Hours-long delays of Oregon special legislative session leave transportation bill’s fate uncertain

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The special legislative session at Oregon’s State Capitol is facing delays after lawmakers were late to meet to consider a bill to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Gov. Tina Kotek is sponsoring this bill and called the session after it failed during the regular session that ended in June.

The big push for the bill was going to be in the House on Friday morning. However, not enough Democrats showed up in time to achieve quorum, delaying any movement for hours.

The House wasn’t alone, as Senate Democrats failed to get the votes to adopt their special session rules because four of their members were not present.

The House was originally set to convene at 11 a.m., which was then pushed until 3 p.m., because — according to Senate Republicans — a Democratic lawmaker was late due to a flight delay.

That meeting has pushed the special session transportation committee meeting for public hearing that was slated for 2 p.m.

The Governor says they need to pass this bill to fill ODOT’s massive budget gap and prevent up to 500 layoffs.

Democrats say the $791 million raised over the next two years would handle immediate needs, but it’s not a long-term solution.

Republican leadership is against the bill, saying it relies too much on big increases in those taxes and fees and the state has the money.

“So, as we begin this emergency session today, we have asked what is the emergency? We have the money,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan. “We would like to allow them to get to those funds, to be able to prioritize and make these decisions internally without burdening Oregonians with more taxes.”

Here is what legislators are considering:

• An increase of six cents a gallon to the gas tax
• A doubling of vehicle registration fees, more than double for heavy vehicles, plus additional surcharges
• A $139 increase in title fees
• Doubling of the payroll tax for pubic transit

The bill must come out of the House first, then be approved by the Senate. It could also provide needed funding for projects already committed to, including the Rose Quarter and Burnside Bridge projects.

The House is meeting again on Saturday with the goal to vote on Monday. Then it’s off to the Senate.