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Oregon News
TRANSPORTATION
Sources say final vote on Gov. Kotek's transit bills remains uncertain
KATU | By Christina Giardinelli
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's transportation bill, meant to stave off hundreds of layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and bridge a gaping budget deficit for the agency, could stall yet again.
State Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham) had excused absences both Monday and Tuesday. Multiple sources confirmed that, for medical reasons, he will likely continue to be absent on Wednesday.
Democrats in the Senate need a three-fifths majority to pass the bill without Republican support. That means the absence of any single Senate Democrat would likely stop the bill from reaching the finish line as expected on Wednesday. Senate rules prohibit absentee voting. It is unclear if there are exceptions to those rules.
There have been no signs of Republican senators defecting. They have been staunchly opposed to the fees and tax increases in the bill.
It is unclear what will happen if the bill does not pass Wednesday. ODOT has staved off layoffs at Kotek's request until Sept. 15.
Kotek's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Before a second read of the bill on the Senate floor Tuesday, Senate Republican leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) proposed his bill as an alternative to HB 3991 if it were to not go through.
"If we want an alternative, it is available to us. All we have to do is make that choice," Bonham said.
The bill has not been published on OLIS because Democrats did not vote in favor of reading it on the floor on Monday.
Oregon House passes transportation bill; Senate vote expected Wednesday
KGW | By Anthony Macuk, Evan Watson
"It's not a band-aid. This is a massive tax increase that avoids the voices of thousands and thousands of Oregonians," House Republican Leader Christine Drazan said ahead of the floor vote, referencing the overwhelmingly negative written public testimony that the bill received during committee hearings.
She also reiterated an earlier vow to try to put the measure's tax hikes on the ballot in a future election.
"If the senate decides to adopt this, I will lead the charge to send it out to Oregonians," she said. "They should have the last word. I can refer the tax features of this measure out to Oregonians, and they can be the ones to decide, 'do I agree that this is such a high priority that I'm willing to pay for?'"
Live updates: Day 3 of the Oregon special session on transportation funding
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo, Anastasia Mason
Senate Minority Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, and Sens. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, and Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, delivered remonstrances against the two measures.
McLane questioned why Kotek, while pushing for the transportation package, had not been more vocal about the state’s economic status. Nash, a cattle ranch owner, said the transportation package would increase costs for farmers who are already struggling in the state.
Bonham invited senators to review the printed public testimony brought earlier in the day by House Minority Leader Chrstine Drazan, R-Canby, which was largely against the bill.
Transportation bill moves to House in Oregon special session
KOIN 6 | By Ariel Salk, Jenna Deml
“The governor’s been out there very publicly saying how important this was, how she’s been grinding away to make sure we don’t lose these jobs, that it’s okay to sacrifice our time on a Labor Day weekend to make sure that we’re here and she’s not here,” said Sen. Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles).
In a statement to KOIN 6 News, Kotek’s Press Secretary Roxy Mayer said, “She canceled her planned Labor Day vacation and is in the state. The Governor is closely monitoring the proceedings and has been communicating with lawmakers since the special session began.”
Oregon committee passes bill to fund ODOT, heads to the house floor
KATU | By Victor Park
"I think this is too much burden for the people of the state of Oregon," Senator Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) said. "My hope is to find allegiance and alliance with voters. Voters want compromise, I think the response to this in the next election cycle is, 'you guys did not work with us."'
Live updates: Day 2 of the Oregon Legislature's special session
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo, Anastasia Mason
Drazan and Senate Majority Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, confirmed on Aug. 29 that they would support sending tax increases in the transportation bill to the ballot for voter approval. Both said they were voting against the bill because it places too much of a financial burden on Oregonians.
Special session of the Oregon Legislature to resume on Aug. 31
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo, Anastasia Mason
Republicans share proposals to redirect ODOT funding
Republicans held a press conference unveiling proposed amendments to Kotek's transportation bill.
Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, said the state has “a lot of money” elsewhere in the budget that could be redirected to maintaining roads and safety.
Bonham and House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, were joined by business owners from around the state who spoke against the bill, saying the tax increases in Kotek's bill are not affordable.
Xóchitl Muñoz, an owner of La Margarita restaurant in Salem, spoke against the tax increases in the proposal, saying businesses are facing hard times, similar to the pandemic, “except we have no relief from the government, just more taxes.”
Muñoz said other factors, including the start of paid parking in downtown Salem, have forced her to cut staff.
Bonham said he and other business owners sometimes have to make tough decisions, but that those burdens shouldn’t be put on them by the government.
“It’s one thing when you make your own mistake,” he said. “It’s another thing to have the state burden you with it.”
First day of special session yields little progress on Oregon transportation bill
KGW | By Anthony Macuk, Evan Watson, Alma McCarty
Republican proposal
State Republican leaders introduced their own alternative proposal at a news conference Friday morning, staking out the same position they took during the regular session: the transportation bill should focus strictly on maintaining current road maintenance service levels and should not raise any taxes.
Several local business owners joined them and spoke in opposition to the bill, arguing that the increased gas tax and registration fees would hamper their ability to grow their businesses.
