July 23, 2025 3:50 a.m. 

Republican leaders are responding to Governor Tina Kotek’s announcement of a special legislative session to address funding issues with the Oregon Department of Transportation.

House Republican Leader Chistine Drazan said, “This could have been prevented if Democrats had come to the table and considered House Republican’s alternative plan to fund ODOT by refocusing existing revenue instead of adding billions of dollars in new taxes on struggling Oregonians”.

Drazan said the situation could still be prevented now without a special session, if Democrats made the decision to use existing revenue from the emergency board.

Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham said, “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”. Bonham said, “Republicans offered a common-sense plan to get ODOT focused back on its core mission, protect critical maintenance jobs, restore accountability, and avoid raising costs on hardworking Oregonians. Democrats didn’t even give it a glance”

Bonham said, “Oregonians deserve roads that work, bridges that last, and a government that puts them first, not more status quo policies and backroom deals to reward special interests”.