Senate Republicans Say ODOT Director Knew Carbon Emission Numbers Were Fatally Flawed

Updated: Brown orders "outisde review" of events that led to failure of transportation deal.

By Nigel Jaquiss

Senate Republicans today released the results of a public records requests which shed new light on Gov. Kate Brown's failed attempt to negotiate a $343 transportation funding deal in June.

Brown's transportation package collapsed on June 23 when Oregon Department of Transportation director Matthew Garrett admitted in a legislative hearing that his agency's calculation of carbon emission reductions was wildly incorrect.

Documents the Senate Republicans obtained under Oregon's public records law appear to show that Garrett and other officials knew as early as June 10 the carbon numbers were flawed—two weeks before the hearing.

That new information raises questions about whether Garrett knowingly presented flawed numbers, or if Brown's attempt to broker a transportation deal was a charade.

Updated at 2:45 pm:

Chris Pair, a spokesman for Brown said in a statement that Brown has ordered a review of what happened.

"In the waning hours of session, the process starts to move quickly, and shifting priorities can make communications between various players a challenge, especially when it comes to complex legislation," Pair said in a statement. "That said, Governor Brown has asked the Oregon Transportation Commission to oversee a third-party review of the agency's management practices."

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