Oregon Democrats on Tuesday delayed the final vote on a transportation funding plan until Sept. 17 because Sen. Chris Gorsek, a Gresham Democrat, is unable to attend a planned vote this week due to serious health issues, they said.
Democrats were relying on Gorsek’s vote to approve the package because they have exactly the required 18 members in the Senate to raise taxes, and no Republican has indicated support for the plan.
Gorsek cannot show up in Salem to cast his vote on the proposal — initially scheduled for Wednesday morning — because he’s recovering from complications from August back surgery, the Senate Majority Office announced Tuesday. As a result, lawmakers will extend their ongoing special session by two weeks.
“I’m honored to serve the people of District 25 and I’m eager to get back to the Senate, representing them on the floor,” Gorsek said in a press release. “Until then, I have deep gratitude for the nurses, doctors and allied health professionals delivering my care and serving other patients with far greater needs than mine.”
Gov. Tina Kotek announced Tuesday afternoon that she had directed the Oregon Department of Transportation to postpone the layoffs of nearly 500 transportation workers until Oct. 15 to give lawmakers time to vote on the bill.
“I am making a good faith assessment, with the assurances of Senate leaders, that the bill passed by the House on Monday will pass when the Senate reconvenes,” Kotek said a statement.
The layoffs had previously been delayed until Sept. 15. Democrats repeatedly said averting those layoffs was a central motivation to support the funding plan. A spokesperson for the agency did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment.
The funding plan, which passed the House on Monday, would increase the state’s 40 cents per gallon gas tax by 6 cents, hike title and registration fees, require electric vehicle users to soon pay a fee per mile driven and double the state’s 0.1% payroll tax for transit for two years.
Most of the revenue raised by the bill would be split between local governments and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Gorsek has been absent from the special session that began Friday, but he was originally expected to return for Wednesday’s scheduled final vote in the Senate. As co-chair of the transportation committee in this year’s legislative session, he helped craft the package that died in the final moments of the session, prompting the governor to call the special session.
“Everyone in the Oregon Legislature sends good wishes to (Gorsek) and his family as his health improves,” Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, a Portland Democrat, said in the press release. “The postponement will allow our esteemed colleague to join us in passing the transportation measure he has worked so long to shape.”
— Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.
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