Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you, your families and your neighbors well. Many of you have asked where the End of Session Newsletter is, and it will come when we are finally through the Special Session called by Governor Kotek to increase your fuel taxes, DMV fees, and payroll taxes that fund public transportation.
We have been extremely busy since the end of the 2025 Legislative Session, and I wanted to give you a quick update.
l have spoken to many of you about the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk, a man deeply rooted in his faith, a loving husband, a devoted father, a leader who invited public debate and spoke truth. There is and has been since the beginning of time, Good and Evil. Regardless of your politics or personal beliefs, there is the decency of humanity. The reaction of some I have witnessed celebrating the public murder of Charlie Kirk is abhorrent, is evil.
Many of you have talked to me how this has changed you, and it has me as well.
Yesterday's Memorial remembering the love, life and legacy of Charlie Kirk was incredible. I encourage all of you, regardless of your politics, faith, or positions, to take the time to watch it from beginning to end as I did. Click Here to watch.
Lastly, and before you send me a nasty, ignorant, bigoted email, I challenge you and those evil celebrants above, to track down actual facts of the "racist, fascist, etc." that you currently have about this man who invited civil debate, and who was silenced not for speaking, but because millions were listening. Please see my Press Release below.
God, family, country. In that order.
Charlie Kirk, Sept. 7th, 2025
Senator David Brock Smith Responds to the Assassination of Charlie Kirk
For Immediate Release
Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Contact: Shelia Megson, Chief of Staff
Email: Sen.DavidBrockSmith@OregonLegislature.gov
SALEM, Ore. – Today, Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) released the following
statement in the wake of the assassination of conservative patriot Charlie Kirk:
“Charlie Kirk was a husband, a father, a leader, and a tireless advocate for conservative voices in America. The horrific assassination of this man while advocating for free speech and open public debate should shake every American to their core. Extremists who promote political violence against those with differing views must be condemned by all, including the media. There is no place for political violence in our society, and those who condone such hatred only perpetuate it. Our prayers are with Mr. Kirk’s family, friends, and neighbors. May God bless them, and may He bless the United States of America.”
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Senator David Brock Smith represents Senate District 1, which includes Curry, Coos and Douglas Counties, Southwest Oregon’s Fish, Farm & Forestry District. This press release and an archive of previous press releases issued by Senator David Brock Smith’s office are available on the web at: www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
Council of State Governments - West
Last week I attended our CSG West Annual Meeting. I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the CSG West Executive Committee, and as the Co-Chair of the Wildfire & Disaster Preparedness Committee with Assemblyman Watts from Nevada. With 1180 legislators in the 13 CSG West state region, and 8 Standing Committees with only 16 Co-Chairs, it is truly an honor to represent Senate District 1, Oregon and the Western United States in this role.
I want to thank former CSG West Chair, Oregon Senator Bill Hansell and the former CSG West Executive Committee for their work in creating the Wildfire & Disaster Preparedness Committee late last year at my urgency, and giving me the privilege to serve as its' Co-Chair.
As I have reported in the past, this work is critically important to District 1, Oregon and the CSG West state region. The Annual Conference had a packed schedule, which included two, two hour Wildfire & Disaster Preparedness Sessions.
Day 1 Schedule Included:
When Disaster Strikes: Issues and Costs of Responding
- Lynn Budd, Director of Wyoming Homeland Security; President of the National Emergency Management Association
Burning Issue: Wildfire effects on Insurance Affordability
- Marc Ragin, Associate Professor C. Herman Terry Risk Management and Insurance Program; University of Georgia
- Dean Cameron, Idaho Insurance Commissioner, Former Legislator
Day 2 Schedule Included:
Managing Land and Resources Before, During, & After Wildfire
- Chris French, Acting Associate Chief U.S. Forest Service
- Kris Kirby, Acting State Director; Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming
- Jerod Delay, Fire Management Officer; Wyoming State Forestry Division
We had robust discussions with packed sessions, and I want to thank all of our presenters for taking the time to join us and sharing your expertise. I will dedicate a future newsletter soon on this, with more detailed information on what we have been working on and our direction.
I appreciated some of my Oregon House of Representative colleagues joining the CSG West Annual Conference and being engaged on these important issues. From left to right are: Representative Bobby Levy, her husband Mr. Levy, myself, Representative Lucetta Elmer and Representative Anna Scharf.
