A group of progressive Democrats is proposing doubling the gas tax over the next seven years to help pay for overdue upgrades to roads, bridges, public transit and to help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and buses. Republicans say it would give Oregon among the highest state gas taxes in the nation.

Lawmakers have spent much of the past few months negotiating long overdue funding for stunted public transportation systems and worn highways and bridges, with a deadline to reach an agreement fewer than four weeks away when the legislative session must end.

Officials at the Oregon Department of Transportation earlier this year predicted a deficit of $350 million in the year ahead and warned they would need to lay off nearly 1,000 employees without additional funding.

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