Think Progress takes a shot at Betsy Johnson

Carla Axtman

I'm thinking Johnson probably considers this a badge of honor:

In April, Secretary of State Kate Brown (D) introduced a proposal to make it easier for Oregonians to cast a ballot by automatically registering citizens to vote. No one would be forced to vote, but automatic registration would allow residents who forgot or were unable to register to still cast a ballot if they so desired. In addition, citizens’ voter registration file would be automatically updated if they were to move.

The bill had passed the state House last month, but died in the Senate on Sunday on a tied 15-15 vote. (The final count was 14-16, but only after the Democratic Senate Majority Leader switched her vote to a “no” for procedural reasons that would allow Democrats to revive the bill.) Democrats control the chamber by a slim 16-14 margin, but a single Democrat, Sen. Betsy Johnson, joined 14 Republicans to vote against HB 3521.

Johnson opposed the bill because she felt that Oregon’s two-step voting process — first you register to vote, then you actually vote — wasn’t “unduly burdensome,” saying that people need to “take personal responsibility for registering.”

Having some lefty-liberal think tank take a shot at her is not exactly a sting for Johnson, I'd imagine. But her quote is baffling. "Take personal responsibility for voting...". What the heck does that even mean? I've heard a lot of LAME excuses for voting against bills in the past, but that one is up there.

By Carla Axtman July 09, 2013