Bend state rep explains no vote on moving gas tax referendum to May
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.
Sen. Bruce Starr and Rep. Ed Deihl filed a lawsuit this week against Secretary of State Tobias Reed to challenge a law moving a vote from November to May. The lawsuit seeks to have the recently passed measure disregarded as a legislative standoff continues in Salem.
The legal action follows a letter from Reed stating the Legislature could vote on the measure after Feb. 25. This timeline presents a challenge for the May election because 500 signatures must be gathered to include the item in the voter's pamphlet.
Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, voted against the measure during the House session. Levy stated that her decision was based on direct communication from her constituents rather than her political party.
"Going into the legislature, I've always felt that my job is to represent my district, not my party," Levy said. "And the overwhelming feedback I got from my district via emails was to vote no. And that is what I did."
The legislative disagreement is tied to an ongoing budget gap at the Oregon Department of Transportation. The standoff has drawn attention to ODOT facilities, as lawmakers remain divided over how to address the funding shortfall.
The Legislature may call a special session to address the transportation budget, similar to a session held last year. Levy indicated that lawmakers could also wait until the long session next year to resolve the budget issues.
