A minority of legislators shutting the Legislature down is no way to run state government. Backroom deals are no way to fix it.

The last day of this session was supposed to be when things may start happening again in the Oregon Senate and bills will start being passed. That day will be June 25th. It happens to be a Sunday.

Nothing much is going to happen on June 25th. And we know it is dangerous to guess, but nothing much is going to happen between then and now, either.

Republicans, including Republican Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp of Bend, have said they would agree to come back on the last day and pass the budget and “bipartisan” bills. Democrats have rejected that idea.

Imagine it, though. The session opens. Republicans in the Senate would make a motion or motions to switch around the agenda so the budget and maybe a few other bills get moved to the top of the agenda.

Would Democrats allow a small group of Republicans to dictate the agenda on the last day of the session when Republicans have obstructed the Senate? It would be surrendering control of the Legislature to the minority. So no, they don’t plan on doing that. It’s the right decision.

Instead, there could be some backroom deals made before June 25th. Democratic and Republican legislative leadership could meet and hash out an agreement ahead of time — to pass the budget bills and a few others. They would go behind closed doors carrying along what they call “kill lists” — bills they want dead — and other bills with blessings and make a mysterious bargain. Oregonians wouldn’t be able to know what was said or what deals were cut.

Is that any way to run the government? It is not.

Another option would be for Republicans to relent on the Senate boycott or the Democrats to cave in to Republican demands on killing House Bill 2002 and others. Not going to happen.

We are heading for a dead end, and many bills will die. Then the governor will call a special session this summer and the budget may be all we get.