Oregon GOP Walkout Stalls State Budget and Legislative Progress

Oregon's state revenue forecast exceeded expectations, giving lawmakers an additional $2 billion for a two-year budget due in June. However, a walkout by Senate Republicans has left the Senate short of a quorum, jeopardizing the process. Republicans are objecting to Democrats' "extreme" bills, including a sweeping measure on abortion rights and gender-affirming care. State economists attribute the revenue surge to an unexpected surge in tax payments. If the Legislature fails to produce a budget by the end of June, Gov. Tina Kotek said she "will take whatever tools I have to make sure we can get the budgets done."