Latest news with #OregonTransportationReinvestmentPackage
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon state senator resigns from committee after ‘aggressive outbursts'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon State Senator Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham) resigned from his joint transportation committee seat on Monday after House Republicans accused him of 'aggressive outbursts,' and called for his resignation. 'To allow for the committee's focus to remain on completing the Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package this session, I have offered my resignation from the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment effective immediately,' Sen. Gorsek announced Monday. 'I support the compromise that's being offered from the House, and I look forward to voting in support of it on the Senate floor.' The resignation stems from Friday's Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment work session. There, lawmakers were considering , which would audit the Oregon Department of Transportation as lawmakers consider a major transportation investment package. US Department of Justice sues Washington over 'anti-Catholic' law During the work session, House Republicans said Co-Vice Chair Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) was 'singled out and aggressively shouted down on multiple occasions,' by Gorsek. 'It's really, disappointing at this point that, everybody from Co-Chair McLane, all the way up to the presiding officers at this point have not issued any sort of apology or taken responsibility for it,' Boshart Davis said. As lawmakers made final comments before a vote on the bill, Rep. Boshart Davis explained, 'I want to state that we are looking at the largest tax increase in Oregon's history,' she said in opposition of the bill, raising concerns that the public has not had enough time to weigh in on the legislation. 'We received the revenue impact when we had eight hours of public hearings on the -12 (amendment) or the base bill, the public didn't know that it costs $15 billion over the next 10 years. They may have said something different if they knew it had been the largest tax hike in Oregon's history. And so, since we've known that realization, the public has not had the opportunity to weigh in. What we do know from the public though, is their online testimony and it currently sits at opposition 2:1,' Boshart Davis said, in part. 'We're left with a $15 billion tax increase, with a few days left in session with a really bad process. When we talk about being grossly irresponsible, that's what this is. I will be a no on this,' Boshart Davis said before Gorsek interrupted. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'Excuse me,' Gorsek said. 'You are impugning all of us that have worked on that bill, so stop with that.' 'You made your point, representative,' Gorsek added with a raised voice. At that point, Commitee Co-Chair Rep. Susan McLain (D-Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro) tried to stop the two from arguing, saying, 'you guys, that's it,' suggesting the lawmakers discuss their differences outside of the session. Portland bar hosts 'In Bed By 10' happy hour DJ parties On Monday, House Republicans called for Gorsek to be censured and demanded Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) remove Gorsek from his committee assignments. 'Today House Republicans stand united with our colleague, Representative Boshart Davis, who was the target of Senator Gorsek's repeated aggressive outbursts in committee last week. Prior to Representative Boshart Davis's comments, multiple men on the committee spoke in opposition to HB 2025, but Senator Gorsek's out-of-control shouting and aggressive behavior was directed solely towards Representative Boshart Davis,' House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) said. 'Senator Gorsek has a documented pattern of bullying, harassing, and intimidating female legislators who speak up and express opinions that differ from his. This behavior is not only abusive, it weakens our democratic institutions and has no place in our Capitol,' the Republican House leader added. 'Senate President Rob Wagner's shameful silence, failure to respond, and inaction has engendered a culture of intimidation and misogyny—both on the dais and off.' USA Today names 'uniquely satisfying' Portland donut shop among the best in the U.S. 'Senator Gorsek's actions must not be ignored. I call on Senate President Wagner to stand with us to demand personal responsibility and accountability for the harm Senator Gorsek's repeated behavior has caused to this institution. Senator Wagner must use his power to address this issue immediately,' Drazan concluded. In addition to the calls to censure and remove Gorsek from his committees, House Republicans demanded a building-wide notification when Gorsek was expected to be in the Capitol, mandated workplace harassment and anger management training and demanded a formal apology. After Friday's work session, Boshart Davis filed a formal complaint against Gorsek for violating the Legislative Branch Personnel Rule 2: Safe, Respectful and Inclusive Workplace. In response to Gorsek's actions, seven House Republicans boycotted Monday's legislative session: Reps. Court Boice (R-Gold Beach), Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg), Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass), Alek Skarlatos (R-Canyonville), Boomer Wright (R-Coos Bay), Darin Harbick (R-Eastern Lane County), and Ed Diehl (R-Stayton). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon Transportation Commission: How to best address ‘speedbumps' in transportation revenue
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — When it comes to setting transportation policy in Oregon, that responsibility falls to the Oregon Transportation Commission, which oversees ODOT. Currently, the Oregon legislature is considering what's called the Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package (TRIP), that seeks to raise $1.9 billion in the next biennium. This could include higher fees and new taxes. Lee Beyer is the Vice-Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission, and a former longtime state legislator. He joined Eye on Northwest Politics form his home in Springfield to touch on what will need to happen to get things moving again. Watch the full interview in the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Not enough money': Local leaders ask for urgent state funds in road maintenance
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Local leaders are asking for serious state help in the form of the Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package this legislative session. The mayors of Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview, and Gresham joined Multnomah County Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon Monday to urge state lawmakers to pass this transportation package. 'Bock bock, you next': Man harassing peacocks tried to murder man who confronted him They want to improve conditions they believe are dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike, and the mayors said they need state funding to get it done. On top of that, they argued road maintenance will improve the local economy as well. 'State investments in transportation infrastructure directly support our local businesses, attract new employers, and create good paying construction and infrastructure jobs right here in east Multnomah County,' Troutdale Mayor David Ripma said. Fairview's mayor Keith Kudrna said they have plans for new developments that serve the community's needs, but without good roads they cannot get done. 'Like Sandy Boulevard, where residents at the senior manufactured home park must walk along roadside ditches to catch the bus or to cross the street at an unmarked crosswalk,' he said. 'The problem is that we do not have enough money to finish these visions.' The county's road fund pays for road maintenance, but the upcoming budget proposes cutting close to $2 million from it. Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall called that proposal unacceptable. 'There has to be an overinvestment, an oversized investment, in East County starting now,' he said. 'There has been tremendous years of underinvestment that includes transportation and these that– it's challenging for us to be able to bring our folks from poverty to prosperity. We have to make these investments. We have to.' New express routes will take Portland-area residents on day trips to the coast If they are not able to get financial help from the state in this package Stovall said they will carry on, but it will not be easy. He said roads across the county will be underprepared. 'They won't be maintained,' Stovall said. 'Will new roads and new infrastructure not be delivered? Yes, that will be the case. Will we be able to move forward as communities? Absolutely. Is it going to be more challenging? Of course. That's the critical response to the question is it will be more challenging to deliver the things that we need to deliver.' Jones-Dixon said he is definitely looking to make sure those cuts to the county's road fund are not made in the upcoming budget. And later this month the Joint Committee on Transportation is holding a public hearing for the transportation package. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
