Oregon lawmaker who made threats during GOP walkout faces censure hearing

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A special committee of the Oregon state Senate is holding a hearing over a lawmaker's comments made during a Republican revolt over climate legislation.

The hearing concerning Sen. Brian Boquist, a Republican from Dallas, is scheduled for Monday. Boquist was part of a group of GOP lawmakers who fled the Capitol to thwart legislation aimed at imposing a cap and trade plan in Oregon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Democrats control the Legislature but the GOP senators left Salem to deny the Senate a quorum.

Boquist warned if the State Police were sent to force him to return during the walkout they should "send bachelors and come heavily armed."

Boquist said the troopers had no authority to apprehend senators.

He has submitted several documents for the inquiry, including a U.S. Supreme Court ruling supporting a Georgia lawmaker's First Amendment rights to free speech in the 1960s.