US EditionOregon Republicans boycott floor session, delaying action on transportation tax referendum move
- On Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, Senate President Rob Wagner adjourned the Senate after no Oregon Senate Republicans appeared for the 1:30 p.m. roll call, denying quorum until Feb. 19.
- Following warnings from GOP leaders, Republicans staged the boycott ahead of a vote on Senate Bill 1599 to move the referendum date from Nov. 3 to May 19.
- By law the Senate needs at least 20 members to conduct business, a threshold Democrats cannot meet alone, and the legislation would have raised $791 million for ODOT's 2025-27 budget.
- With the session's schedule compressed, votes on nearly a dozen bills are delayed until at least Thursday, imperiling the Feb. 25 deadline for the bill to reach Gov. Tina Kotek's signature and place the measure on the May 19 ballot.
- While yesterday's stunt halted votes, it's unclear how long Republicans will remain absent and whether they will face penalties, risking measures that bar reelection after 10 unexcused absences.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Oregon Republicans walk out of Senate ahead of vote on transportation referendum shift to May
Republicans in the Oregon Senate staged a walkout Wednesday afternoon ahead of a scheduled vote on a bill to reschedule a referendum on controversial transportation tax and fee increases from November to May.
Oregon Republicans stage walkout over Democrat-led transportation package
Senate Republicans walked out of an Oregon State Legislative floor session Wednesday afternoon, blocking a bill to let state voters weigh in early on a Democrat-led transportation package.
Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon Republicans walk out of Senate ahead of vote on transportation referendum
No Republican senators were present for a 1:30 p.m. meeting on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Photo by Laura Tesler/Oregon Capital Chronicle)Republicans in the Oregon Senate staged a walkout Wednesday afternoon ahead of a scheduled vote on a bill to reschedule a referendum on controversial transportation tax and fee increases from November to May. Senators were scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m., but no Republicans were present durin…
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