Oregon Public Broadcasting is reporting that House Bill 2025 is dead:
“According to four sources within the Legislature, Democrats acknowledged Friday morning they do not have the votes to pass House Bill 2025. The sweeping bill would have hiked an array of taxes and fees in order to generate billions for much-needed road projects.”
It’s stunning news for the $11.6 billion transportation package that passed out of committee Thursday night. Momentum seemed to pick up when one Republican member of the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment, House Rep. Kevin Mannix, voted yes on the bill. But if OPB has it right, all that might pass this session is a paltry, three-cent gas tax increase that Democrats have attached to a separate bill.
HB 2025 was supposed to get voted on by the House and Senate today. But it’s 1:50 pm and the vote in the House still hasn’t happened. The House is in recess and is slated to re-convene at 2:15 pm today. I asked one source if the bill was really dead and they messaged back, “Currently using the defibrillator.”
If indeed the bill dies and all that’s gained is a three-cent gas tax increase it will be a crushing blow for Democrats. They have a slim super-majority, but they had over a year of meetings and public hearings to get something substantive through the sausage factory.
I’ll post a confirmation once I know more.
In the meantime, check out this video about how one lawmaker who opposes HB 2025 — Democratic Senator Mark Meek — poisoned the debate by spreading blatant falsehoods on social media.
