SALEM – Most Senate Republicans returned to work at the Oregon Capitol Saturday after being absent for more than a week.

But when Senate President Peter Courtney gaveled open the floor session, three GOP Senators were still gone: Fred Girod of Lyons, Dennis Linthicum of Klamath Falls and Brian Boquist of Dallas.

Girod and Linthicum were listed as “absent.” Boquist was “excused.”

The difference between being excused and absent has little bearing on the proceedings of the legislature. It’s similar to the difference between missing school because you’re sick and missing school because you’re playing hooky. Either way, the Senators are not on the floor and are not voting.

All three of the Senators were among the group of lawmakers who went into hiding in order to deny majority Democrats a quorum at the Capitol.

Boquist and Linthicum did not immediately respond to a request for comment about why they were not at the Capitol on Saturday. Girod noted the importance of the Senate’s vote to sideline House Bill 2020, which would have capped carbon emissions in Oregon.

In a Facebook post, Girod wrote, “I respect my colleagues who are going back to kill HB2020 and who are going to vote on budget items that frankly, matter to many of the families in rural Oregon.”

But, he added, “I made you a promise to stay gone, and I’m keeping it.”

Boquist generated more controversy than any of his fellow senators for his part in the walkout by threatening to shoot at and possibly kill any state trooper who approached him to try to get him back to work. He told KGW that he warned the head of the state police as follows: “Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I’m not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon. It’s just that simple.”

The Senate President’s office said Boquist was on his way to the Capitol, so he was listed as “excused,” not “absent.”

One of the Republican Senators on the floor Saturday was not part of the walkout because she only became a Senator on Friday.

Sen. Denyc Boles of Salem took the oath of office Friday afternoon. She replaces Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, who died of lung cancer in May. Boles was appointed to the seat earlier in the week by a joint meeting of Marion and Polk County commissioners.