…but, uhh, not exactly in a positive way.

A couple weeks ago, the Senate Republicans office asked its constituents to vote for the “worst bill of the session,” something you might expect from a party that now finds itself in the minority in both state houses.

The votes are in, and, according to an email that went out this afternoon, a landslide victory went to HB 2007 and SB 2, which set up domestic partnerships for same-sex couples and ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, respectively.

Except, Senate Republicans—and leader Ted Ferrioli—won’t just come out and say, “We hate the homos.” Instead, they’ve couched their argument in “will of the voters” rhetoric. “From the numerous responses we received, it is clear there is little patience for Governor Kulongoski and legislative Democrats trumping voters’ will,” the email read. “Voters spoke, and their wishes should be followed rather than ignored.”

And that’s interesting, because Oregon voters haven’t voted on banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, nor have they ever voted on domestic partnerships. Instead, Oregon voters elected leaders and a governor who pretty much pledged to enact both, and then followed through with that promise.

Call me crazy, but it looks to me like voters spoke, and their wishes were followed.

The GOP’s full email is after the jump.

And the envelope please…

Worst Bill of the Session Survey Results

Thank you to all who responded to our Worst Bill of the Session survey! Over 130 admonitions filled our in-box, and it was a messy job sorting through it all. Some of you even answered our query for bad bills with the simple response, “All of them!” Like us, you found plenty over which to hold your nose.

A recurring theme surfaced in the top three vote getters, as respondents repeatedly asked the question, "Why won't legislators listen to us?" Today we bring you the winner by votes cast, the runner-up and a few honorable mentions.

A landslide victory for Worst of the Session goes to the bill that extend marriage-like benefits and special legal status to same-sex couples. From the numerous responses we received, it is clear there is little patience for Governor Kulongoski and legislative Democrats trumping voters’ will. Voters spoke, and their wishes should be followed rather than ignored.

The runner-up for Worst of the Session goes to a bill under the same ‘will of the voters’ theme. Again, Governor Kulongoski and legislative Democrats decided they knew better than voters as they wrote their repeal of Measure 37, Oregon’s property rights measure. Readers were obviously displeased with the blind eye shown to their vote.

Other honorable mentions included:

A bill to steal gift card balances, proving there is no such thing as too deep into taxpayer pockets.
Over one hundred new tax and fee increase prooposals.
Efforts to repeal the voter-approved double majority requirement on tax measures.
The bill to allow ex-prostitutes to teach in Oregon schools.
Attempts to attack crisis pregnancy centers.
Defining the size of pen farmers can use to raise pigs.

Yes, "prooposals" was misspelled in the email.