Thomas Busse, a Libertarian Party candidate and accountant, said that classifying rideshare drivers as statutory employees is a fairer approach compared to labeling them as common law employees, as proposed by SB 1166. The statement was made during a public hearing.
"I have a better idea: classify rideshare drivers as Statutory Employees," said Busse. "Classifying rideshare drivers as common law employees, as this bill does, is unfair to all parties. The correct classification is Statutory Employee without salary minimums, which is an already existing hybrid between common law employee and contractor."
According to the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS), SB 1166 proposes to classify rideshare drivers as common law employees, granting them traditional employee benefits such as minimum wage and overtime pay. Proponents argue that this would improve worker rights and compensation. However, some stakeholders express concern that the change could increase operational costs and reduce rideshare availability, particularly in rural areas.
In written testimony submitted to the Oregon Legislature, Uber reported that rideshare drivers in Oregon earned an average of over $35 per hour while actively providing trips in March 2025. This amount includes tips and promotions, which contribute significantly to the total earnings. Uber argues that these figures demonstrate that current market conditions already provide strong compensation without additional mandates.
As reported by Uber in a company blog, when Seattle implemented similar driver pay regulations to those proposed under SB 1166, fares increased by 40%, while trip volume dropped by nearly half compared to the national average. The company notes that these changes adversely impacted driver earnings and rider access. Uber suggests that Oregon could face similar negative consequences if SB 1166 passes.
According to Ballotpedia, Thomas Busse ran for election to the Oregon House of Representatives to represent District 33 but was defeated in the general election on November 5, 2024. Busse was born in Pomona, California, and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley. His professional background includes work as an accountant and a professional tenor.