With just days left in the Oregon legislative session, lawmakers remain divided over a massive $14.6 billion transportation bill aimed at repairing and upgrading roads and infrastructure across the state.
Democratic Senator Mark Meek openly criticized the proposal, breaking with his party. “I have to admit; this package is fundamentally flawed for many reasons,” he said. “One of the reasons is that it’s not affordable to Oregonians. We are facing dire, and I do have to say, dire economic times.”
Related posts
Republicans have also raised concerns. “What I think is grossly irresponsible is not allowing the public to weigh into a $15 billion package. That’s grossly irresponsible,” said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany), Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment.
However, Senator Khanh Pham (D-Portland) defended the bill, saying it’s necessary to preserve Oregon’s deteriorating infrastructure. “I just think the stakes are really high. I don’t think Oregonians can afford to take the damage and the hurt we’ll cause if we kick the can down the road,” she said.
The bill would raise revenue over the next decade through several measures:
-
A $0.15 per gallon gas tax increase
-
Higher DMV fees and trucking costs
-
A tripling of the state’s 0.01% payroll tax for transit
-
A new per-mile fee for electric vehicle drivers
Rep. Boshart Davis blasted the bill’s development process, claiming, “Salem Democrats schemed their transportation tax wish list in the basement of the Capitol and then rigged the democratic process to ram through the largest tax hike in Oregon history, ignoring 61% of Oregonians who submitted public testimony strongly opposing the bill.”
Pham acknowledged cost concerns but stood by the need for action. “It is not easy to vote for higher taxes, but I am skeptical that Oregonians’ pocketbooks are really better off if we continue to let our roads crumble.”
The bill passed out of committee Friday in a 7-5 party-line vote and now heads to the House floor. Senator Meek says he plans to vote against it.
The legislative session ends Wednesday.
“Oregonians don’t want to pay more in taxes and fees for a government they should already be getting,” Boshart Davis added. “They want potholes filled, snow plowed, and roads and bridges maintained. Our proposal served as a bridge that sought to rebuild Oregonians’ trust in ODOT before asking them to pay more.”
