Oregon lawmakers gathered at the Capitol Monday morning so that reelected and newly elected members could be sworn into office. There was a significant police presence outside and inside the Capitol, with no protest as of mid-morning.
An Oregon lawmaker who let violent right-wing demonstrators into the Capitol during a Dec. 21 special session could face a variety of consequences including fines and a hostile workplace complaint, but the most severe response would require support from his Republican colleagues.
Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, is also under investigation by Oregon State Police for his role helping demonstrators illegally breach the Capitol building, Capt. Timothy Fox wrote in an email Friday.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said late Friday afternoon that she is “exploring all options to hold Rep. Nearman accountable and prevent this kind of unacceptable and dangerous behavior from happening again.”
Oregon lawmakers will do most of their work online during the initial weeks of the regular five-month legislative session that begins Jan. 19 in an effort to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks at the Capitol.
Gov. Kate Brown: Businesses that defy COVID-19 rules could set the state back
Updated Jan 01, 2021;
Posted Dec 31, 2020
Gov. Kate Brown, shown here at the Oregon State Fairgrounds where wildfire evacuees were being served in September, on Thursday warned businesses against violating state COVID-19 orders. Beth Nakamura/Staff
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Gov. Kate Brown issued a warning Thursday to businesses planning to defy state COVID-19 rules, saying they could undercut the state’s progress against the virus and face state penalties.
Some public officials and businesses around the state have been urging businesses to operate in violation of state public health rules starting on New Year’s Day. Those rules, which include a ban on indoor dining in 24 counties in the “extreme risk” category, are aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.