February 25, 2020 10:40 a.m. 
House GOP members of the Oregon State Legislature are joining their Senate colleagues in leaving the state to protest Cap and Trade legislation.
Tuesday morning, House Republican Leader Christine Drazan released a statement saying: “From the first day of this short session it has been clear that Governor Brown and the majority party have not had an interest in respecting the legislative process and have repeatedly refused to compromise”. She said each and every amendment GOP member’s offered on Cap and Trade in committee has been rejected. Drazan said she had remained optimistic until Monday that a compromise could be reached. Her statement continued: “Unfortunately, our attempts to achieve a bipartisan consensus that would take into account the views of all Oregonians were denied”. Drazan said “Oregon House Republicans are taking a stand, with working families, in opposing Cap and Trade and this rigged process”. Drazan said the GOP would continue to keep all lines of communication open. Her statement concluded saying: “I call on Governor Brown and the majority party to refer Cap and Trade to the people”.
State Representative Cedric Hayden, who represents part of Douglas County, told News Radio 1240 KQEN that he would not be returning to the Capitol for the remainder of the short legislative session. Hayden said when voters approved annual sessions, “They did so on the premise that the 35 days was to be used on technical fixes and budget rebalancing”. Hayden continued: “Instead the process has broken down in a way that 100-page bills are being forced to fit through the session, with amendments flying and no fiscal or revenue impacts to speak of”. Hayden said “the session is just beyond repair at this point, and in good conscience, I won’t participate in a process like this”.
Hayden told KQEN that the GOP caucus is planning to deny quorum until Cap and Trade is referred to the voters.