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Bend lawmaker reacts to Republican lawsuit that challenges moving Oregon gas tax referendum to May

The Republican-led “No Tax Oregon” campaign received over 200,000 signatures, which was enough to pause increases to the gas tax, payroll tax and car registration and title fees under a 2025 transportation law until a November referendum. Oregon Democrats cannot repeal the unpopular law they championed since it has been referred to the ballot, but they are trying to move the referendum from November to May.
Mia Maldonado/Oregon Capital Chronicle
The Republican-led “No Tax Oregon” campaign received over 200,000 signatures, which was enough to pause increases to the gas tax, payroll tax and car registration and title fees under a 2025 transportation law until a November referendum. Oregon Democrats cannot repeal the unpopular law they championed since it has been referred to the ballot, but they are trying to move the referendum from November to May.
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Published 6:00 pm

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- After months of discussion, negotiations and a referendum, Oregonians may be heading to the ballot box in May to vote on whether to scrap gas tax and vehicle fee increases that aimed to cover an ODOT budget shortfall. But opponents are going to court to keep it on the November election ballot.

After being passed in recent days by the House and the Senate and signed by Gov. Tina Kotek, it now heads to the courts after a lawsuit was filed by Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio and Taxpayer Association of Oregon founder Jason Williams.

KTVZ News' Spencer Sacks spoke Wednesday to to local Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Ore., who voted against the referendum move, to learn more about where she stands and what happens next.

Sacks will have a full report tonight at 10 p.m. on Fox and 11 p.m. on NBC.

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Spencer Sacks

Spencer Sacks is a Multimedia Journalist with KTVZ News. Learn more about Spencer here.

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