"ODOT should not be coming back to the taxpayers for funding, especially as we already expressed our opposition to the first bill in the 2025 regular session," said Cara Hogervorst, owner of Feisty Wren Soap Studio.
House Republican Leader Christine Drazan and Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham argued that the legislature should authorize ODOT to fund road maintenance by tapping into pots of money that are currently restricted to other uses, such as the public transit payroll tax or the Vehicle Privilege Tax, which funds Connect Oregon and the Zero Emission Incentive Fund.
“We have the money. The money is available within the agency. The agency currently can't get to it," House Republican Leader Christine Drazan said. "We would like to allow them to get to those funds to be able to prioritize and make these decisions internally without burdening Oregonians with more taxes."
The Republican plan also included a handful of proposed amendments including eliminating the Clean Trucks Mandate, eliminating the EV Mandate and redirecting revenue from fuel taxes under the Climate Protection Program toward road maintenance.
Asked about how those changes would impact efforts to combat climate change within the transportation sector, Bonham said Oregon's current approach relies too heavily on taxes and mandates for expensive technology.
"This small six cents that — they're calling it small six cents — is going to come with more and more taxation very soon in the name of achieving those climate goals," Bonham said. "So if we could actually just hit the brakes on some of those goals today and roll back some of the regulatory burden, we could decrease the cost pressure and then we can start to have a real conversation with, how do we get there for your climate goals, that doesn't just drive people out of the state of Oregon?"
Special session begins: Oregon Republicans unveil their transportation proposal
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
The plan from Senate Republicans would roll back climate-related mandates, cancel executive orders made by Governor Tina Kotek, and redirect hundreds of millions of dollars towards basic road maintenance instead of raising taxes.
"There's not a single one of us in either Republican caucus that don't believe in the service that we're talking about. But it's a false dichotomy that somehow this was the only choice. The only choice was to raise taxes. That's absolutely not true," said Senate Minority Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles).
It repeals Governor Kotek's executive order, which required all Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) construction projects to use special union rules. Republicans argue this makes major projects up to 20% more expensive.
The plan would also repeal mandates on electric vehicle sales, which Republicans argue are unrealistic goals and are increasing costs for consumers.
Along with the accountability measures included in Governor Kotek's bill, Senate Republicans propose that ODOT and the Department of Justice restructure the $1.8 billion ADA curb ramp settlement.
In 2016, disability advocates sued ODOT, arguing that thousands of Oregon roads and highways did not meet ADA requirements for accessible curb ramps. ODOT agreed to settle the lawsuit in 2017, agreeing to fix or replace tens of thousands of curb ramps across the state.
The original estimate of the cost was approximately $18 million. The project is now estimated to cost around $1.8 billion.
ODOT is using flexible federal funds to pay for it, which Republicans argue could go towards road maintenance and operations.
The Senate Republicans' proposal would end or scale back Governor Kotek's Climate Protection Program. The program is designed to cut greenhouse emissions by putting a statewide cap on emissions to force reductions.
Republicans said that instead of spending money on climate-related projects, these funds can be directed towards road maintenance.
"The state has spent money on things that are not core government functions, and yet they're telling you in order to get the core government function. The only answer is more revenue. We reject that wholeheartedly," said Bonham.
The plan would move funds away from other programs Republicans consider "extra", such as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, the passenger rail fund, and the Climate Reduction Office.
All together, Senate Republicans said the proposal identifies more than $500 million that could be shifted into road maintenance without creating new taxes.
The proposal from House Republicans is similar, but much more vague.
Republicans re-up plan to use road safety, climate money to bail out state transportation department
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shaanth Nanguneri
Republicans have continued to argue that industries and businesses in the state are already struggling under high costs and taxes, and their suffering will be exacerbated by the Democrats’ proposal.
Republicans would instead rewrite existing state law to allow the transportation department to re-prioritize for roads roughly $500 million in existing funds obligated for pedestrian and bike safety programs, building out electric vehicle charging networks, the state’s Climate Protection Program, and passenger rail services. It calls for moving to road operations and maintenance projects $36 million in funding from the Connect Oregon program meant for rail, aviation and marine projects that rely on matching federal funds.
Jill Bakken, a spokesperson for House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, said in a statement the Republican proposal, “would mean more families driving on pothole-filled local roads and unsafe bridges. It would make it harder for seniors and people with disabilities to get to their doctor, veterans to receive crucial services, and low income workers to get to their jobs.”
Republican party leaders at a press conference Friday morning described their approach as a way to give the agency more flexibility to avoid imminent job cuts at the department of transportation, and revisit long-term funding discussions down the line. They pushed back on concerns that the plan would jeopardize federal funding that can only be accessed with matching state-highway-fund dollars, or gutting programs for public safety.
“Last time I checked, we relied on the state to maintain our state-level agencies,” House Minority Leader Rep. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said. She was joined by Senate Minority Leader Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, and several Oregonians concerned about the negative impact of tax hikes on their personal budgets and businesses.
Bonham said Democratic leaders were unwilling to find common ground with them. “Literally, we’ve been told ‘no,’ like, we’re not even talking about it,” Bonham said. “How do you negotiate with somebody that won’t negotiate with you? You take a stand.”
