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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hearing for lawmaker who made threats during GOP walkout

In this photo taken Wednesday, July 3, 2019, Oregon Sen. Brian Boquist poses in his office in the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Ore., after an interview with the Associated Press. (Andrew Selsky / associated press)
Associated Press

SALEM – A special committee of the Oregon state Senate is holding a hearing over a lawmaker’s comments made during a Republican revolt over climate legislation.

The hearing concerning Sen. Brian Boquist, a Republican from Dallas, is scheduled for Monday. Boquist was part of a group of GOP lawmakers who fled the Capitol to thwart legislation aimed at imposing a cap and trade plan in Oregon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Democrats control the Legislature but the GOP senators left Salem to deny the Senate a quorum.

Boquist warned if the State Police were sent to force him to return during the walkout they should “send bachelors and come heavily armed.”

Boquist said the troopers had no authority to apprehend senators.

He has submitted several documents for the inquiry, including a U.S. Supreme Court ruling supporting a Georgia lawmaker’s First Amendment rights to free speech in the 1960s.