HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS RELEASE TRANSPORTATION BILL
REFOCUS ODOT, PRIORITIZE SPENDING, NO NEW TAXES
By Oregon House Republican Office,
By Oregon House Republican Office,
SALEM, Ore. – Today House Republicans released LC 4934 which preserves operations and maintenance that are key to core functions of ODOT, especially in rural Oregon, such as plowing roads and filling potholes. The bill stabilizes ODOT and avoids raising the cost of living.
“Our legislation seeks to rebuild Oregonians’ trust in ODOT by refocusing their priorities without asking Oregonians to pay more,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby), a co-chief sponsor of the bill. “With a state budget that has doubled over the last decade alone, we reject the premise that politicians must make life more expensive for Oregonians if we want to fix potholes, plow the snow and keep our streets safe.”
“Senate and House Republicans are leading on transportation solutions that center around Oregonians’ transportation needs and their family budgets. LC 4934 proves that better outcomes come from better priorities, not bigger budgets,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles), a co-chief sponsor of the bill. “Democrats have given Oregonians two bad options: raise taxes, or raise them even more. Republicans are offering another path: cut the waste, refocus ODOT on its core mission, and stop asking taxpayers to subsidize government’s failure.”
“The roots of Oregon’s working-class community run deep, and this bill reflects where they are. Oregonians don’t want to pay more in taxes and fees for a government they should already be getting. They want potholes filled, snow plowed, roads and bridges maintained,” said Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany), Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment. “By cutting spending on non-essential programs, this bill will put ODOT on more solid ground than it is today without raising taxes. LC 4934 will be ‘first read’ this Monday and is ready for a public hearing.”
LC 4934 would:
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Prevent a projected $0.60 increase over ten years to Oregon’s hidden gas tax (Clean Fuels Program).
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Redirect over $134 million of current spending on climate initiatives towards critical functions.
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Redirect $38 million in funding for passenger rail service towards critical functions.
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Redirect the payroll tax over two years to provide truckers with a tax credit on future tax bills, repaying them for years of unconstitutional overpayments.
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Adopt recommendations from the managerial review of ODOT, including the creation of the Major Projects Office.
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Modernize fuel taxes and regulations to reduce tax evasion and facilitate easier compliance.
A comprehensive breakdown of the bill can be found here. LC 4934 will be ‘first read’ on the House Floor on Monday, June 9th, and should be referred to the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment.
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