SALEM, Ore. — Republican opponents of tax hikes included in an Oregon transportation funding bill turned in signatures on Friday for a referendum meant to block the new taxes and put them to a popular vote.

According to a release from Bruce Starr, a state senator and Republicans' recent pick for Senate minority leader , he and other chief petitioners for the referendum hand-delivered — via horse-drawn carriage — nearly 200,000 signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State's office Friday afternoon.

Starr pointed out that the number of signatures delivered is more than double the required number of 78,116. Signatures must be individually verified by the secretary of state's office before the measure can move forward to the ballot title process.

"We're confident that we will eventually

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