Fresh taxes on cars, bikes, payroll and gasoline to fund $Five.3B Oregon transportation package
by KRISTENA HANSEN, Associated Press
Oregon State Capitol (SBG)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A $Five.Three billion plan to modernize Oregon’s transportation and public transit systems over the next decade has passed the Oregon Legislature with bipartisan support after a final 22-7 vote in the state Senate on Thursday.
House Bill two thousand seventeen now goes to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk for signing. It addresses five broad areas of concern across the state: traffic congestion, alternate roadway options, ongoing investments for maintenance, safety of existing infrastructure and accountability over public spending.
To pay for those projects, the bill increases gas taxes and vehicle title and registration fees and creates fresh taxes on employees’ paychecks and automobile sales, a surcharge on bicycle sales as well as highway tolls in metro Portland. It also establishes a $12 million annual rebate program for those who buy eco-friendly cars.
HB two thousand seventeen was the culmination of almost two years-worth of research, negotiations, public hearings and community tours, and its passage is considered a major accomplishment for Democrats, Republicans and Brown after their very first attempt for a much larger package failed in 2015.
Months of gridlock inbetween Democrats and Republicans over other matters, namely a tax hike on businesses, had put this year’s transportation package in jeopardy as well. Last-minute negotiations scaled back its size and scope from the original $8.Two billion proposal, resulting in the final 167-page package approved this week in the final hours of the two thousand seventeen session.
If special interest groups determine to go after through with their threats to derail it at the ballot, HB two thousand seventeen would be placed on hold until voters determine its fate likely during the primary election next May.
Lawmakers in the state Senate stood up from their desks on the chamber floor in applause after casting the final vote.
"For too long our system has been falling in to disrepair," said Democratic Sen. Lee Beyer, who co-chaired the Transportation Committee. "The investments in HB two thousand seventeen will stir freight more efficiently, reduce congestion in our cities, make our roads and bridges safer and expand mass transit options from border to border."
The bill raises tax revenue in several ways:
- A fresh .Five percent tax on purchases of cars, motorhomes and other recreational and sport-utility vehicles.
- Public transit projects to improve connectivity in non-urban areas would be supported through a fresh statewide .1 percent payroll tax on residents’ paychecks from their employers, toughly $20 annually for the average minimum-wage earner.
It also included a compromise on the state’s low-carbon fuel standard, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but raised concerns among Republicans about spiking costs at the gas pump.
"The bill contains language that will insulate consumers from price spikes and fuel shortages, and grants plasticity to program administrators in dealing with emergency situations," said Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz, who was also a Transportation Committee co-chair.
Fresh taxes on cars, bikes, payroll and gasoline to fund $ Oregon transportation package, KVAL
Fresh taxes on cars, bikes, payroll and gasoline to fund $Five.3B Oregon transportation package
by KRISTENA HANSEN, Associated Press
Oregon State Capitol (SBG)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A $Five.Trio billion plan to modernize Oregon’s transportation and public transit systems over the next decade has passed the Oregon Legislature with bipartisan support after a final 22-7 vote in the state Senate on Thursday.
House Bill two thousand seventeen now goes to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk for signing. It addresses five broad areas of concern via the state: traffic congestion, alternate roadway options, ongoing investments for maintenance, safety of existing infrastructure and accountability over public spending.
To pay for those projects, the bill increases gas taxes and vehicle title and registration fees and creates fresh taxes on employees’ paychecks and automobile sales, a surcharge on bicycle sales as well as highway tolls in metro Portland. It also establishes a $12 million annual rebate program for those who buy eco-friendly cars.
HB two thousand seventeen was the culmination of almost two years-worth of research, negotiations, public hearings and community tours, and its passage is considered a major accomplishment for Democrats, Republicans and Brown after their very first attempt for a much larger package failed in 2015.
Months of gridlock inbetween Democrats and Republicans over other matters, namely a tax hike on businesses, had put this year’s transportation package in jeopardy as well. Last-minute negotiations scaled back its size and scope from the original $8.Two billion proposal, resulting in the final 167-page package approved this week in the final hours of the two thousand seventeen session.
