A debate over a relatively minor rule change resulted in a brief shouting match this week.
Discussion over a relatively minor change to Oregon House rules became uncommonly tense Tuesday, as Democrats and Republicans differed on how they want to approach possible expulsion proceedings against state Rep. Mike Nearman over his role in the Dec. 12 incursion by far-right protesters at the Oregon Capitol building.
At issue in the House Rules Committee was a tweak that would allow a new special committee created to handle the Nearman case to hold work sessions on an expulsion resolution. Under internal House rules, deadlines for such hearings have passed for the majority of legislative committees.