Senate Vote on $4.3 billion transportation tax hike delayed again
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, September 16th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – (News release from the Oregon Legislature’s Democrat Party) Senator Chris Gorsek (D – Gresham) continues to recover after a medical procedure. Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D – East Portland, Boring & Damascus) has this statement:
“The Democratic caucus is a team, and we will eagerly welcome back Senator Gorsek when his continued recovery allows him to return to the chamber. As soon as that happens, Senate Democrats will take the action we’ve worked toward together for more than a year: shoring up funding for our roads, bridges, and public transit.”
SALEM – (News release from the Oregon Legislature’s Republican Party) Tomorrow’s planned Senate vote on Governor Tina Kotek’s $4.3 billion transportation tax hike has once again been postponed with Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham)still hospitalized. The vote has now been delayed until September 29th.
Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) issued the following statement:
“First and foremost, we continue to keep Senator Gorsek in our prayers. We wish him strength, healing, and a full recovery. But let’s be clear: this situation was avoidable. Governor Kotek could have worked with Republicans from the beginning to craft a transportation package with true bipartisan support—one that redirected existing funding to road maintenance and operations, protected ODOT jobs, and eliminated the cost drivers that have made transportation more expensive under her leadership.
Instead, she ignored the voices of thousands of Oregonians who oppose her $4.3 billion tax hike and pushed forward a partisan plan destined to pass only on a slim, party-line margin. Senate Republicans offered a serious alternative that would have saved jobs and avoided raising taxes on already overburdened families, but Democrats dismissed it without consideration. 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. Whenever this vote takes place, our caucus remains united in rejecting this tax hike, leaving no doubt about who is advocating for Oregon families—and who is not.”
