PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon voters on Tuesday rejected a gas tax increase passed last year by Democratic lawmakers, a victory for Republicans who put the issue to voters just as the war with Iran was causing prices at the pump to soar.
Democrats had raised the state gas tax by 6 cents a gallon and increased a series of fees to help pay for road improvements and plug a hole in the state's transportation budget. Republicans responded by launching a successful referendum campaign to refer the tax and fee increases to voters.
Republican state Sen. Bruce Starr, who helped lead the referendum campaign, said he was "not surprised at all that Oregonians have rejected a completely unpopular tax increase."