If special interest groups determine to go after through with their threats to derail it at the ballot, HB two thousand seventeen would be placed on hold until voters determine its fate likely during the primary election next May.
Lawmakers in the state Senate stood up from their desks on the chamber floor in applause after casting the final vote.
"For too long our system has been falling in to disrepair," said Democratic Sen. Lee Beyer, who co-chaired the Transportation Committee. "The investments in HB two thousand seventeen will stir freight more efficiently, reduce congestion in our cities, make our roads and bridges safer and expand mass transit options from border to border."
The bill raises tax revenue in several ways:
- A fresh .Five percent tax on purchases of cars, motorhomes and other recreational and sport-utility vehicles.
- Public transit projects to improve connectivity in non-urban areas would be supported through a fresh statewide .1 percent payroll tax on residents’ paychecks from their employers, toughly $20 annually for the average minimum-wage earner.
It also included a compromise on the state’s low-carbon fuel standard, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but raised concerns among Republicans about spiking costs at the gas pump.
"The bill contains language that will insulate consumers from price spikes and fuel shortages, and grants plasticity to program administrators in dealing with emergency situations," said Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz, who was also a Transportation Committee co-chair.
Fresh taxes on cars, bikes, payroll and gasoline to fund $ Oregon transportation package, KVAL
Fresh taxes on cars, bikes, payroll and gasoline to fund $Five.3B Oregon transportation package
by KRISTENA HANSEN, Associated Press
Oregon State Capitol (SBG)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A $Five.Trio billion plan to modernize Oregon’s transportation and public transit systems over the next decade has passed the Oregon Legislature with bipartisan support after a final 22-7 vote in the state Senate on Thursday.
House Bill two thousand seventeen now goes to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk for signing. It addresses five broad areas of concern across the state: traffic congestion, alternate roadway options, ongoing investments for maintenance, safety of existing infrastructure and accountability over public spending.
To pay for those projects, the bill increases gas taxes and vehicle title and registration fees and creates fresh taxes on employees’ paychecks and automobile sales, a surcharge on bicycle sales as well as highway tolls in metro Portland. It also establishes a $12 million annual rebate program for those who buy eco-friendly cars.
HB two thousand seventeen was the culmination of almost two years-worth of research, negotiations, public hearings and community tours, and its passage is considered a major accomplishment for Democrats, Republicans and Brown after their very first attempt for a much larger package failed in 2015.
Months of gridlock inbetween Democrats and Republicans over other matters, namely a tax hike on businesses, had put this year’s transportation package in jeopardy as well. Last-minute negotiations scaled back its size and scope from the original $8.Two billion proposal, resulting in the final 167-page package approved this week in the final hours of the two thousand seventeen session.
If special interest groups determine to go after through with their threats to derail it at the ballot, HB two thousand seventeen would be placed on hold until voters determine its fate likely during the primary election next May.
Lawmakers in the state Senate stood up from their desks on the chamber floor in applause after casting the final vote.
"For too long our system has been falling in to disrepair," said Democratic Sen. Lee Beyer, who co-chaired the Transportation Committee. "The investments in HB two thousand seventeen will budge freight more efficiently, reduce congestion in our cities, make our roads and bridges safer and expand mass transit options from border to border."
The bill raises tax revenue in several ways:
- A fresh .Five percent tax on purchases of cars, motorhomes and other recreational and sport-utility vehicles.
- Public transit projects to improve connectivity in non-urban areas would be supported through a fresh statewide .1 percent payroll tax on residents’ paychecks from their employers, toughly $20 annually for the average minimum-wage earner.
It also included a compromise on the state’s low-carbon fuel standard, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but raised concerns among Republicans about spiking costs at the gas pump.
"The bill contains language that will insulate consumers from price spikes and fuel shortages, and grants plasticity to program administrators in dealing with emergency situations," said Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz, who was also a Transportation Committee co-chair.