Police staffing increased in presence of Ore. senator
By: Andrew Selsky, The Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. — A Republican lawmaker who threatened the Senate president and Oregon State Police on the eve of a revolt by GOP senators over a climate-change bill must give notice before coming to the Capitol, where state troopers will beef up their presence, a Senate committee decided Monday.
The committee of two Democrats and two Republicans unanimously passed the motion near the close of a hearing into Sen. Brian Boquist’s conduct that lasted several hours. The hearing room in the Oregon State Capitol was jammed with onlookers, including many of his supporters who held small American flags.
Boquist, a Republican from Dallas, warned on June 19 that if the Oregon State Police were sent to force him to return during a walkout by GOP senators that they should “send bachelors and come heavily armed.” He also told Senate President Peter Courtney that “hell is coming to visit you personally” if he sent the state police after him. He apologized minutes later for his comments.
