May 23, 2025 3:30 a.m.
Senate Republicans are accusing House Democrats of using the wildfire map repeal as a bargaining chip to steal $1 billion of kicker funds from taxpayers.
A release from the Oregon Senate Republican Caucus said after Senate Bill 83 passed the Oregon Senate unanimously on April 22nd, with strong bipartisan support and praise from Senate Democrats for responding to public outcry over the flawed wildfire hazard map, House Democrats moved to block its progress on Thursday – sending it to the House Committee on Rules instead of advancing it to the House floor for a vote.
Senator Noah Robinson of Cave Junction said, “Senate Bill 83 is an urgent bill the House needs to pass immediately”. Robinson said, “It is unacceptable to use it as a negotiating item”.
Senator David Brock Smith of Port Orford said, “House Democrats are now doing the exact opposite of what their Senate colleagues claimed to support just months ago”. Brock Smith said, “This is a stunning reversal and a clear betrayal of the bipartisan effort to repeal these harmful wildfire maps. Holding rural Oregonians hostage over votes for future wildfire funding is not only obscene, but disgraceful”. Brock Smith said, “Put the damn bill on the floor for a vote”.
The release claims that rather than allowing a floor vote on a bill that has already earned overwhelming support, including from Senate Democrats, House Democrats – under pressure from Governor Tina Kotek and Speaker Julie Fahey – are delaying SB 83 in an effort to extort Republican votes for their latest attempt to raid over $1 billion from the Oregon taxpayers’ kicker refund.
Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles, said “Oregonians were promised relief. Now they’re being told that relief is contingent on agreeing to a massive tax grab”. Bonham said, “It’s political gamesmanship at its worst – and its coming at the expense of rural property owners and families across the state”.
The release said Senate Republicans urge House leadership to bring SB 83 to the House Floor for an immediate vote.