Oregon — Oregon Senate and House Republicans are sharply criticizing Governor Tina Kotek after she asked the Oregon Legislature to repeal House Bill 3991, her signature transportation tax package, following a successful citizen-led referendum.
HB 3991, passed during the 2025 special legislative session, was frozen after opponents gathered enough signatures to qualify the measure for the November 2026 ballot. Republicans say the Governor’s request for full repeal represents a sudden change of course driven by political pressure rather than policy reconsideration.
Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr said the Governor’s move confirms long-standing Republican concerns about the bill’s substance and process. He argued the legislation was rushed through the Legislature, deeply flawed, and widely opposed by taxpayers.
Representative Ed Diehl, one of the chief petitioners behind the referendum, said Kotek’s decision undermines the will of voters who signed petitions specifically to secure a public vote. He emphasized that repeal avoids direct voter accountability and removes the issue from the ballot entirely.
House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer said a full repeal goes beyond what voters challenged. She noted that the referendum targeted tax increases, not other provisions included in the bill, such as policy changes carried over from earlier transportation packages.
Elmer warned that repealing the entire bill would also eliminate bipartisan reforms Republicans supported, arguing that the Governor’s approach appears designed to maintain political leverage rather than preserve agreed-upon improvements.
Republican lawmakers also questioned Kotek’s calls for a renewed bipartisan process, saying trust has been eroded by repeated negotiations followed by unilateral action. GOP leaders reiterated their position that Oregon has sufficient transportation funding but lacks proper prioritization and accountability.
Republicans said they will engage in upcoming discussions but stressed that any future transportation legislation must respect voter input and avoid asking taxpayers to pay more without clear reforms and oversight.
About the Author
Kotec is afraid to hear the will of the people. The real people of Oregon.