Major road tax plan lacks accountability, affordability

DEMOCRAT PLAN SNUBS OREGONIANS’ CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY
BY Oregon House Republican Caucus,

SALEM, Ore. – Today, House Republicans released the following statement in response to House and Senate Democrats’ draft proposal to make Oregonians pay billions more in taxes for ODOT’s failures:

“The Democrats’ tone-deaf proposal throws more money at a system that has repeatedly failed to recognize that its core mission is to provide safe and reliable roads and bridges,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “A dozen new taxes and fees is a slap in the face to all Oregonians that simply can’t afford to pay more for less.”
“Since the beginning of this session, House Republicans have pressed ODOT on budgeting errors, incomplete projects, and mishandling of tax dollars,” said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany), Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “It’s shocking that in spite of Oregonians’ resounding rejection of the tire tax proposal, Democrats are doubling down on this tax at a time when families are already struggling to make ends meet.”
A recent poll commissioned by House Republicans found that 80% of Oregonians oppose increasing the Gas Tax while 79% of Oregonians favor cutting taxes to make Oregon more affordable. The same poll showed that Oregonians see the cost of living as the top issue they face with 56% of Oregonians saying that taxes are too high. The statewide poll was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies between January 4–7th of this year and surveyed 500 registered Oregon voters with a ±4.38% margin of error.