Lawmakers face Oregon gas tax vote decision

Oregon lawmakers face a key cutoff Wednesday to ensure a May vote on new gas taxes, escalating a partisan fight over shifting the referendum from November.

Why it matters: The outcome will determine how soon the state could close a $350 million-plus transportation funding gap affecting drivers and public transit users statewide.

State of play: Republicans adamantly oppose Senate Bill 1599, which would move a vote on raising gas taxes to fund transportation from the November election to the May primary.

• They argue that hundreds of thousands of people signed petitions putting it before voters on November's ballot.
• They've also accused Democrats of trying to avoid asking voters to approve new taxes on the same ballot as Democratic candidates.
• Democrats argue an earlier vote would give the state certainty on transportation funding and help avoid layoffs and service cuts.

On Monday, state senators passed the bill 17-13 after Republicans staged a one-day walkout last week that temporarily delayed the measure. House Republicans similarly boycotted the Capitol on Monday.

The latest: Republicans returned to the House chamber Tuesday and the bill was referred to the Speaker's desk, where it will next be assigned to a committee.

Catch up quick: Lawmakers called a special session last fall after failing to agree on how to fill a transportation budget deficit of more than $350 million.

• The fix that came out of that session — higher gas taxes, plus new fees for road users — sparked a Republican campaign to refer the new taxes to voters on the coming November ballot.
• Opponents gathered more than 250,000 signatures — far exceeding the 78,000 required — in a matter of weeks.

• Democrats responded with a bill that would move the vote from November to the primary election in May, a move they argue would give the state certainty over its transportation budget sooner.

The intrigue: The secretary of state "strongly recommended" lawmakers act by Wednesday for the gas taxes to appear on May ballots, per OPB. It may still be possible if the bill passes as late as March 8.

What's next: Lawmakers are likely to push for a vote on the bill Wednesday in hopes of getting it to Gov. Tina Kotek in time to get the referendum on the May ballot.