The Oregon Senate has voted in favor of a proposed ballot measure to avert layoffs of about 130 state troopers, Eugene's Register-Guard reported.

If approved by voters in the May 2004 election, the measure would allow the state police to receive revenue from the state's gas tax and other highway fees.

The proposed constitutional amendment won Senate approval May 12 after supporters argued that state patrols have been cut in half since voters took the state police off the highway fund in 1980.

Since then, police have been part of the general fund, where they've had to compete with other programs for dollars.

Opponents contend that the highway fund is already too short on cash to fix Oregon's distressed roads and bridges, and that state police shouldn't be able to dip into the highway fund as a source of operating revenue.

SJR13 now heads to the House for consideration.