December 14, 2022 4:00 a.m.

Senate and House Republican leaders in the Oregon State Legislature have responded to Governor Kate Brown’s move to commute all death row sentences in the state to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp of Bend said, “Did the people of Oregon vote to end the death penalty? I don’t recall that happening. This is another example of the Governor and Democrats not abiding by the wishes of Oregonians”. Knopp said, “Even in the final days of her term, Brown continues to disrespect victims of the most violent crimes”.

House Republican Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson of Prineville said, “Governor Brown has once again taken executive action with zero input from Oregonians and the legislature. Oregon has not executed an individual since 1997 and has only executed two criminals since voters adopted the death penalty in 1984”. Breese-Iverson said, “Her decisions do not consider the impact the victims and families will suffer in the months and years to come. Democrats have consistently chosen criminals over victims”.

Knopp said Brown has used her executive authority to pardon or commute more sentences than any other governor in the state’s history and more than all of Oregon’s governors from the last 50 years combined.