May 22, 2025 4:00 a.m.
On Wednesday, House and Senate Republicans announced legislation that they say will stabilize the Oregon Department of Transportation without raising taxes, while preserving operations and maintenance that serves core functions, such as plowing roads and filling potholes.
A release from the House Republican Caucus and the Senate Republican Caucus said the comprehensive proposal makes statutory changes to redirect money outside core mission back to paying for priority needs. The GOP claims the proposal services as an interim plan to rebuild Oregonians’ trust in ODOT.
House Republican Leader Christine Drazan said, “We reject the premise that if we don’t make life more expensive for Oregonians, we can’t fix potholes, plow the snow or keep rural roads safe”. Drazan said, “By reprioritizing funding, focusing on accountability, modernizing administration, and streamlining regulations, this legislation holds ODOT accountable to core mission and protects families from tax increases”.
Senator Daniel Bonham said, “Oregonians are tired of being told the fix is always paying more”. Bonham said, “Our plan puts common sense first – keeping roads clear, potholes filled, and the pressure off taxpayers. It’s about rebuilding trust and demanding accountability before asking families to dig deeper into their pockets.”
The release said the plan includes:
*Redirecting over $146 million of current spending on climate initiatives and $38 million in funding for passenger rail service
*Redirecting half of the payroll tax to provide truckers with a tax credit on future tax bills, thereby repaying them for years of unconstitutional overpayments
*Capping Oregon’s hidden gas tax, (Clean Fuels Program) at the current level and returning the program to its original intent
*Creating the Major Projects Office to manage projects costing more than $99 million
*Creating a publicly accessible dashboard displaying key performance indicators for major projects
*Establishing independent Dispute Review Boards for projects exceeding $5 million to resolve conflicts between ODOT and the contractor ensuring smooth delivery, on-time completion, and budget adherence.