Impeachment Effort Underway, Sort Of

Capitol Currents:

Oregon is the only state that does not include provisions for impeachment of elected officials in its state constitution. While Oregon does allow voters to recall its politicians, there have been relatively few successful efforts to do so--and most of those have been on the local level. (I could find reference to just 3 state lawmakers that have been recalled--none since the 1980's.) But as far as impeachment--that is, when lawmakers themselves remove a fellow politician from office--that's not possible in Oregon.

Enter House Joint Resolution 22, which was given a first reading today on the House floor. Sponsored by Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) on behalf of a constituent, the legislation would establish a process by which state lawmakers could impeach and remove from office most statewide elected officials. (Curiously, the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction appears to be exempt from the impeachment threat.) But while lawmakers themselves would not be subject to impeachment, state agency heads that are appointed by the governor would be.

Impeachment would require a simple majority of votes in the House. A subsequent conviction and removal from office would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate. But don't expect to see this happen anytime soon. For HJR-22 to take effect, lawmakers would have to send it to the ballot and voters would have to approve it. That's because it requires a change in the Oregon Constitution.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width="1" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3320471128493510714-1071017048458862320?l=www.capitolcurrents.com" alt=""/></div>

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