Senate Republican Caucus 2025-transportation

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Oregon Senate Republicans Capitol Phone: 503-986-1950 Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-323, Salem, Oregon 97301 Email the Senate Republican Leader: Sen.BruceStarr@oregonlegislature.gov Email Press Inquiries: Ashley.Kuenzi@oregonlegislature.gov

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insisting that higher taxes were the only way to avoid cutting maintenance services and laying off maintenance workers at ODOT. That claim never held up. Operations and maintenance make up just 9% of ODOT’s total budget, while billions continue to be funneled into non-essential priorities.

Oregonians across urban, suburban, and rural communities saw through it. They know they already pay enough in taxes, and they expect government to focus on basics like plowing winter roads and fixing potholes before asking families to pay more.

That frustration was unmistakable during the Governor’s so-called “special session” in fall 2025. Of more than 5,000 pieces of written testimony submitted to the Legislature, 4,836 were in opposition and just 263 were in support. That is 95% opposed.

To highlight this overwhelming response, we created an interactive map of testimony by city. The map shows what the numbers make clear: from Portland to Pendleton, opposition is spread across every corner of the state.

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But Oregonians didn’t stop at testimony.

Led by Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr and Representative Ed Diehl, citizens exercised their constitutional right to refer the tax increases to a vote. The response was overwhelming. In less than two months, more than 250,000 signatures were collected — more than three times the number required — easily qualifying the referendum for the November 2026 ballot. HB 3991 was frozen as a result.

Rather than allowing voters to decide, Governor Kotek is now pleading with the legislature to repeal the entire bill she once championed when we convene for the 35-day "short session" in February of 2026.

This reversal is not about good governance on the Governor's part. It is about political necessity. Kotek did not suddenly discover that HB 3991 was bad policy. She was forced to confront the reality that Oregonians rejected it, loudly and unmistakably.

A full repeal also goes far beyond what voters referred. It would also erase bipartisan fixes that were never controversial, including removing old tolling language, correcting long-standing trucking tax issues, and adding accountability measures Republicans fought for. Sweeping those reforms away has nothing to do with compromise. It is about politics and control. It is about Governor Kotek preserving political leverage and total control over the next transportation package in 2027.

We can guarantee this: Senate Republicans remain committed to engaging in discussions about Oregon’s transportation system, but our position has not changed. There is enough money in the system. The problem is priorities, transparency, and accountability, not a lack of your tax dollars.

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