PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A bill meant to address a crucial funding gap for the Oregon Department of Transportation has hit yet another snag.
The vote that was scheduled to take place in the Oregon Senate on Wednesday has now been delayed until September 29 due to Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham) being ill and in the hospital.
Governor Tina Kotek championed the bill, calling the lack of funding a safety issue, and asking lawmakers to raise the gas tax and DMV fees to avoid layoffs of key workers set to take place in October.
During a special session, Democratic lawmakers tried to pass the governor’s ODOT funding bill to raise $300 million to save hundreds of jobs and avoid service cuts.
It passed the House earlier this month, but the Senate president postponed a vote while one Democrat was out ill. On Tuesday night, officials announced the vote would be delayed again due to Gorsek still being in the hospital with a back injury.
Earlier this week, Kotek said she was confident the bill would pass once it was put to a vote in the Senate. However, she acknowledged the potential for the vote to be pushed back.
“The signs are good that everybody will be able to be there on Wednesday, and hopefully that will be the closure of the special session. But, you know, life can intervene. If something comes up, we’ll continue to extend until we get it done,” Kotek said on Monday.
On Tuesday night, Senate Republicans issued a press release saying that while they wish Senator Gorsek the best in his recovery, they think the situation was avoidable.
“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,” Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) said in a statement.
Governor Kotek has pushed back mass layoffs at ODOT until Oct. 15, more than two weeks after the Senate is scheduled to vote on the funding bill on Sept. 29.
Danny Peterson
Source link