Oregon Governor Under Fire From Both Parties Over Delay in Signing $4 Billion Transportation Bill
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has been put under pressure by Democratic and Republican Senators to sign the Transportation Bill, House Bill 3991, which was supported by a broad, bipartisan coalition, into law.
Democrats Pressurize Kotek To Sign Transportation Bill
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who has until November 12 to sign or veto the state’s controversial new transportation package that Senate Democrats passed in late September, has come under pressure to sign the bill into law.
The transportation bill raises the state’s gas taxes, vehicle registration fees, and the payroll tax.
Both Senators Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, and Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, wrote letters to the governor last week, urging her to sign without further delay. Sen. Sollman said that many Oregonians are seeking closure and warned that waiting to sign the bill risks eroding public trust in the democratic process.
Republicans Pressurize Kotek To Sign Transportation Bill
Republican lawmakers, including Representative Lucetta Elmer and Senator Bruce Starr, leaders of the Oregon House and Senate, are also not happy with the delay over signing the $4 billion transportation package.
They want Oregonians to vote on the bill, but can’t start collecting signatures to get it on the ballot until the governor signs the bill. Republican leaders can’t begin circulating petitions until the bill officially becomes law, which requires the governor’s signature.
A referendum would freeze any tax increases in the bill, but, on the flip side, ODOT and local governments would not get additional revenue next year.
The bill would, for example, enable layoffs of essential workers to be reinstated and additional service cuts to be made to cover the cost of hiring the snowplow drivers currently employed.