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SALEM Sen. Tim Knopp and Rep. Cheri Helt represent the middle of the state, and in the past week, have found themselves in a new political middle.

They are the only Republicans who have not participated in a boycott against a proposal that aims to cut Oregons greenhouse gas emissions.

All other Republicans, including Eastern Oregon Republicans Sen. Bill Hansell of Athena, Rep. Greg Smith of Heppner and Rep. Greg Barreto of Cove, left the building last week, a move that effectively halts most legislative activity. The constitution requires that each chamber have two-thirds of its members present to vote on bills.

The other Republicans may not return before the constitution requires lawmakers to close up shop Sunday. Dozens of proposed bills and budget stopgaps could die.

Now, with mere days left in the 2020 Legislature, hope for a resolution is a rare sentiment around the Oregon Capitol.

Helt, of Bend, may be the exception.

Im here in hopes that we can reach a compromise, Helt, a restaurant owner, said in an interview Tuesday. We need both parties to come together and be able to create legislation thats good for all Oregonians. And my hope is that leadership can come together and we can continue to finish off session.

Both Helt and Knopp, also of Bend, represent districts where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in rapidly growing Central Oregon.

Jason Kropf, a Democrat, has filed to run against Helt, while two Democrats, Eileen Kiely and Brian Hinderberger, have filed to run for Knopps seat, according to state Elections Division records.

But Knopp and Helt insist their presence is not intended to appease voters who could give them a pink slip in November if they disapproved of Republican walkouts.

For me, these choices are not about elections, Helt said. These choices are about representing my constituents.

You have to represent your district, Knopp said in his office, where hed propped open a window to let the early spring breeze in. And its not about what would please Democrats. Its about representing the entire district.

In January, the public opinion research firm FM3 interviewed 750 Oregonians over the phone and online who were likely to vote in November, asking them whether they supported or opposed repeated walkouts by Republicans in the state legislature.

Thirty-six percent of respondents said they strongly or somewhat supported repeated walkouts by Republicans, while 59% said they somewhat or strongly opposed the tactic. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4% at the 95% confidence level.

These days, Oregon voters cant be sliced up into two neat halves. Nonaffiliated voters those who register with no party make up a larger share of voters than registered Republicans do.

In Knopps district, there are more nonaffiliated voters than there are Democrats, and in Helts district, nonaffiliated voters are only slightly outnumbered by Democrats, according to the Secretary of States Office.

The FM3 poll also asked nonaffiliated voters whether they were more or less likely to vote for a state senator who had walked out, and found that 63% were somewhat or strongly less likely to vote for such a candidate.

On Tuesday, two proposed measures to rein in the use of walkouts got incrementally closer to the ballot, according to a press release from Service Employees International Union 503, one of the states largest unions.

One petition would disqualify a lawmaker from running again for their House or Senate seat if they had 10 or more unexcused absences from a floor session, while the other petition would fine each lawmaker who walked out $500 a day, cancel their salary and daily expense payments, and would prohibit lawmakers from using campaign funds to pay for expenses associated with walking out.

Knopp, who is executive vice president of the Central Oregon Builders Association and executive director of Partners for Affordable Housing, participated in a walkout last year over an earlier version of the climate bill. He said he had a lot of input from constituents over the last six months.

They want me oppose cap and trade, but they want me to do it in the building and try to be constructive to try to find a consensus solution, Knopp said. My district likes bipartisanship.

Helt said she made it clear to her fellow Republicans that she would not walk out, but said she couldnt recall the moment she made that decision.

I do yes votes. I do no votes, Helt said. I dont do walkouts. I dont do boycotts.

Over the past week, Knopp and Helt have attended floor sessions. Knopp has attended policy committee meetings which have been rare in the waning days of session and Helt traveled back to Bend on Monday to host a roundtable discussion on the coronavirus.

Helt said she is not caucusing with Republicans, and Knopp said that hes not talking formally with his Republican colleagues.

Theyre caucusing and have their own strategy, and my strategy is to be here, Helt said. And, hopefully we can get people to work together and compromise and move forward.

Knopp and Helt have broken with their party before. Last year, Helt proposed tightening immunization requirements for public school students, a measure that drew fierce Republican opposition.

That proposal was sacrificed by Democrats in a deal to get Senate Republicans to end their May 2019 boycott over a school funding bill.

Knopp ticked off a list of issues that hes worked on over the years with Democratic colleagues, including a recent law creating a program for workers to take paid leave from work when they have a child or need to take care of a sick relative.

Helt said she had received positive remarks from constituents about not participating in the boycott.

Theyre glad that Im here, Helt said. I think that Bend wants a sensible center, pragmatic representative, and Im hoping that I meet those needs they will be deciding in the election.

Knopp said his office has received a lot of emails and calls.

Most people are respectful, but theres a lot of passion behind the issue, Knopp said. I understand that. I think if you are looking to avoid criticism, serving in the Oregon Legislature is not the place for you.

Read more from the original source:
Two Central Oregon lawmakers are the lone 2 Republicans remaining in the Capitol - East Oregonian