In this eye-opening episode of Oregon D.O.G.E., Senators Daniel Bonham, Mike McLane, and Bruce Starr, and Senate Staff Tanner Elliott pull back the curtain on Oregon’s worst-kept secret: the staggering cost of state mismanagement.
From failed construction projects to questionable agency salaries, the episode tackles key examples of how Oregon’s government continues to operate without accountability—leaving taxpayers footing the bill.
Key topics include:
- The Capitol CAMS Project: Originally budgeted at $375 million, now ballooned to $595 million—with no firm completion date and questionable seismic safety upgrades.
- I-5 Bridge Replacement: Delayed by over a decade, and now projected to cost more than double the original estimate—with no final design approved.
- Rose Quarter Expansion: Once priced at $450 million, now heading toward $2 billion due to scope creep, local government resistance, and added features like a pedestrian lid and light rail.
- Travel Oregon Scandal: Outgoing director Todd Davidson received nearly $500,000 in taxpayer-funded compensation, including a $13,000 first-class flight to China—while promoting a state many view as unsafe.
- Forestry Agency Spending: ODF booked high-end resort stays at Brasada Ranch after receiving a $218 million bailout—leading to questions of optics and stewardship.
- Governor’s Taco Party: A $9,330 taxpayer-funded gathering at Mahonia Hall raises eyebrows over spending priorities.
- ODOT’s $1 Billion Budget Miscalculation: Oregon’s transportation department misestimated federal revenue by a billion dollars, delaying projects and eroding trust in state finance projections.
The panel reflects on how these failures erode public trust and fuel frustration among voters. With Oregon already asking for higher registration fees and gas taxes, McLane and Bonham argue that government has an obligation to prove it can manage what it already has—before demanding more.
As Senator Bonham puts it:
“Nobody would accept this kind of overrun from a contractor building their house—why do we accept it from government?”
This episode is a must-listen for every Oregonian who wants to understand why their roads are crumbling, taxes are rising, and accountability is nowhere in sight.