Oregon House & Senate GOP on failed transportation package

Republicans refuse to increase gas tax twice – Dems have left Oregonians with a hidden gas tax and no improvements to roads and bridges

Oregon House Republican Office

Salem, OR – House Republican Leader Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte) issued the following statement in response to Democrats’ inability to move forward with a sustainable transportation package: “From day one, House Republicans were committed to crafting and passing a much-needed, bipartisan transportation package to fix our roads and bridges and improve public safety across our state.

However, the decision by legislative Democrats to prioritize a costly and ineffective government mandate, SB 324, over transportation needs ultimately doomed any chance of a comprehensive package.

“Despite an initial bipartisan agreement to move forward with this proposed package that improved infrastructure while also significantly reducing carbon emissions, a group of 19 House Democrats refused to compromise and instead sided with the same environmental ideologues that fund their campaigns.

“Unfortunately, with yesterday’s decision to kill the transportation package, Democrats have left Oregonians with a hidden gas tax and no infrastructure improvements.”

Oregon Senate Republicans

Salem, OR – Yesterday, Senate Republicans released the following statements following the announcement that the legislature will cease pursuit of a transportation package this session:

“We are disappointed by the failure of the legislature to move a transportation package and the repeal of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard across the finish line,” said Senator Doug Whitsett (R-Klamath Falls), member of the transportation workgroup and Senate Special Committee on Sustainable Transportation.

“The package that resulted in negotiations by the transportation workgroup would have given Oregonians investment in roads and bridges, carbon reduction, and protection from a hidden gas tax. We cannot decouple investments in transportation from repealing the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which unlike a transportation package, cannot achieve carbon reduction alongside critical transportation and infrastructure investment.”

“We are still committed to meeting carbon reduction goals though investment in transportation,” said Senator Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg), member of the transportation workgroup and Senate Special Committee on Sustainable Transportation. “This bipartisan effort proved we could give Oregonians a win-win: both a transportation package that funds critical investments in infrastructure across the state and significant carbon reduction. The legislature should not give up on the goal of preserving a healthy environment while protecting low-income and rural Oregonians from a costly mandate like the Low Carbon Fuel Standard.”