Oregonians Have Had Enough of Democrats’ Accountability Hypocrisy

Photo credit: Kaylee Domzalski, OPB

Shifting blame and avoiding personal responsibility is nothing new for Oregon Democrats. The latest example revealed this morning in Willamette Weekly showcases Democrat Betsy Johnson's hypocrisy on accountability on full display.

The article is a brutal exposure of Johnson's denial of responsibility for the serious injuries she caused to the driver she rear-ended by asserting legislative immunity, an age-old clause in the Oregon Constitution, and arguing the taxpayers of the state of Oregon should pay the damages.

This argument came as Johnson, co-chair of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Ways and Means, disingenuously attempted to build her reputation "on holding agencies and other elected officials to account for the way they spent tax dollars."

"From Tina Kotek's countless attempts to push her priorities over those in the best interest of Oregonians, to Betsy Johnson's reliance on an antiquated law that would have had taxpayers paying for her accident, Oregonians know they deserve better from elected officials," said RGA spokeswoman Kaitlin Price. "This is another example of Oregon Democrats failing the state because their personal interests and party politics matter more to them than effective leadership."

Willamette Week : Betsy Johnson Crashed Into Another Motorist. Then She Tried to Claim Legislative Immunity

"In 2013, according to court records, then-state Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) rear-ended a driver stopped at a red light in her hometown.
…

"Johnson's efforts to shirk responsibility following the crash are relevant now because she has made accountability the cornerstone of her campaign to be only the second Oregon governor ever elected without being a member of either major party.

"That's not all: Johnson's attorneys also argued that if anybody owed Gallentine compensation, it was the state of Oregon because, while the accident took place just 7 miles from her home, Johnson was driving to work at the Capitol on April 22, 2013.

"That lawsuit was dismissed after Johnson's attorneys argued legislative immunity.

The Oregon Constitution provides that lawmakers "shall not be subject to any civil process during the session of the Legislative Assembly, nor during the fifteen days next before the commencement thereof."

It doesn't say lawmakers have no responsibility for their actions.
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"It's especially noteworthy that her lawyers tried to pass the costs of the crash on to taxpayers.

As a co-chair of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Sen. Johnson built her reputation on holding agencies and other elected officials to account for the way they spent tax dollars."

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