(The Statesman Journal published the following story by Peter Wong on its website on August 6.)
SALEM, Ore. — The Department of Transportation budget inched out of the Oregon House on Tuesday, but without any state support for two Willamette Valley trains.
The budget was approved on a 31-25 vote and goes to the Senate, where money may be restored for the trains. Even the budget’s floor manager, Republican Rep. Wayne Krieger of Gold Beach, sounded apologetic for the cut of $4.7 million from the tax-supported general fund and $4.2 million from other sources.
“Is it more important than aid to schools? Oregon Project Independence? Mental health?” Krieger asked. “But I think you’ve shown that maybe this is also a priority. I’m going to support the train any way I can. I am hopeful that you will get your train back. ”
Oregon’s subsidy for two daily Cascades Talgo trains between Portland and Eugene, operated by Amtrak, will expire Aug. 31 without legislative action. Amtrak’s Coast Starlight between Seattle and Los Angeles is not affected.
The first state-supported train began in 1994 and the second was added in 2000.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s budget would continue the trains, but the Legislature’s chief budget writers cut them.
“This budget eliminates a critical piece of our infrastructure at a time we should be increasing support for transportation alternatives,” said Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland.
The subsidy represents a small portion of ODOT’s two-year $2.15 billion budget, none of which comes from the general fund. Money for ODOT, the state’s third largest agency, primarily comes from federal grants and restricted sources such as the gasoline tax and vehicle registration and title fees.
A few Republicans joined Democrats to complain about the omission.
“I am disappointed that trains are not part of a larger package,” said Rep. Vicki Berger of Salem, one of two Republicans who cast protest votes.
“We can’t build enough highways — they are expensive — and for the corridor such as the one we live in, trains are going to offer a good alternative. And as we age, we will be struggling to find transportation that gets people where they need to go. ”
Rep. Billy Dalto of Salem voted for the budget but said, “We should be passing a transportation budget, not a car-and-truck budget. ”
The budget incorporates the first installments of $2.5 billion that the Legislature has approved from bond sales over the next decade for bridge and road repairs. ODOT will add some employees, but private contractors will do most of the design and construction.
The budget appeared to fail on a 27-27 vote. Two Republicans switched their votes, but the budget was still two votes shy of the necessary 31 for passage.
After he called for a pause, House Speaker pro tem Lane Shetterly, R-Dallas, asked for approval to let two absent Republicans enter the chamber and vote. Before anyone could object, he banged the gavel and said, “so ordered. ” Reps. Betsy Close of Albany and Derrick Kitts of Hillsboro then voted “yes. ”
Shetterly declared that the budget had passed and banged his gavel again.
Democrats challenged Shetterly’s ruling later, but the House upheld him, 33-26. Rep. Donna Nelson of McMinnville was the lone Republican to vote with the Democrats.