Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has called the Legislature back into a Special Session beginning August 29th. Send in your testimony against more taxes and fees at this link, it will only take a minute or two of your time!
(From newsletter by Rep. Wright…)
Governor Announces SPECIAL SESSION To Increase TAXES To Fund ODOT
Governor Tina Kotek announced a special session on August 29th to raise gas taxes and other fees on Oregonians after Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to pass one of the largest tax hikes in Oregon’s history.
Here’s what the governor is proposing (so far):
- A six-cent increase to the gas tax
- An increase in car registration fees by $42
- An additional $30 registration fee for electric vehicles and vehicles that get high gas mileage
- Increasing titling fees by $139
- Double the 0.1% payroll tax for the State Transportation Improvement Fund, which pays for transit services
This could have been prevented if Democrats had come to the table and considered House Republicans’ alternative plan to fund ODOT by refocusing existing revenue instead of adding billions of dollars in new taxes on struggling Oregonians.
(By Taxpayers Association of Oregon – OregonWatchdog.com)
The goal is to pass a gas tax increase and wage tax increase.
When it comes to a Special Session, there will not be much of a public debate nor public hearing, just a ram rod job.
Governor Kotek’s announcement warns that this is just the FIRST STEP, “This is just the first step of many that must be taken to meet our state’s long-term transportation needs.”
That means there are more taxes, fees and budget gimmicks to come after these two taxes are passed. (This article didn’t mention the fees included in the special session)