This story was produced by the Oregon Journalism Project, a nonprofit newsroom covering the state. Secretary of State Tobias Read released a memo today outlining what Democrats must do to place a controversial gas tax repeal on the May 19 ballot. Instead, she said she’d prefer lawmakers just repeal HB 3991 in the special session that starts in February. Kotek and swing-district Democrats seeking reelection, so resolving the question sooner would be better than later. Both tasks—whether to disconnect from the Trump bill and how to tackle program cuts—could prove contentious and complicated and overshadow work on the referral to repeal the gas tax.