Dear Senator Findley:

You are quoted in the June 3rd Baker City Herald saying “I’m working all day long.” This is an interesting idea as you have not attended a floor session or voted in the Oregon Legislature for over a month while it has been in session. One key aspect of your job as a legislator in a representative democracy is voting. Your proposition that you are “working” is like a teacher saying “I have been working, I just don’t do grading anymore,” then justifying the dereliction of duty with “My students are OK with it.”

You dispute the idea that you and your colleagues are acting wrongly by avoiding work; characterizing criticism against you as background “chatter.” What would happen if there was a firefighter who decided to boycott firefighting? This person might go to work, exercise, and complete paperwork, but just not put out fires. Would they be doing their job? Teachers and firefighters like you, Senator Findley, work in the public interest and hold the public trust. A teacher or firefighter who absconded from their duties would be fired.

You will not be fired or sacked, you will remain in office, but thankfully not for too much longer. The passage of Measure 113 by 68.32% of Oregon voters in 2022 disqualifies members of the legislature from seeking reelection if they miss 10 or more floor sessions for unexcused reasons. You have missed way more than that. Oregonians, like Americans, are sick and tired of your chaos-politics. Over 100 bills sit idle as you hide in your office and send out press releases about how hard you are working.

You contend that some of the bill summaries are written at an above eighth grade reading level (as required by Oregon law), and are using this as an excuse not to attend floor sessions. While this position does seem to have some legal grounding it is undoubtedly petty. Maybe akin to taking a sick day from work because you stubbed your toe. It is “technically” an injury.

Lastly, thanks to the solid reporting of this newspaper’s team you were quoted saying “With four or five exceptions, all of the responses (of my constituents) are encouraging me to do what I’m doing.” Well, Senator Findley, please consider me as the fifth or sixth constituent with non-encouraging feedback. Please go to the floor and do your job. I encourage others in Baker and Findley’s district to call and express themselves. His Senate number is 503-986-1730. When I called, a very kind staffer talked with me for a while. Please let Senator Findley know there are more than four or five people in Eastern Oregon who think he should do his job.

Ethan Wolston

Baker City