Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek Delays Signing Transportation Funding Bill
A transportation funding bill, a key priority for Gov. Tina Kotek in August, has remained unsigned on her desk for nearly a month. The bill would raise gas taxes and transportation-related fees by over $4 billion in its first decade.
Impact of the Delay
Each day Kotek delays signing the bill prevents opponents from gathering signatures to trigger a public vote on the tax hike scheduled a year from now. Republicans opposed to the tax increases have until December 30 to collect around 78,000 signatures for the referendum campaign.
No updates to share,
a spokeswoman for Kotek said last week when asked about plans. Kotek previously told OPB she intended to sign the bill “by the time I need to have it signed.”
Growing Pressure and Political Response
Pressure on Kotek is increasing. GOP lawmakers claim she is blocking the public process to hinder their referendum efforts. The campaign against the transportation taxes cites polls indicating 86% of likely Oregon voters would sign a petition to reject the taxes, and 67% would vote for repeal.
“I think it’s pretty outrageous,”
said state Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, a leader in the referendum campaign. “I know that she views it to her political advantage, but it’s not a good look.”
Even some Democrats have expressed concerns about the delay.
Summary
Governor Kotek’s postponement in signing the transportation funding bill intensifies political tensions as opponents race to force a public vote on the tax increases.
Would you like the text to be more formal or conversational?