Oregon Governor Initiates Talks to End Republican-Led Senate Boycott.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has started talks with state lawmakers to end a three-week-long boycott led by Republican senators that has delayed progress on over 100 bills, including Democratic measures on sex reassignment and abortion. The boycott began on May 3 and is reportedly the longest in Oregon history. Both the Senate and House must approve state budgets for the next two years before the legislative session ends on June 25. The governor has not ruled out ordering the Oregon State Police to bring the boycotters to the Senate floor to reach a quorum in the 30-member chamber.