Oregon Senate standoff over school tax in third day

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Republicans in the Oregon Senate have skipped out on an education tax vote for a third straight day.

Only one Republican appeared on the Senate floor Thursday morning, denying the chamber enough members to go through with a vote.

Republicans want to go back to the drawing table on a multibillion-dollar tax on Oregon’s wealthiest businesses. They say they won’t support any funding that doesn’t address the state’s public pension debt.

Minority Senate Leader Herman Baertschiger, Jr., says negotiations with the Senate President have not progressed.

The Republican from Grants Pass says in a statement that conservatives may have started the stand-off, but “the Democrats have prolonged it.”

Two plans on how to handle the state’s $25 billion pension liability are set to be released early Friday afternoon.