|
Replies to this message are sent to an unsupervised mailbox.
To contact me, click here:
Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov
 As it should be, we happened to capture the OSU shirt in frame!
Hello Friends,
It was wonderful to see so many of you last Saturday at the Town Hall event I hosted with Representative Ben Bowman and surprise & special guest, Representative David Gomberg!
Thank you for taking the time out of your Saturday to come and engage with us. A lot is going on in Oregon and at the national level. We need a tremendous amount of civic participation right now, and you are making your voices heard! I was so excited by the turnout we received. Corvallis and Adair Village are standing up and standing OUT!
In case you weren't able to be there, let's recap what's going on.
SPECIAL SESSION - TRANSPORTATION
When the legislature adjourned on June 28th, we knew we were going to have to come back. The anti-climactic ending was insufficient for Oregonians.
Oregon’s transportation system is showing the wear of decades of deferred maintenance and budget shortfalls. Snowplows are behind schedule, potholes are going unfilled, and public transit agencies are facing major cuts. These are not distant problems—they're already affecting our daily lives and public safety. ODOT reduced its budget by $300 million over the last 5 years. They are operating on a lean budget that cannot be met without new funding. We must fix the current budget shortfall so they can carry out their critical mission. We are not returning them to 2020 budget levels.
ODOT workers are essential to both transportation and emergency response.
Fun Facts!
- Oregon has approximately 127,000 miles of public roads. If you were driving a car at 60 mph, it would take you 2,117 hours to make the trip!
- 94,000 lane-miles are plowed by ODOT to clear snow every year.
- ODOT crews are often the first on scene to traffic accidents in rural areas.
- ODOT workers are essential in wildfire recovery and infrastructure repair. They remove ash, downed logs, hazardous trees, landslide debris, etc.
- Building our roads today would cost up to 1.2 trillion dollars.
As this editorial explains, our state’s transportation system has been funded the same way for over 100 years — with a gas tax that no longer keeps up as vehicles become more fuel efficient. We need a new transportation plan that begins to modernize the system, or we’ll keep falling behind.
A plan proposed by some Republicans is a one-time patch that does nothing to address the root of the problem. Emergency reserves are for disasters like wildfire suppression—not plugging budget holes every two years. Raiding these funds without fixing the system will not solve the problem. One-time funds cannot be used to meet ongoing needs. We must have a plan built for the long term that protects critical emergency response programs.
That’s why the legislature is returning for a special session on August 29th to consider a transportation funding proposal focused on safety and maintenance. The proposed bill does not yet have a number. We are currently on legislative concept 2 (LC 2).
LC 2 does include the $0.06 increase in Oregon’s gas tax that has been the subject of much discussion. The average Oregonian drives about 12,000 miles per year. The average fuel economy of Oregonians’ cars is 29 mpg. The increase in the gas tax will cost the average Oregonian $24.83/year. The bill also maintains the longstanding 50-30-20 funding split. Half of the money is designated to go to ODOT. These funds are for safety, maintenance, and repairs to our current system, not to fund large, new projects. The remaining funds are split between counties (30%) and cities (20%). They will provide key resources in our community for our local roads and bridges.
To allow drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles to pay their fair share for the roads they use, we will begin phasing in a road use charge (RUC) in 2027. Until they are enrolled in the RUC program, drivers of these vehicles will pay a registration surcharge of $30 to fund the establishment of the RUC. I know there are some privacy concerns around the RUC. There are data privacy protections built into the program and an option to pay a flat fee rather than have your mileage tracked. Oregon is not new to this idea. We have had a pilot, voluntary RUC program, OReGO, in place since 2015. In 2027, we will start requiring enrollment of electric vehicles in the RUC to increase the fairness of transportation funding. Electric-hybrid and hybrid vehicles will follow.
There is also proposed funding in LC 2 for transit funding. This will help us avoid cuts to transit that disproportionately affect seniors, veterans, and working families. In our area, transit not only allows people to move around our community, but partnerships between Corvallis, Benton County, and surrounding counties provide transportation to the coast and to the train in Albany. We must make sure our transit system can continue to be a key resource in our community and beyond.
And, yes, we are building accountability requirements into this funding. ODOT must be held to high standards for project delivery and transparency. There will be greater oversight of major projects and agency performance measures. We must know that Oregonians’ money is being spent to keep people safe.
