Oregon Department of Transportation

The development comes after a Republican-led campaign delayed key tax increases in the bill.

Local agencies have shelved planned services and upgrades to buildings amid funding uncertainties.

Republicans who have blocked new tax revenues now argue emergency funds might be needed.

The initiative needed roughly 78,000 signatures by Dec. 30 to qualify for next year’s election. Backers say they have more than 150,000.

Republicans say they’ll insist voters get a say on new taxes in the Oregon transportation bill.

Even some Democrats are objecting as Kotek runs down the clock on the bill’s opponents.

Each day Kotek waits gives opponents less time to send tax hikes to voters.

This year’s star-crossed special legislative session was the longest — and priciest — in more than a decade.

Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, is unable to come to the Capitol because of unspecified health struggles. His vote may be needed to pass Gov. Tina Kotek’s transportation funding bill.

Gov. Tina Kotek’s proposal to raise billions for road maintenance and public transit in the coming decade advanced by the barest of margins Monday. The tax bill needed help from a moderate Republican to make it over the finish line.

Democrats agreed to slash some funding they’d sought for public transit, and Gov. Tina Kotek remained scarce.

Democratic leaders have said finding a quorum would not be a problem as they look to raise transportation taxes. They were wrong Friday.