Parties split on bundling new bond proposals
Democrats and Republicans are at odds over whether the nearly 24 bond proposals before the state’s appropriations committee should be bundled into one borrowing package, and include a $100 million transportation bond proposal, for a November ballot.
The Portland Press Herald reported that both parties support borrowing $100 million for transportation projects. Democratic Senate and House leaders have instructed the committee to debate those bond proposals through the summer and combine them into one bond measure to go to the voters. Republican lawmakers want the bond proposals to be dealt with separately.
State transportation officials said rejection of its bond would mean a 26% cut to the budget for bridge projects and a 35% cut to its budget for highway reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Legislators are expected to return in the fall to vote on a bond package that will need two-thirds majority support to make it onto a ballot for voters in November.
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