March 12, 2021 4:10 a.m.

Oregon Senate Republicans claim Democrats are targeting them with an attempted rule change.

A GOP release said the proposal would punish senators who exercise their constitutional right to protest.

The release said the rule would establish punitive fines for those who protest floor sessions “…to stand up to the Democrats continued abuses of power”.

Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod said “As Republicans, we believe rules should be applied fairly. This rule change doesn’t go far enough. No Senator should be receiving their per diem when the public is shut out of the democratic process and their Capitol”.

Girod accused the Democrats of thinking that “…just because they control the schedule, they can walk out whenever they want”. He said that by scheduling minimal floor sessions, Democrats have “….held up the people’s work for weeks now’.