Sen. Starr: Practical transportation solutions have been ignored

Senate Vote on Tina Kotek’s $4.3 Billion Transportation Tax Hike Delayed Again
Senate Republican Leader Says Practical Solutions Have Been Ignored
By Oregon Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr,

SALEM, Ore. – Tomorrow’s planned Senate vote on Governor Tina Kotek’s $4.3 billion transportation tax hike has once again been postponed with Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham) still hospitalized. The vote has now been delayed until September 29th.

Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) issued the following statement:

“First and foremost, we continue to keep Senator Gorsek in our prayers. We wish him strength, healing, and a full recovery. But let’s be clear: this situation was avoidable. Governor Kotek could have worked with Republicans from the beginning to craft a transportation package with true bipartisan support—one that redirected existing funding to road maintenance and operations, protected ODOT jobs, and eliminated the cost drivers that have made transportation more expensive under her leadership.

Instead, she ignored the voices of thousands of Oregonians who oppose her $4.3 billion tax hike and pushed forward a partisan plan destined to pass only on a slim, party-line margin. Senate Republicans offered a serious alternative that would have saved jobs and avoided raising taxes on already overburdened families, but Democrats dismissed it without consideration.
Now, we find ourselves stuck in a never-ending special session because the Governor refused to build consensus and insisted on ramming through a tax hike that working Oregonians are pleading for us to stop. Whenever this vote takes place, our caucus remains united in rejecting this tax hike, leaving no doubt about who is advocating for Oregon families—and who is not.”