Oregon Democrats Ram Through $15.5 Billion Tax Hike-Oregonians to Pay the Price

In a stunning display of political manipulation, Oregon Democrats have pushed through committee what may be the largest tax hike in state history—House Bill 2025, a $15.5 billion boondoggle filled with over 35 new or increased taxes and fees. This tax package, known as the Transportation Reinvestment Infrastructure Partnership (TRIP), inflicts a heavy burden on Oregon families and small businesses.

But the way Democrats shoved this bill through committee is just as disturbing as the bill itself.

To ensure the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment secured the seven votes needed to move the legislation forward, Democrat Senate President Rob Wagner removed fellow Democrat Senator Mark Meek from the committee after Meek, hearing clear opposition from his constituents, expressed deep concern about the bill’s affordability. In his place, Wagner appointed himself to the committee, tipping the scales in favor of passage. This unprecedented power grab reflects a blatant disregard for process, transparency, and representative democracy.

“This is not how government should work,” said Connie Whelchel, Chair of the Oregon Republican Party. “Democrats in Salem are silencing voices from within their own ranks—and ignoring the will of the people—to force through an agenda that Oregonians can’t afford.”

The Oregon Republican Party strongly opposes this egregious tax-and-spend package, which hits every corner of our state—and hardest on those who can least afford it—with:

-        - Vehicle registration and title fee hikes

-         - Gas tax increases

-         - Hidden tax mechanisms passed down to working families

Democrats are not listening to Oregonians. They are actively circumventing internal dissent and overriding legitimate public concerns to fund bloated bureaucracies and political pet projects. We urge all Oregonians to contact your legislators immediately to demand an end to this taxation overreach and procedural abuse. Voters can easily contact them through the web at notaxor.com.

“Oregon families deserve better,” continued Chair Whelchel. “The ORP stands with working Oregonians, not political elites manipulating the rules to push an agenda the public can’t afford.