Rep. Drazan: ODOT, budget update

HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER RESPONDS TO ODOT’S UPDATE ON ITS BUDGET SHORTFALL
By Oregon State House Republican Caucus,

SALEM, ORE. — House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) released the following statement in response to the Oregon Transportation Commission’s meeting today in which ODOT revealed the consequences of its failure to manage its budget which include:

• 483 layoffs effective September 15
• 449 vacant positions eliminated
• Service reductions in road maintenance, vegetation management, litter and graffiti removal

“The failure of ODOT to maintain safe roads and prevent layoffs starts with Governor Kotek who declined to engage in the agency’s mismanagement of its budget until it was beyond recovery,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby).

“This past session, as ODOT refused meetings with House Republican leadership, the governor and her Democratic colleagues schemed backroom deals to raise taxes that House Republicans rejected from the start. House Republicans proposed legislation that would have saved jobs by trimming spending and redirecting funding, instead of raising taxes, but this proposal was rejected.

This month, we offered another solution: use the funding in the Emergency Board reserves to protect maintenance and preserve jobs that impact road safety. Instead, the governor chose to risk family stability and safe roads by cutting jobs and raising taxes.

It’s not too late to reverse course. We invite Democrats to join us in standing with Oregonians who have made it clear they cannot afford higher costs.”