Oregonians Overwhelmingly Opposed to Governor Kotek's Increases in Taxes and Fees
Governor Kotek and her Democrat Supermajority are continuing down the path of raising taxes and fees on Oregonians, even after OVERWHELMING opposition from Oregonians! These increases will hurt all Oregonians, their communities and the businesses that support them. This is especially true for our rural communities and their families.
Please Click Here for my recent remarks from the Senate Floor on this.
Oregon's budget has quadrupled in a little over two decades, and Oregonians have been paying more! Businesses continue to shut down and/or leave Oregon because of these continued increases by Governor Kotek and her Democrat Supermajority.
These tax and fee increases are not necessary, as we have put forward legislation that would allow for Governor Kotek to direct ODOT to use existing resources within their existing budget for their core mission. Our House and Senate Republican proposal would legislatively give the department the ability to use over $500 million dollars of identified existing budgeted resources for road repair and maintenance that is currently budgeted for things like DEI training, electric busses and others. Utilizing existing resources would then allow for a true, bipartisan conversation on transportation in Oregon.
We had legislation drafted and I would love to be able to link the bill here for you, but the Democrat Supermajority controls every part of the legislative process, the Special Session Rules that were finally adopted would not allow for the Senate Republicans to introduce our legislation and have it published on OLIS to be reviewed by Oregonians.
Our Senate Republican leader said it best last week:
Click Here for the full Press Release
Senate Republican Leader Says Practical Solutions Have Been Ignored
SALEM, Ore. – Tomorrow’s planned Senate vote on Governor Tina Kotek’s $4.3 billion transportation tax hike has once again been postponed with Senator Chris Gorsek (DGresham) still hospitalized. The vote has now been delayed until September 29th. Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) issued the following statement: “First and foremost, we continue to keep Senator Gorsek in our prayers. We wish him strength, healing, and a full recovery. But let’s be clear: this situation was avoidable. Governor Kotek could have worked with Republicans from the beginning to craft a transportation package with true bipartisan support—one that redirected existing funding to road maintenance and operations, protected ODOT jobs, and eliminated the cost drivers that have made transportation more expensive under her leadership. Instead, she ignored the voices of thousands of Oregonians who oppose her $4.3 billion tax hike and pushed forward a partisan plan destined to pass only on a slim, party-line margin. Senate Republicans offered a serious alternative that would have saved jobs and avoided raising taxes on already overburdened families, but Democrats dismissed it without consideration. Now, we find ourselves stuck in a never-ending special session because the Governor refused to build consensus and insisted on ramming through a tax hike that working Oregonians are pleading for us to stop. Whenever this vote takes place, our caucus remains united in rejecting this tax hike, leaving no doubt about who is advocating for Oregon families—and who is not.”
As I mentioned above, the rising costs to business continue to perpetuate the "Doom Loop" and these tax and fee increases will only accelerate it. Oregon continues to lose private sector jobs, and the Governor and her Democrat Supermajority continue to ignore the voice of Oregonians. "In all, Oregon lost 24,600 jobs between July 2024 to July 2025."
Click Here to read the recent report from Oregon Business & Industry.
Oregonians cannot afford to pay more. Period.
This is just one example of the wrong direction for our state.
As Leader Starr said above, House and Senate Republicans have put forth a proposal to keep ODOTs core mission of road maintenance and safety to the public funded through existing resources. Only to be rejected by Governor Kotek and her Democrat Supermajority.
I urge you to please reach out to the Senate Democrats and ask them to listen to the overwhelming testimony from Oregonians, and reject the Governor Kotek's Transportation Package. Ask them to work with Republicans and adopt our alternate proposal that we have presented, that would again legislatively allow the Governor and ODOT to redirect existing budgeted resources for road maintenance positions and work.
Please Click Here to contact your Senator.
I know I started this newsletter with "Quick Update", but this is just a fraction of the work and what is happening within our Senate District 01 and Oregon. I will have another update soon.
If you would like to read more information from the District, please Click Here.
It continues to be truly an honor and privilege to work with and for the residents, their businesses and communities of Senate District 01, in the Oregon State Senate.
As always, please be safe and God Bless you, your family and your neighbor.
Yours Truly,
 Senator David Brock Smith
Together, We Will Build a Better Oregon
 Senate District 1
Curry, Coos, and Douglas Counties
Southwest Oregon’s Fish, Farm, and Forestry District.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-316, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.DavidBrockSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
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