Both Drazan and Bonham signaled a willingness to take portions of their proposal to Oregon voters, should lawmakers proceed with Democrats’ plan. That plan increases the state’s gas tax by six cents, from $0.40 to $0.46, and one former Oregon Republican lawmaker, Brian Boquist of Dallas, in June began collecting donations for a Political Action Committee aiming to pass a ballot measure ending gas tax hikes.
Doing so, however, would require a resource-intensive uphill battle. Petitioners would need to collect just over 78,000 signatures for a veto referendum within 90 days of the special session’s adjournment, should the tax hikes pass.
Drazan told reporters that a potential ballot measure would likely focus on undoing tax increases passed by lawmakers, saying Republicans would “do everything we can” to “stand up for Oregonians.” Bonham said he was “committed to being part of the team that absolutely gets this thing on the ballot.”
“Democrats know this is unpopular. They know that this won’t fly in the next election cycle,” he told reporters Friday morning. “They’re going to pay a political price for this.”
After false starts, Oregon House passes transportation tax package
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Julia Shumway
A bill to fund road maintenance and stave off hundreds of layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation narrowly cleared the Oregon House on Monday, more than two months after a prior attempt fizzled on the final night of the regular legislative session.
A 36-12 Labor Day vote on mostly party lines, reached after Democrats who control all branches of government agreed to make temporary a payroll tax increase to fund public transit, is the first major step to passing a 10-year, $4.3 billion package of tax and fee increases. The proposal still needs a vote from the Oregon Senate, anticipated on Wednesday.
Oregon road funding bill, slightly slimmer, moves forward
OPB | By Dirk VanderHart
But they did not hear from Kotek, who, despite authoring the bill and insisting lawmakers meet in special session over a holiday weekend, didn’t appear at the hearing. Her absence didn’t go unnoticed by Republicans.
“We’re all here doing this work,” Bonham said. “It is important enough for us to have given up our Labor Day weekend. Here we are. And she’s not here.”
One of Kotek’s aides, Kelly Brooks, told Bonham she wouldn’t divulge the governor’s whereabouts, but said she was “fairly confident” Kotek was watching the hearing.
The governor’s office said Sunday that Kotek had canceled a planned Labor Day vacation because of the session, and was “closely monitoring proceedings” from somewhere in the state. A spokeswoman would not say where.
While Republicans agreed to changes narrowing the scope of HB 3991, they failed to convince Democrats to make far larger modifications.
Bonham and House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, both introduced amendments they said would free up ODOT to use hundreds of millions of dollars on basic maintenance without raising taxes. But that money would have been diverted from purposes like bicycle and pedestrian safety projects, public transit, and programs that attempt to address climate change.
Democrats voted in lockstep against the proposals.
House fumbles first day of special session for transportation funding, labor unions irate
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
It was a rough start to the Labor Day weekend for members of SEIU Local 503 and the Association of Engineering Employees, the labor unions representing hundreds of Oregon Department of Transportation workers slated to lose their jobs Sept. 15.
Cherriots board asks for legal opinion on putting payroll tax to voters
Statesman Journal | By Bill Poehler
Cherriots board members are facing criticism over a proposed .7% payroll tax on businesses in Salem, Keizer, and unincorporated east Salem to fund improvements,
The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and Keizer City Council, among others, have criticized the proposal, arguing the tax is too high and should be decided by voters.
Cherriots board members are considering reducing the tax or delaying implementation while awaiting a legal opinion on whether the tax can be put to a public vote.
POLITICS
Oregon State Parks to charge fees at 21 more state parks to address budget shortfall
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is implementing new fees at some of its day-use parks and raising fees for some of its busiest overnight camping parks.
The state waives day-use parking fees at more than 225 of its state parks, with only 25 parks charging the $10 fee for in-state visitors and $12 for people visiting from out of state. But on Oct. 1, the department will begin requiring the parking fee at an additional 21 of its day-use parks.
HEALTH CARE
Health Insurers in Oregon Move Toward Major Rate Bumps, Again
Willamette Week | By Andrew Schwartz
Another basic expense could soon be going up again for many Oregonians, as health insurers for individuals and small businesses seek significant increases to the rates they can charge.
One year after getting a median rate increase of around 10%, the same insurers are looking, in 2026, to increase rates by a median 10% more.
Report says Silverton Hospital at risk of closure due to years of financial losses
Statesman Journal | By Bill Poehler
Legacy Silverton Medical Center has been identified in a national report to members of Congress as being at risk of closure because of significant financial losses.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Sex offender supervision in Oregon: How does it work?
KATU | By Wright Gazaway
Tiffany Edens’ life today, by her telling, is in a much better spot than perhaps any other point in her life.
“When I was 13 years old, Richard Gillmore, also known as the ‘Jogger Rapist,’ broke into my home and attacked me and brutally raped me. And so that brought me into this world of monsters,” Edens said.
Edens said the rape and subsequent trauma changed the trajectory of her life.
Now 11 years sober, she’s found her voice as a survivor and advocate, spending years fighting the release of her attacker and testifying before lawmakers about Oregon’s sex offender laws.
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