April 11, 2023 4:00 a.m.

Monday on the Senate floor, Republicans attempted to withdraw sixteen pieces of legislation they say would make communities safer, from committees to the floor for a vote.

A release from the Oregon Senate Republicans said Democrats voted in locked step against the proposals. This comes just after House Democrats largely rejected a “Safe Schools” package following the Nashville school shooting.

Republican Senator Fred Girod of Lyons, said, “Sixteen. Today we brought forward sixteen bills that deserved to be considered. Bills that would have cracked down on fentanyl dealing, increased the number of patrol troopers on our highways, and made necessary fixes to Ballot Measure 110. There’s no reason that can justify why they failed”.

Deputy Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles, said “For years, Democrats have voted with criminals, not victim’s”.

The GOP release cited an article by The Oregonian Editorial Board over the weekend that noted roughly 16,000 more people left Oregon than moved in from 2021 to 2022. It cited housing unaffordability, homelessness, increasing taxation, drug addiction crisis, untreated mental illness, gun violence, traffic deaths and educational mediocrity as reasons why.

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp of Bend, said, “Process matters. We were promised a bipartisan session, yet what we’re seeing is an extreme, partisan agenda that fails to meet the needs of Oregonians we represent”.

The complete “Safe Communities Package” is linked: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senaterepublicans/mediakit/SAFE%20COMMUNITIES%20(2).pdf