The second-to-last thing I want to do as a legislator is raise taxes. What’s the absolute last thing I want to do? Look a family in the eye after someone they love is hurt or killed because we chose not to fix a dangerous problem when we had the chance. That’s why I’m voting yes on the special session transportation funding proposal: To prevent those worst-case moments. It’s about doing the hard, responsible thing before tragedy strikes.
I believe this is a proposal that ensures taxpayer fairness, provides reliable funding, and will hold ODOT accountable for the funds we entrust to them to serve Oregonians.
THE OBLIGATORY SOLID WASTE UPDATE
If you've been following the work on House Bill 3794 then you know that our Task Force bill passed and was signed into law. Since then, staff have been preparing the systems needed for individuals to apply, if they wish to be considered by the Governor for appointment.
To recap, the Governor is empowered to appoint the following:
(A) One member to represent the Governor;
(B) One member to represent a private hauler of solid waste that operates a landfill in
the Willamette Valley;
(C) One member to represent the League of Oregon Cities;
(D) One member to represent the Association of Oregon Counties;
(E) Two members to represent environmental organizations; and
(F) Two members with subject matter expertise in the disposal of municipal solid waste.
Additionally, I am in conversations with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House about appointing House and Senate members.
With a little luck, the Task Force will begin meeting this fall. I know that we are all eager to continue the work of Benton County's Regional Sustainable Materials Management Plan (SMMP) Task Force. Thank you to the members of this task force who did the important first steps that will help us build a responsible plan for the waste of 1 million Oregonians.
The Big Ugly Bill
The Big Ugly Bill will pillage $15 billion from Oregonians. This announcement follows a preliminary and comprehensive analysis by the State of Oregon’s Chief Financial Officer in coordination with impacted state agencies upon the passage of Trump’s budget.
HR1, passed by U.S. Republican politicians, takes Oregon’s federal tax dollars away from critical programs and hands a giant tax break to billionaires at the expense of children, families, and communities. The money that helps Oregonians see a doctor or put dinner on the table for their family is now going into the pockets of those who need it the least.
Trump’s $15 billion cut to Oregon will affect health care access and food security and environmental stewardship. Federal funding supports 1 in 3 Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan for health care and 1 in 6 who rely on food assistance. Reducing these resources will force hard choices in the years ahead. We’ll work tirelessly to protect essential programs, but the reality is, Oregon can’t make up the difference alone.
If you're still on the fence: take a look (Yikes!) at what one of Trump's colleagues said about the bill: "Well, we all are going to die," Republican Sen. Joni Ernst on Trump's Big Beautiful Bill.
THE INTERIM MEANS TOURS!
 |
|
This summer, I visited OSU’s Lewis-Brown Horticulture Farm in Corvallis to learn about the Organic Agriculture Program's research. We got to see their breeding work with vegetables, grains, beans, and cover crops for organic production. I am proud of the work they are doing, and always happy to taste test their results!
|
|
I had a fun, informative, and HOT few days in Eastern Oregon. I learned about cheesemaking at Tillamook’s plant and about agricultural technology and dairy farming at Threemile Canyon Farm.
I joined the 2025 Eastern Oregon Economic Summit for a tour of the Walla Walla Basin to learn about Cross-Border Water Innovation. Highlights were visits to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s fish hatchery to learn about their salmon restoration projects and Rotie Cellars to learn about the unique geography that gives their wine its distinct flavor.
|
|
 |
It was fun and heartwarming to visit Chintimini Wildllife Center & Hospital in Corvallis this week.
This center provides medical care to over 2000 wild animals each year, and operates entirely on private donations and grants.
The staff I met were very committed to their mission, and the center could really use more resources.
I look forward to advocating for them and helping in any way that I can.
|
I joined Representative Fragala in Eugene on Wednesday to learn more about state-of-the-art waste disposal, at Bulk Handling Systems.
This company is utilizing AI, robotics, and automation to reduce the waste that ends up in landfills by over 70%. Not only could this be a game-changer for our environment, but I also toured the fabricating plant and saw welders and machinists at work, building these machines right here at home. These are good jobs. When the economy and the environment can win at the same time, it's exciting stuff!
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
- There's still time to get out and harvest some summer sun, and fruit!
- Looks like the last chance to enjoy the Summer Music Series is on August 27th!
- Our annual Fall Festival is coming up. Click below to learn more!
I look forward to seeing you all in the community!
Yours truly,
 Representative Sarah McDonald
House District 16
email: Rep.SarahFingerMcDonald@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1416
address: 900 Court St NE, H-477, Salem, OR 97301
Connect with us on Facebook / Instagram
website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mcdonald
| 
