A landmark climate change bill on the brink of passing the Oregon state legislature now seems to be dead.
The bill would have used a market mechanism to reduce carbon pollution, says Gizmodo.
All 12 Republican state senators absconded from Salem late last week or refused to appear at the statehouse.
This sparked a state police manhunt until the senators threatened the police to be left alone.
Five days after the debacle began and with the Republicans still MIA, state Democrats have caved.
“This is the biggest failure of public leadership in Oregon in recent memory.” Tera Hurst, executive director of Renew Oregon
Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney said the bill would not move forward due to lack of votes.