Senate Republicans Suspend Work on Transportation Package Citing Concerns over Unknown Consequences of Carbon Mandate
Salem, Ore. – Today, Senate Republicans called on the Speaker of the House and Oregon House members to send SB 324, the Low Carbon Fuel Mandate, back to committee over concerns about lack of information on the impact to small businesses and working Oregon families. Their request followed the suspension of a bipartisan transportation work group Thursday night.
“We need a transportation package,” said Senator Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg). “By fast-tracking SB 324 with the knowledge that it would compromise the ability of the legislature to pass a bipartisan transportation package, Democrats proved their loyalties lie with special out-of-state interests, and any pledge to help low-income and rural Oregonians is just lip service.”
Senate Republicans stood in unanimous opposition to the carbon mandate earlier this month, pledging they would not support a hidden gas tax stacked on top of a potential gas tax to fund a transportation package. An Oregon DEQ study shows the carbon mandate will increase gas prices by $0.19 per gallon, while other studies show gas prices could rise as much as one dollar per gallon.
“Nobody can say for sure how bad the carbon mandate will be for businesses and working Oregon families,” said Senator Chuck Thomsen (R-Hood River). “With gas prices skyrocketing before our eyes, we can’t pass a mandate that will hurt struggling Oregonians by increasing pain at the pump. Let’s table this bill and focus on fixing our roads and bridges and getting Oregonians back to work.”
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