House Republicans cry foul on minority reports

Oregon's House Republicans are up in arms over the rules instituted by Democrats during the special session that limit the ability of legislators to offer legislation as an alternative to bills that pass out of legislative committees.

“The Democrats’ rules go against the fundamental basis of representation,” said House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg). “When you take away the voice of the minority party, you take away the voice of nearly half of all Oregonians.”

This is not the first time that the majority party has prevented the minority from instituting minority reports -- though Republicans permitted them when they held the majority in 2003 and 2005.