get the votes to move forward. I will support what they can get done.”

How Wagner and Knopp will view a possible deal won’t be known until another roll call vote is held on Monday. As Dembrow suggested, a quorum might not happen that early. The governor also said Friday that a shift in the current mix of support and opposition would be required to move forward.

“Will people be willing to change their minds enough to move something?” Kotek said. “And I think that’s the question.”

Gary Warner is the state political reporter for EO Media Group, a partner in the Oregon Capital Bureau. Dick Hughes is a veteran Salem journalist who writes the “Capital Chatter” column for Oregon Capital Bureau.