Oregon Public Broadcasting

A multi-billion dollar infrastructure package is gaining momentum in the Oregon Legislature.

Democrats in the Oregon House touted their plan at a news conference in Salem Tuesday.  The Governor and leaders in the House and Senate want to create jobs by re-building roads and bridges. 

Dave Hunt of suburban Clackamas County is the Democratic House Speaker designee.  In addition to a new package, he says the Legislature will also try to speed up projects already on the drawing board.

Dave Hunt: “Some of it is working actively with the Treasurer to make sure that bond sales can occur as aggressively as possible.  Part of it may deal with permitting issues -- either state permitting or local permitting -- to make sure we’re not having good projects that should be ready to go that are held up in some kind of regulatory red tape.”

What’s unknown at this point is how the new projects will be funded.  Democrats, who control both chambers of the Oregon legislature, are considering a hike in the gas tax and increases on various vehicle fees such as title renewals.