October 17, 2020 | By Kale Williams | The Oregonian/OregonLive | Source |
Oregon Republicans claim Gov. Kate Brown has abused her emergency authority in new lawsuit
“A trio of Republican lawmakers have sued Oregon Gov. Kate Brown claiming she has abused her authority in issuing stay-home orders and placing restrictions on businesses in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The lawsuit was brought by state Reps. Werner Reschke, R-Klamath Falls; Mike Nearman, R-Independence; state Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls; and Washington County businessman Neil Ruggles.
The suit, first reported by Willamette Week, alleges the governor violated the state constitution and usurped the legislators’ power when she issued executive orders at the start of the pandemic. It also claims that Ruggles suffered financial losses and was forced to close a martial arts business because of Brown’s orders.
In May, several churches sued the governor over restrictions on gathering sizes, saying her social distancing order infringed on their religious freedoms. A Baker County Circuit judge issued a preliminary injunction, which deemed the governor’s restrictions on church gatherings “null and void” along with all her “Stay Home Save Lives” coronavirus emergency orders.”