Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding Democrats’ reaction, GOP call to fund health care)
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Three Central and Eastern Oregon lawmakers on Wednesday urged the Oregon Department of Transportation to seek emergency funding from lawmakers to keep roads safe this winter, in the wake of a delay in a funding package that a petition effort apparently will send to voters next year.
In a joint statement, state Rep. Mark Owens (R-Crane), Sen. Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte), and Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) said that across Oregon, rainstorms and years of deferred maintenance have led to worsening road conditions, including potholes, failing shoulders, damaged guardrails, and drainage problems.
With winter approaching, the lawmakers warned that conditions will quickly become more dangerous without immediate action. They said a request for emergency funding “aligns directly with ODOT’s core mission,” which prioritizes safety as one of the primary values of the agency.”
Owens said safe roads are basic infrastructure people rely on every day, especially in rural Oregon, where state highways are lifelines. Without adequate funding, the state risks more accidents, vehicle damage, and higher long-term costs.
Breese-Iverson pointed to the everyday safety impacts for Oregon families and communities, noting that winter driving is already challenging in many parts of the state. She said poorly maintained roads increase risks for families, school buses, and emergency responders and require ODOT to be ready to act quickly if funding falls short.
McLane said the issue affects every corner of Oregon and that winter weather will quickly worsen existing problems, making it responsible to be prepared to seek Emergency Board funding to protect public safety and avoid higher repair costs later.
The legislators said they appreciate the work ODOT crews do every day, often in difficult and dangerous conditions, and emphasized that crews need adequate resources to do that work safely and effectively this winter.
They said they stand ready to support an Emergency Board request and will work with ODOT to ensure roads remain safe and passable throughout the winter.
House Democrats were quick to respond, saying the Republicans’ statement comes “less than a week after their colleagues turned in signatures to strip funding for ODOT and after all three members of the legislature voted against a comprehensive transportation package back in September.”
Here’s statements from several House Democrats:
Rep. Susan McLain (D-Hillsboro)
“My Republican colleagues’ request is as impractical as it is unsustainable. Are they going to ask for emergency funds for the rest of 2026 as well when they strip funding as part of their ballot measure to defund ODOT? It is simply not realistic.”
Rep. Dacia Grayber (D-SW Portland & E Beaverton)
“In the last week, we’ve seen historic flooding and unpredictable weather in both Oregon and Washington. Every day it becomes clearer that the decision to fund ODOT is literally one of life or death. This is about the survival of whole communities, let alone individuals. Oregonians love our wild weather and gorgeous geography, but to live here means we need reliable transportation infrastructure and service, and I’m heartened that my fellow Republicans agree. Funding emergencies one at a time is not smart or sustainable. Unfortunately, because of funds stripped away by the Trump administration, we can’t just pull down dollars— which is why House Democrats passed legislation to avoid this problem back in September.”
Rep. Travis Nelson (N & NE Portland)
“It’s rich to see Republicans suddenly discover that safe roads require money. The very lawmakers now urging ODOT to seek emergency funding were happy to support referring stable transportation funding to the ballot, putting road maintenance on ice for years. Praising ODOT crews while starving the agency of resources doesn’t fix potholes, guardrails, or landslides created by the recent storms. We will need money to repair roads. That’s just how it works.”
Rep. David Gomberg (D-Otis)
“The landslide that cut off the Siletz community is exactly the kind of emergency ODOT is supposed to be funded to respond to. While I’m relieved no one was hurt and grateful to ODOT crews for acting quickly, the reality is that putting ODOT funding on hold leaves the agency without the resources to deal with disasters of this scale—forcing communities to wait and lawmakers to scramble for one-off fixes instead of investing in a stable, bipartisan solution.”
The three GOP lawmakers on Wednesday also urged the Oregon Health Authority to submit an Emergency Board funding request to stabilize rural health care providers and prevent further closures across Oregon.
Here’s the Republicans’ statement on that issue:
Rural communities are already losing access to essential health services. Assisted living and long-term care facilities in Lakeview have closed. Labor and delivery services in Baker County are no longer available. Mental and behavioral health providers in Eastern Oregon are warning that funding instability could force additional closures.
Many rural providers operate on thin margins while serving high numbers of Oregon Health Plan, Medicaid, Medicare, and senior patients. When reimbursements don’t cover costs, losses can’t be absorbed. Services are cut or eliminated, and sometimes facilities close entirely. These closures are not isolated and reflect a systemic breakdown in rural health funding. Once lost, local care is hard to replace, forcing patients to travel long distances or delay treatment.
Owens, Breese-Iverson, and McLane are asking OHA to bring forward an Emergency Board request focused on keeping existing providers open while longer-term solutions are developed. They said the request should prioritize:
Stabilizing rural hospitals and clinics at risk of closure
Preserving maternity and labor and delivery services
Supporting hospice, long-term care, and primary care providers
Maintaining access to mental and behavioral health services in rural Oregon
“Access to health care should not depend on geography,” the legislators said. “Rural families, seniors, and OHP members rely on local providers for timely, safe care. Without immediate action, more communities risk losing services they cannot easily replace.”
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