The 2025 legislative session in Oregon delivered a whirlwind of controversial policies, backroom pressure tactics, and massive spending debates. In this episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., Senator Mike McLane and Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham pull back the curtain on the legislature’s inner workings—from shocking tax proposals to backdoor deals that reveal just how disconnected Salem has become from everyday Oregonians.
$15 Billion Transportation Tax Blocked
Republicans in the Oregon Senate stood united in opposition to a $15 billion transportation package that would have raised costs on everything from gas and vehicle registration to employment taxes. While Democrats claimed budget shortfalls threatened core services like snowplow operations, Republicans exposed what they called a “false scarcity” created by bloated spending on non-essential programs.
Oregon’s Tax Burden Tops the Nation
Oregon is poised to become the highest-taxed state in the nation by 2026, thanks to Portland’s incoming tax hikes. The episode details how Oregon’s tax climate is driving businesses and families out of state—and how one-party control has enabled a pattern of fiscal irresponsibility.
Controversial Spending: Illegal Immigration & Legal Aid
The conversation shines a light on one of the most controversial appropriations of the session: $15 million in taxpayer funds allocated for legal services to illegal immigrants. As Bonham and McLane point out, this appropriation came at the same time that the state denied funding to compensate rural ranchers for livestock losses due to wolves—highlighting a stark contrast in priorities.
Wildfire Map Repeal: A Grassroots Victory
Senate Bill 83 repealed the deeply flawed wildfire risk maps that led to mass insurance non-renewals across the state. Bonham emphasized the grassroots pushback that made repeal possible, noting bipartisan support built under public pressure. Despite opposition and delay tactics, the repeal was a major win for rural Oregonians.
Wolves and Ranchers: A Win with Strings Attached
Senate Bill 777 finally created a compensation fund for ranchers suffering economic losses from wolf predation. However, Democrats tied its funding to a broader lodging tax increase, using the issue as leverage to force compliance on unrelated revenue goals—a maneuver Republican leaders labeled as manipulative and petty.
The Culture of Control: Vetoes, Hostage Bills & Broken Trust
Governor Tina Kotek’s veto of a unanimously passed foster care bill sparked outrage, illustrating what the hosts call a pattern of executive overreach. The governor’s refusal to fund wildfire prevention unless new taxes were passed revealed what Bonham calls “a system that serves itself, not the people.”
Bright Spots: Bipartisan Scraps & Oregon’s State Steak
Despite gridlock, a few positive bills made it through, including SB 974 (to speed up housing approvals), wolf compensation progress, and the designation of the T-Bone steak as Oregon’s official state steak.
Conclusion: Legislative Resistance Pays Off
As Bonham and McLane reflect, the 2025 session’s biggest success wasn’t just what Republicans passed—but what they stopped. In a superminority, Republicans still managed to derail bloated tax increases, repeal flawed policies, and give voice to rural Oregonians too often ignored in Salem.