The vote on critical stop-gap transportation investments will be held during September legislative days to allow for Sen. Chris Gorsek to be present
(SALEM, Ore.) – Following the most recent of ongoing conversations with Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham) and his medical team, the Senate will postpone consideration of critical stop-gap transportation investments until interim legislative days, Sept. 29 – Oct. 1.
The Senate floor session scheduled for Sept. 17 will be pro forma.
Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) received a letter from Sen. Gorsek’s medical team Monday night which read, in part, that it would be “medically unsafe and unwise for Sen. Gorsek to leave the hospital at this time.”
On Tuesday, President Wagner visited with Sen. Gorsek to check on him and pass along the well wishes of his fellow senators. Sen. Gorsek is recovering from a scheduled back surgery which resulted in an unforeseeable complication.
“The stop-gap transportation bill before the Senate is important for all Oregonians who rely on our roads and the maintenance workers whose jobs are at risk. At the same time, we are not going to do anything that would put the health of our colleague at risk,” President Wagner said. “The Senate will provide Sen. Gorsek with the time he needs to regain his health and be present for the vote on transportation policy he was instrumental in creating.”
After the House of Representatives passed House Bills 3991 and 3992 earlier this month, Gov. Tina Kotek delayed agency layoffs until Oct. 15. The additional revenue in HB 3991 is needed to preserve the jobs of 500 frontline ODOT employees and the services those jobs support. In accordance with Oregon Constitution, the Senate will meet pro forma no fewer than every three days until interim legislative days.