Nelson criticizes governor’s transportation plan
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, July 29th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – When Gov. Tina Kotek announced she was calling an emergency legislative session to prevent layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation, she told reporters she would ask lawmakers to raise the state’s gas tax by six cents, hike the cost of title and registration fees, and double the payroll tax that funds transit. Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson says she’s hurting rural citizens more than metropolitan residents.
“Inflation is already hitting us, and now we’re saying she wants to add more to the gas tax,” Nelson said. “They make it more difficult for you to drive to work and it hits particularly us in these rural areas.”
Republican lawmakers are also criticizing the plan Kotek says she’s confident will pass during the Aug. 29 special session.
“Just weeks after the Legislature rejected the largest tax increase in Oregon history, the governor is calling us back to Salem to try again, this time with less notice and less transparency,” Senate Minority Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) stated.
Bonham added that Oregonians deserve a government that puts them first, not “more status quo policies and backroom deals to reward special interests.”
Bills that increase taxes require yes votes from 36 in the House of Representatives and 18 from the Senate. Oregon’s quarterly revenue forecast is due two days before the special session.
