The recent Oregonian/OregonLive editorial regarding the investigation into Rep. Dwayne Yunker’s March remarks on the House floor shows why legislative debate receives its own protection from Oregon’s Constitution, (“ Editorial: Politics is not a ‘safe space,’ ” Aug. 3).

Article 4, Section 9 of the Oregon Constitution says “Nor shall a member for words uttered in debate in either house, be questioned in any other place.”

Vigorous, direct, clear debate contributes to wise legislation. Debate might be lively, pointed, cringeworthy - even funny sometimes. But the debate “in either house” is protected from questioning “in any other place.”

That protection stands in addition to Oregon’s broad protection for free expression rights ; it does not narrow the general right to expression.

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