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To contact me, please click here: Rep.EdDiehl@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends,
The Governor's Transportation Package, House Bill 3991, passed the House earlier this week. Action in the Senate has been delayed until September 17th due to Senator Gorsek's serious illness. I wish him strength and a full recovery.
After reviewing the legislation, past transportation packages, ODOT’s budget priorities and performance, and listening to many constituents, I voted NO on this tax-and-fee increase. My opposition centered on two points: ODOT’s misplaced priorities — many of them dictated by this Legislature — and the false choice Governor Kotek presented.
I want our roads maintained and our crews supported. But we don’t need higher taxes to do that. Until ODOT’s priorities are aligned with the needs of everyday Oregonians, I cannot in good conscience ask taxpayers to hand over more of their hard-earned money.
Below is the testimony I delivered on the House floor this past Monday.
Ed Diehl Testimony in Opposition to House Bill 3991
This Transportation Package is not just a tax bill. It is a statement of priorities. And those priorities tell us that state government has lost sight of its mission and forgotten the very people it is supposed to serve.
Testimony was more than 95% opposed. Yet we are told in committee Sunday that it was “balanced.” If this legislature can’t even acknowledge overwhelming public opposition, is it any wonder Oregonians feel unheard and unrepresented?
 More than 95% of Oregonians who testified oppose the governor’s $4.3 billion tax package.
Oregonians are clear:
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They cannot absorb more taxes.
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They do not trust ODOT to spend wisely.
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They want a plan that funds the basics without raising taxes.
Instead, they get a false choice. Raise taxes or see roads crumble and crews laid off. That is not leadership. That is holding taxpayers and workers hostage.
The truth is, this is not a revenue problem. It’s a priorities problem.
ODOT brings in nearly $6 billion in state revenues this biennium, $7 billion all-funds. Yet only about $450 million of those state funds goes to basic maintenance. Just 7½ cents on the dollar for the work this bill pretends to be about. Much of the rest flows to megaprojects, consultants, equity programs, and mandates that don’t fix a single pothole.
Now, what if the Governor called us into this Emergency Session to raise taxes and fees for climate justice programs, DEI and restorative justice consultants, and the bloated Rose Quarter and I-5 bridge projects? We’d be laughed out of the building.
So instead, maintenance was sacrificed. Crews are threatened with layoffs. Taxpayers are squeezed. All to gin up enough fear to push through a tax bill that bankrolls the same Portland pet projects and special interests as before.
This is where Sumner’s “Forgotten Man” comes in. He said: A and B decide what C must do for D. D receives the benefit. C pays the bill. And C is forgotten.
In Oregon today:
- A and B are the Governor, the supermajority legislature, and Portland insiders.
- D is the consultants and lobbyists who profit from climate projects and harm-reduction contracts.
- C is the Forgotten Oregonian: the single mom in Woodburn, the rancher in Harney County, the retired couple in Grants Pass, the log truck driver in Douglas County.
They weren’t in the room when this “compromise” was cut. They don’t have lobbyists. They don’t hold press conferences. But they are the ones paying the bill.
And what do they see? Free health insurance for non-citizens, while rural hospitals shut down. Housing dollars spent subsidizing addiction, while families are priced out of homes. Education budgets ballooning while Oregon still ranks at the bottom in basics.
So when they ask for safe roads, they’re told to pay more.
Colleagues, this is not about money. It’s about priorities. If we can find billions for flowerbeds, climate vanity projects, and consultants, we can find $450 million more for maintenance without another tax increase.
The Forgotten Oregonians testified 94% against this bill. They are saying no to higher taxes and yes to accountability. And they deserve to be heard.
So let’s not raise taxes on the Forgotten Oregonians. Let’s not hold workers hostage. Let’s fix our priorities first, then come back to the people with clean hands. I urge a NO vote on House Bill 3991.
WATCH my floor speech on X:
Governor Kotek's proposed tax hikes, including gas and payroll taxes, to avoid ODOT worker layoffs presents a false choice.
Instead of diverting resources to electric buses, flower beds, and social justice, ODOT should refocus on its core mission: maintaining safe, reliable roads and infrastructure. With smarter budgeting and a commitment to essentials, the state can preserve vital services without burdening taxpayers further.
WATCH on X:
When elected officials push for higher taxes 'just to keep up with road maintenance,' it's worth asking what they’re really prioritizing. In cities like Portland, harm reduction programs are increasingly bankrolled while potholes go unfilled and bridges deteriorate.
One street camper summed it up bluntly: 'Us people on the streets, we have different mindset — we just want to get our drugs and spend time with each other.'
If the state can fund addiction under the banner of compassion, it can certainly afford to fix roads without raiding taxpayers’ wallets again. Accountability isn’t heartless—it’s common sense.
WATCH:
 Full KGW news segment here: Portland business says homeless camp is blocking their sidewalk, parking | kgw.com
It is easy to testify, virtually, in person or in writing, to support or oppose a bill.
Learn more here: Citizen Engagement Home
Testifying on a bill gives you a voice in Oregon’s legislature. The voice of the people is the cornerstone of democracy! Let yours be heard today.
Register to testify!
- If there is a bill you are particularly passionate about, you can register to testify either in support or in opposition to the bill.
- Advance registration is required! Registration closes 30 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to begin.
- To register, go to https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1, select the “Bills” icon on the top right corner of your page, enter the bill number, and select “Register to Testify.” Or, call 1-833-588-4500.
- You will want to fill out the “Public Testimony Registration Form.”
- You will receive an email confirmation with an option to join Microsoft Teams if you can not testify in person.
Submit a Written Testimony!
- If you prefer not to testify in person, you can also submit written testimony in support or opposition to a bill.
- To submit written testimony, follow the same steps as you would to register to testify in front of the committee, but you will select “Submit Testimony” and fill out the “Written Testimony Submission Form.”
- Written testimony must be submitted up to 48 hours after the committee meeting start time.
Testifying on a bill gives you a voice in Oregon’s legislature. The voice of the people is the cornerstone of democracy! Let yours be heard today.
Thank you for staying engaged as we work to protect the rights and livelihoods of Oregonians. I will continue fighting for the issues that matter most to House District 17 and keeping you informed every step of the way. Stay tuned for more updates.
In Liberty,
Representative Ed Diehl
House District 17
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1417
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-378, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.EdDiehl@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/diehl
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