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To contact me, please click here: Rep.VirgleOsborne@oregonlegislature.gov
Hello Friends,
Here are some moments from the last week and valuable community insights to help you stay informed.
~ Virgle
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE TRANSPORTATION PROPOSAL THAT PROTECTS FAMILIES FROM COST OF LIVING INCREASES, STABILIZES ODOT
On Wednesday, my colleagues and I announced a transportation proposal that protects Oregonians’ pocketbooks at a time when they’re facing rising costs and tax hikes.
For years, ODOT has funded ideas instead of infrastructure. Our plan protects Oregon families from more tax increases by requiring ODOT to cut wasteful spending that does not align with core functions.
In identifying approximately $730 million in refocused spending, cost savings, and spending cuts, House Republicans commit to delivering functioning roads without asking Oregonians to pay more.
The proposal we unveiled prioritizes core functions of our Transportation Department, sidelines spending in non-essential programs and divisive agendas, protects federal transportation funding, and preserves critical road safety services.
Proposed Cuts to ODOT’s biennial budget for 2025-2027 include:
- Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund: $306.7 million
- Reallocate Vacancies: $68.3 million
- Lease Unused Office Space at ODOT Headquarters: $55.9 million
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Program: $47 million
- 3% Agency Staff: $40 million
- Passenger Rail: $38 million
- Vehicle Privilege Tax: $35 million
- Social Equity and Civil Rights Division: $24.9 million
In contrast, the Democrats’ plan adds a dozen new taxes, tax hikes, and fee increases that expand current non-essential spending that Oregonians simply cannot afford. Their plan will make it more expensive for families to drop their kids off at school, drive to work, and pick up groceries, while snubbing Oregonians’ call for accountability.
Their plan rewards an agency riddled with mismanagement, billion-dollar budget woes, and broken promises. As noted by the Oregonian Editorial Board in April, “burdening Oregonians with nearly $2 billion in new taxes while adopting policies that inflate costs for the benefit of longtime Democratic donors is flatly unconscionable.”
We reject the premise that if we don't make life more expensive for Oregonians, we can't fix potholes, plow the snow, or keep rural roads safe. Keeping our roads drivable and safe must be the Oregon Department of Transportation’s top priority.
House Republicans are responding to Oregonians who are increasingly frustrated by the cost of living and want to see their state government deliver and maintain safe roads for them. This proposal is an opportunity to be responsive to the needs of our state, hold government accountable, and set a clear vision for the role of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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UNEMPLOYMENT PAY FOR STRIKING WORKERS GETS HEARING IN HOUSE COMMITTEE
On March 20, Senate Bill 916 narrowly passed out of the Senate with 16 aye votes — two Democrats joined Republicans in voting no. SB 916 would allow striking employees to be eligible for unemployment benefits. If this bill passes, workers in both the private and public sectors will be able to start collecting unemployment pay after two weeks of being on strike.
The bill received a public hearing on April 30 and now sits in the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards waiting for a work session. If SB 916 passes, Oregon would be the first state to enact a law like this. No other state in the country allows striking employees to collect unemployment benefits.
The unemployment trust fund is intended to support employees who tragically lose employment and need support while they exist in limbo between jobs. This fund is paid into by employers, not employees. The argument against this bill is simple: it’s just not fair to the thousands of small businesses not connected to the labor dispute who are now footing the bill.
The Oregonian Editorial Board wrote a scathing editorial condemning the bill early March
I remain hopeful that my Democratic colleagues will see the disparities in this bill and will let it die in committee.
OPINION: I want to thank Representative Virgle Osborne
The News-Review | Steve Gibbs (Columbia Distributing)
I want to thank Representative Virgle Osborne for standing up for Oregon’s Bottle Bill. Rep. Osborne signed a bipartisan letter to the House Revenue Committee making it clear that a new surcharge or using any portion of the current redemption value to fund wildfire efforts is the wrong approach. Wildfire funding is critical—there’s no question that Oregon must act to better prepare for and respond to increasingly severe fire seasons. But that action should not come at the expense of the Bottle Bill, a program that has worked for more than 50 years without taxpayer dollars. It keeps billions of containers out of landfills, reduces litter, and supports community programs across the state.
INSIDE DOUGLAS COUNTY
LISTEN: Inside Douglas County 5.2.25
KQEN
State Representative Virgle Osborne is in-studio to talk about Roseburg Urban Growth Boundary legislation, the ODOT Transportation Package, funding for wildland firefighters, tax proposals and more.
Double Up Food Bucks Program
Spring is arriving and farmers markets are opening! Shopping at a farmers’ market is a great way to find the freshest food for your family, while supporting our local farmers and small businesses. One program that helps make farmers markets affordable and accessible for all is Double Up Food Bucks. This program matches SNAP benefits, dollar for dollar, for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. Double Up is also available at participating small grocers, farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Check the map here for locations that participate in our district. Happy eating!
Yours Truly,
 Representative Virgle Osborne, House District 2
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1402
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-375, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.VirgleOsborne@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/osborne
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