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Senate Republicans and Democrats held the first formal meeting since the start of a Republican lead quorum-denying walkout that has lasted eight days.

Both parties remained tight-lipped Wednesday about what happened during that meeting. Both released a written statement saying only, "We met, we had a conversation, we are planning on additional conversations.

Senate President Rob Wagner's (D-Lake Oswego) Communications office noted that Wagner was present at the meeting along with Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend), Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D-Portland), House Speaker, Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), House Minority Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) and House Majority Leader Julie Fahey (D-Eugene).

Senate Republicans initially claimed the walkout, which happened just as the chamber was set to vote on a controversial reproductive rights measure, was over what they claim to be a violation of a Senate Rule on Bill readability.

They stuck to that claim till Sunday, May 7 at which point Knopp was quoted by local media outlets saying Republicans wanted Democrats to kill 20 bills before ending the walkout. He confirmed those claims to KATU on May 8 but denied any inconsistency in the Republicans' stance.

Lieber has said the party is willing to entertain a "wish list" but not a "kill list."

When asked by KATU reporter Christina Giardinelli what that might look like seeing as how a slew of Republican-led bills never got a committee hearing, she stated some bills are still alive.

"More importantly there is a budget that is still alive," she said.

Pacific University Political Science Professor Jim Moore said based on past walkouts the negotiations are not likely to lead to a compromise.

"When we have seen these in the past, and remember this (walkouts) has been happening for four years there has only been one time when kind of a clear bargain was struck and Republicans got votes on four bills and Democrats then said okay you can get the vote on the bills but we get to do these three things as well," he said.

However, one thing playing out in Democrat's favor this session is voter-approved Ballot Measure 113 which bars lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from running for reelection. Republicans have vowed to challenge the measure's constitutionality if it gets to that.

Four Republicans have racked up eight unexcused absences so far, six have racked up five, two have zero unexcused absences with one being excused for medical reasons since before the walkout, and one has three unexcused absences. The four Senators with eight absences are set to reach 10 by Friday, Moore says this could speed up the negotiation process. He said he expects a decision will be made by the end of the week.

He said that may look like both parties agreeing to come to the table just to pass the budget with other bills either dying or perhaps being revived last minute.

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Democrats, Republicans tight lipped after first meeting over walkout - KPIC News