Latest news with #SenateBill952
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon poised to join most other states allowing governor to appoint vacant U.S. Senate seats
Oregon is one of four states that leaves a Senate vacancy unfilled until a special election is held. A bill that's passed the state House and Senate would change that. Shown is the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) A bill allowing Oregon's governor to appoint a U.S. senator for the state in the event of an unexpected vacancy is now a governor's signature away from becoming law. In a 31-24 vote, lawmakers in the Oregon House Tuesday passed Senate Bill 952. The legislation would give Gov. Tina Kotek, and any future Oregon governor, the authority to appoint someone from the same political party as the outgoing senator within 30 days of their passing away, stepping down or otherwise being unable to serve in their position. The appointment would expire whenever the former senator's term ends or if a successor is elected, whichever comes first. The legislation would end Oregon's status as one of four states in which vacancies are left unfilled until special elections, without appointments from the governor. Senate Bill 952 passed in the Oregon Senate in April in a 16-13 vote along party lines, with one dissenting Democrat, along with amendments that mandate a special election be set within 150 days following a vacancy. Oregon lawmakers considered a similar effort in 2022 but failed to pass that attempt out of the Legislature. 'This is not a partisan issue,' said Rep. Hai Pham, D-Hillsboro, while introducing the bill Tuesday on the House floor. 'It's about making sure our state isn't left on the sidelines when the stakes are high.' Oregon Republicans, however, saw the measure as further entrenching power with Democrats and party insiders. Several spoke up on the House floor and said the process should be left up to voters. 'If this bill is passed and a senate vacancy arises, the governor can choose someone who has never run for office, never answered to the public, and never stood before voters to earn their trust,' said state Rep. Dwayne Yunker, R-Grants Pass. 'What kind of accountability does that bring? The answer is none.' House Minority Leader and 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Christine Drazan, R-Canby, told her colleagues that the bill was unnecessary. 'I personally have been through the process of running for statewide office. It is not easy, and it should not be,' she said. 'It is grueling, it is humbling, it is demanding and it is appropriate that it be so.' Well before the state House's vote on Tuesday, Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats working beyond the standard retirement age of 65, had already signaled approval for the legislation. The two are part of one of the oldest Senates in U.S. history, where the median age of a member is just under 65. Wyden, 76, and Merkley, 68, both sent letters to the state's Senate Rules Committee April 2 encouraging passage of Senate Bill 952. Wyden, who has said he is running for re-election in 2028, wrote that under Oregon's current rules Oregonians, 'would have only half a voice in the U.S. Senate if our state lacked a senator because of death or injury for a prolonged period.' Merkley, who has not announced whether he plans to run for reelection in 2026, echoed Wyden's concerns, writing that waiting for a special election in the event of a vacancy would leave critical work undone. Most states allow their governor to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy by appointment, with the appointee serving until the next regularly scheduled general election. Of the 13 states that require a special election to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy, nine allow the governor to make a temporary appointment. Oregon is one of four states that leaves a vacancy unfilled until a special election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon Senate passes bill allowing governor to appoint a US senator during seat vacancy
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Senate passed a bill on Monday that would require the governor to appoint a new U.S. senator in cases where the seat becomes vacant before an election. In a press release, Oregon's Democratic Senate Majority Office explained aims to fill gaps in Oregon representation in the nation's capitol if the Senate seat becomes vacant. Without the bill, current Oregon law requires the state to keep the seat empty until a special election is held. Trump executive order 'another attempt to bully Portland' 'Oregonians count on our US Senators every day. Our Senators ensure Oregon gets its share of resources, provide assistance with federal benefits such as Social Security and veterans benefits and coordinate with the State Department when Oregonians are in danger outside our nation's borders,' said Senator Sara Gelser Blouin (D- Corvallis, Albany & South Salem), chief sponsor of the measure. 'Under current law, if a U.S. Senator dies or resigns from office, Oregonians are deprived of representation for months. That is because Oregon is one of just four states that do not allow the Governor to make an appointment. Senate Bill 952 fixes that and will ensure Oregonians never go more than 30 days without a U.S. Senator fighting for them,' Blouin added. Under the bill, the governor's appointments would not be permanent. Instead, the legislation clarifies that a special election must be held for the seat and must occur between 80 and 150 days after the seat becomes vacant. 'This change will allow Oregon to have full representation in the U.S. Senate quickly and ensures the people of Oregon have the final say over who serves in the role for the duration of the term,' said Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D – Portland, Boring & Damascus). As REAL ID deadline looms, here's what happens if you don't have one The Senate Majority Office pointed to one case when Oregon US Senator Bob Packwood (R) resigned in October 1995, which left Oregon reduced to one Senate vote for four months as the special election to replace him did not occur until January 1996. Under the bill, appointees must meet a few requirements, including being a citizen that's qualified to hold office, belonging to the same political party as the U.S. Senator who left the seat and must have at least a 180-day history as a member of the political party. The bill also bans governors from appointing themselves to the Senate seat. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now During an April 2 work session on the bill in the Senate Rules Committee, while taking a question from Committee Vice Chair Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles), Sen. Blouin emphasized the importance of the seat being filled. 'I want to be clear, I'm not aware of any U.S. senator that is not planning on being a U.S. senator moving forward, but let's say something happened today – a Democrat leaves, and our Democratic governor needs to appoint that person,' Blouin said. 'I trust that she would make a wise choice for Oregon and I also trust if that was a Republican governor, if that was Governor Bonham, I would trust that you would not be appointing the weakest Democrat to that spot in order to get an electoral advantage because I think we all understand how critical it is that we have the best possible representation in Washington D.C. for us at all times.' Senate Bill 952 passed in a 16-13 vote and now heads to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
