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OUR VIEW Our View: House stands in the way of transportation deal MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 25, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jun. 25, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Democrats were having things mostly their way this legislative session until minority Republicans played the only card they had, bringing the governor and Senate leaders to the table to hash out a compromise that could lead to a transportation funding bill everyone agrees is badly needed. Whether House Democrats will go along remains to be seen. The transportation bill, which would allocate $200 million a year to fixing bridges and maintaining roads that are vital to manufacturers and other shipping-dependent businesses, relies on a series of tax and fee increases and requires a supermajority to pass. The Democrats have that supermajority in the House, but need at least one Republican vote in the Senate. Against vigorous Republican opposition, the Democrats passed and incoming Gov. Kate Brown signed an extension of the Clean Fuels Program, designed to encourage increased use of low-carbon motor fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Republicans cited state estimates that the measure would increase gasoline prices as much as 19 cents a gallon, although the estimates also note the increase could be as little as 4 cents a gallon. Republicans vowed they would not vote for the transportation package, which includes a gas tax increase, if the fuels bill passed, because that would mean raising gas prices twice. For weeks, a panel selected by Brown and dubbed the "Gang of Eight" — four Democrats and four Republicans — huddled in closed-door meetings away from the Capitol, hammering out a deal Republicans would support that also addressed greenhouse gas emissions and low-carbon fuels. The plan was revealed this week, with a Senate vote planned as early as Friday. Environmental groups have denounced the plan as caving in to the oil industry, saying the fuel-blending requirements are riddled with loopholes and the carbon-reduction estimates based on faulty assumptions. Supporters say the new plan would result in greater carbon reductions than the Clean Fuels program without steep increases in pump prices. Nineteen House Democrats — including Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland — sent a letter to Brown and Democratic leaders in both houses saying they won't vote for any transportation package that requires repealing SB 324, the Clean Fuels law. Since Republicans won't vote for a transportation package without repealing SB 324, the Mob of 19 apparently is content to derail the transportation package entirely. Regardless of the rhetoric, any effort to reduce carbon emissions through government action is based on assumptions and estimates. It's impossible to know for sure ahead of time whether either plan will achieve the desired results. What is clear is that the state's roads and bridges are in dire need of repair and maintenance, and that won't happen if this deal stalls in the House. Democrats have hardly played well with their Republican colleagues this session. They may come to regret that when they lose the comfortable majority they now enjoy, as they inevitably will. Working with the Senate to pass a compromise package would be a major accomplishment, something that hasn't been a frequent occurrence this session.     MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 25, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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