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Oregon News
TRANSPORTATION
Oregon voters may now see transportation tax repeal on May ballot
Statesman Journal | By Anastasia Mason
“Democrats spent months trying to keep voters from having a say at all. Now they want to rush it into a low-turnout primary because they know this tax package is deeply unpopular with voters," Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, said in a statement.
Starr is also a leader of the referendum effort.
"In a November election, nearly seven out of ten Oregonians vote," he said. "In a primary, it is closer to one out of three. That choice is about protecting politicians who voted for a massive gas tax increase, not giving voters a fair say.”
"In this time of uncertainty, we’re focused on governing, not politics. That means acting as quickly as possible to prevent disruption in our transportation system and to protect the roads and bridges that connect Oregonians to work, school, and emergency services," Fahey said.
The push to move the date "is politics, plain and simple, and the worst kind," Starr said.
"If this policy is so good, it should stand on its own — on a full, general election ballot," House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, said in a statement. "Trying to tuck it away in an off-cycle election only confirms what the people already know: this gas tax is unpopular, and the public deserves a real say,”
Oregon Democratic leaders push to move transportation referendum to May
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
Starr echoed Diehl’s concerns, noting that primaries usually have less voter turnout than general elections. In the state’s last gubernatorial election year in 2022, voter turnout reached 37% in the primary, compared to 67% in the general election.
“Republicans have been clear from the beginning that we can balance ODOT’s budget without raising taxes, and that is exactly what we are working to do,” Starr said. “We are having real conversations about priorities and accountability, and that is how governing is supposed to work. Manipulating the election calendar to avoid political consequences is not how Oregonians expect their government to operate.”
Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, also criticized the attempts to move the referendum.
“This is what desperation looks like,” Drazan said in a statement. “Tina Kotek is afraid of being on the same ballot as her gas tax. At the end of the day she can’t avoid Oregonians; they will hold her accountable.”
Oregonians rallied together in record time to advance the referendum, and for the first time Democrats are realizing the power of the political minority, House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, said in a statement.
“If this policy is so good, it should stand on its own — on a full, general election ballot,” Elmer said. “Trying to tuck it away in an off-cycle election only confirms what the people already know: this gas tax is unpopular, and the public deserves a real say.”
Top Oregon Democrats hope to move gas tax vote to May
OPB | By Dirk VanderHart
“Setting the date for the May primary gives lawmakers — and all Oregonians — needed clarity and certainty on the next steps for Oregon’s transportation future,” Fahey, D-Eugene, said in a statement Wednesday.
That reasoning is unlikely to sway Republicans hoping the tax hikes will hurt Democrats at the ballot this fall.
Oregon Democrats want to move statewide vote on repeal of transportation taxes to May
KATU | By Steve Benham
“Do not let them deny your voice, you have a constitutional right to vote on this. We said we want it on the November ballot,” Diehl said to a crowd of supporters at Snow Peak Brewing in Stayton.
Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, who is also running to unseat Kotek, said the Democrats' proposed move was an effort to disenfranchise voters.
“This is what desperation looks like. Tina Kotek is afraid of being on the same ballot as her gas tax. At the end of the day she can’t avoid Oregonians; they will hold her accountable,” she said.
Facing legal hurdles, Oregon Democrats plan to give voters final say on transportation tax hikes in May
The Oregonian | By Carlos Fuentes
Completely repealing the law would have allowed Kotek to carry out her reelection campaign this November without appearing on the same ballot as an effort to roll back the tax hikes she supported. Setting a May date for the tax referendum would also prevent it from being a question during the general election.
“This is what desperation looks like,” Sen. Christine Drazan, a Republican from Oregon City running for governor, said in a press release following the announcement. “Tina Kotek is afraid of being on the same ballot as her gas tax. At the end of the day she can’t avoid Oregonians; they will hold her accountable.”
ODOT outlines potential job cuts to tackle a $242M budget gap amid funding uncertainty
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will present a proposal to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) on Thursday afternoon to eliminate hundreds of positions to address the agency's $242 million budget shortfall.
POLITICS
Kotek nominates Nevada forester to lead Oregon Department of Forestry
Statesman Journal | By Zach Urness
Gov. Tina Kotek nominated a Nevada forester and fire warden to lead the embattled Oregon Department of Forestry, after its last two leaders resigned under pressure.
Oregon's Prosperity Council holds first meeting to boost local business, grow state GDP
KATU
You can watch the meeting below when they convene for the first time from 2-3 p.m. Thursday:
New labor coalition hopes to spur job growth to meet Oregon’s clean energy targets
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
Ten construction industry unions, federations formed Climate Jobs Oregon to spur investment, training needed to get zero emission electricity by 2040.
ICE protesters shut down Portland City Council, force meeting to go virtual
The Oregonian | By Lillian Mongeau Hughes, Shane Dixon Kavanaugh
The Portland City Council’s weekly meeting was temporarily shut down Wednesday night by protesters angry about what they see as councilors’ lack of sufficient pushback against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which has sharply ratcheted up arrests in the Portland area and across the country.
6 takeaways from town hall with Oregon, other attorneys general
Statesman Journal | By Anastasia Mason
Rayfield took the stage at Portland's Revolution Hall Wednesday flanked by four other attorneys general who've joined Oregon in a number of suits: Rob Bonta of California, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Aaron Frey of Maine and Anne Lopez of Hawaii.
"I'm absolutely proud that Oregon has been able to lead with these amazing attorneys general on some of the most important issues going on in our democracy right now, 'cause make no mistake about it, our democracy is under attack and that is why we are here right now," Rayfield said.
Bill would protect 'corner-crossing' access to Oregon public lands
Statesman Journal | By Zach Urness
Senate Bill 1545, authored by state Sens. Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte) and Anthony Broadman (D-Bend), aims to end the confusion by protecting people’s right to corner cross while immunizing landowners from liability.
No More Multnomah? An Activist Aims to Fold the County Into Portland.
Willamette Week | By Anthony Effinger
Mattt Zmuda says it’s the best way to drag the city out of its economic malaise.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Oregon unemployment rate remained at 5.2% at end of 2025
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
At 5.2%, Oregon's unemployment rate remains higher than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.5% in November and 4.4% in December. It also remains the highest unemployment rate in the state since the beginning of 2016, excluding the pandemic period.
Intel’s financial results are a reality check for chipmaker and its shareholders
The Oregonian | By Mike Rogoway
Intel’s fourth-quarter sales totaled $13.7 billion, according to results issued Thursday afternoon. That’s down 4.1% from a year ago and in the midrange of what Intel told investors to expect. The company reported a $591 million loss, 12 cents a share, in line with Intel’s forecasts.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Judge orders man shot by Border Patrol in Portland to remain in custody
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
A federal judge Wednesday ordered Luis Niño-Moncada to remain in custody pending trial, finding he’s a danger to the community and poses a risk of not returning to court.
Oregon business owner gets prison for laundering drug money to Mexico
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
The owner of La Popular, a chain of money-transfer businesses in Oregon and Washington, was sentenced Wednesday to more than three years in federal prison for laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico.
Multnomah County opts out of metal detectors at Central Library
KATU | By Shelby Slaughter
According to a memo released by both Multnomah County Board Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Chief Operating Officer Chris Neal, implementing a metal detection system would not solve the safety incidents at the library.
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