A February Legislative Session? Not So Fast, Says State Senator.

There may be a hold-up in the off-year legislative "supplemental" session scheduled to begin Feb. 4.

Turns out state Sen. Larry George (R-Sherwood) is one of two plaintiffs who this week filed a legal complaint against Senate President Peter Courtney, House Speaker Jeff Merkley, Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Secretary of State Bill Bradbury in hopes of a judge stopping the February session. (The Legislature usually meets in odd-numbered years but is trying out a short annual session during February — one of the recommendations from a special Public Commission on the Oregon Legislature.)

The suit by George (pictured above) and Ted Abram in Marion County Circuit Court against the four Democratic officials contends that the February session would violate the Oregon Constitution because it doesn't meet the requirement that an "emergency exists'' to hold a session in an off year.

Meantime, legislative counsel has provided Courtney and Merkley with an opinion that bolsters the lawmakers' position that the Legislature has the constitutional authority to call itself into session because the special legislative commission found "that annual sessions constitute a pressing need."