SALEM -- Oregon is the only state without a process for impeaching its governor, and legislators will hear testimony Tuesday on a bill to change that.
The bill, HJR 10, sponsored by Rep. Jodi Hack, R-Salem, would allow the state House of Representatives to impeach the governor with a three-fifths majority vote on the grounds of malfeasance in office, corruption, neglect of duty or other high crime or misdemeanor. The Senate would then hold a trial and could convict on a two-thirds majority vote. The process would apply also to Oregon's other statewide elected officials: secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general and labor commissioner.
This is the second time that Hack has pushed an impeachment bill. The first came in March 2015, less than one month after former Gov. John Kitzhaber's resignation. At that time, the House voted 47-12 to approve the bill, which was backed by two powerful House members: Republican Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, and Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Eugene. It stalled in the Senate without a vote.
Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, has said she does not support creating an impeachment process because Oregon's governor can be thrown out of office via a recall election.
Jim Moore, professor of political science at Pacific University, said there are legitimate arguments against instituting impeachment procedures.
"If we have a truly independent Legislature, yes it ought to be able to impeach any member of the executive. But it basically turns into a partisan fistfight," he said.
Hack countered that in a press release. "The impeachment process will not be a partisan weapon," she said, "but a tool that can be used if needed to maintain the integrity of the executive branch."
Gov. Kate Brown told The Oregonian/OregonLive last week that she supports Hack's bill, but has asked her to "refine her proposal."
The bill is scheduled for a hearing before the House Rules Committee on 3 p.m. Tuesday, February 21 in Hearing Room 50 at the Oregon State Capitol.
HRJ 10 is co-sponsored by Reps. Mike Nearman, R-Independence; Bill Post, R-Keizier; Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio; and Gene Whisnant, R-Sunriver.
It is exceedingly rare for a state to impeach its governor. Hack noted in a news release that, in all of U.S. history, only seven governors have been removed from office following impeachment hearings. The most recent was Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, who was impeached in 2009 under a process very similar to the one called for in Hack's bill.
-- Gordon R. Friedman
gfriedman@oregonian.com
@GordonRFriedman
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