Democrats Will Fine Oregon Republicans $325 Every Day They Block Bill for Secret Abortions on Teen Girls

State   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Jun 2, 2023   |   5:57PM   |   Salem, Oregon

Oregon Senate Democrats plan to punish their Republican peers with hefty fines as long as they keep blocking a pro-abortion bill that strips away parents’ rights and makes young girls more vulnerable to abuse.

WFIN reports state Senate Democrats agreed Thursday to fine lawmakers $325 per day, or their average daily pay, for each day they remain absent through the end of the legislative session.

For nearly five weeks, state Senate Republicans have denied a quorum to block a radical pro-abortion bill that would allow girls as young as 10 to have abortions – or be coerced by an abuser – without their parents’ knowledge.

Their walk-out is the longest in state history. On Wednesday, Gov. Tina Kotek, a pro-abortion Democrat, and state Republican leaders said negotiations stalled because neither side will back down on the abortion bill, KATU News reports.

In response to the fines, Ashley Kuenzi, communications director for the state Senate Republican Office, said Republicans believe parents’ and children’s rights are worth it, according to The Center Square.

“It’s something they were all willing to stand up and sacrifice,” Kuenzi said.

On Thursday, Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner approved the daily fines, starting June 5, in response to a request from Democratic Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, according to the report. The fines will accrue daily through the end of the session as long as Republicans continue to deny a quorum.

ACTION ALERT: Contact Oregon Senate lawmakers and urge them to oppose this radical legislation.

“Oregonians work for a living every day, and they don’t get paid when they don’t show up,” Wagner said. “We have a huge stack of bills sitting right over there on that cart, just waiting for us to take them up, to debate and to vote.”

But Republican lawmakers have said they are willing to work on bipartisan legislation, including the state budget. They said Democrats are the ones holding up essential legislation because of their unwillingness to back down on the radical pro-abortion bill.

“Wagner is insistent on facilitating an unlawful, uncompromising, unconstitutional agenda,” said state Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, in a statement. “We suggest President Wagner pay our fines since it is his behavior that galvanized our protest.”

Knopp said his party is willing to work with Democrats on “constitutional, bipartisan bills that don’t violate parents’ sacred right to love and care for their child.”

Since May 3, Republican and independent lawmakers have denied a quorum in the Oregon Senate and blocked action on the pro-abortion bill and other legislation. Senate rules require two thirds of lawmakers to be present to vote on legislation. Republican leaders said they will not return until June 25, the last day of the legislative session and enough time to pass the state budget.

Their chief objection is to state House Bill 2002B, which would deny parents’ rights by eliminating all age limits for abortion. If it passes, abortion providers would be allowed to abort unborn babies on girls of any age without informing their parents. Only if the girl explicitly gives written permission would her parents be informed.

In April during a House committee meeting, an attorney for the Oregon Legislature confirmed “a minor of any age” – such as a 10-year-old girl — could have an abortion without her parents’ knowledge if the bill passes, according to a video shared by Oregon House Republicans.

“[This bill] allows a child of any age, without parental knowledge, to receive an abortion,” the Oregon Senate GOP said in May on Twitter. “This will increase the vulnerability of young girls to be sex-trafficked. … HB 2002B is nothing but an extreme attack on parents and children.”

For their protest, the pro-life lawmakers are risking further punishment. A new state constitutional amendment imposes financial penalties on lawmakers for walking out and denying a quorum and prohibits lawmakers from running for re-election if they have at least 10 unexcused absences.

Republicans are expected to challenge the penalties, and the AP reports the political action committee Oregon’s 13 Constitutional Defense Fund recently hired a lawyer to defend them.

Democrats control the Oregon Legislature, and they repeatedly have blasted Republicans for their protest. In May, state Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, described the walk-out as “embarrassing” while portraying the radical pro-abortion bill as one that simply “protect[s] reproductive health freedom.”

Sponsored by state Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, the wide-reaching legislation ends parental involvement laws for abortion, and eliminates the crime of “concealing the birth of an infant,” effectively shielding abortion providers who end the life of a baby who survives an abortion. Another provision forces public colleges and universities to provide dangerous abortion pills on campus.

Senate Republicans said the bill also would allow young children to have irreversible sex-change hormones and surgeries, covered by their parents’ insurance plans, without their parents being informed.

“It’s hard to comprehend how this kind of legislation is being defended by some in the legislature,” said Lois Anderson, executive director of Oregon Right to Life, after the bill passed the House.

Oregon has very few restrictions on abortion, and its governor has been working with leaders in Washington and California to expand elective abortions even more, including by devoting millions of taxpayer dollars to destroying unborn babies’ lives. Last year, the state legislature approved $15 million to pay for women in and out of state to travel for abortions and increase the number of abortion facilities in the state.

ACTION ALERT: Contact Oregon Senate lawmakers and urge them to oppose this radical legislation.