A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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With its dramatic tax increases, the Oregon Legislature has unfortunately chosen extremism over reasonable compromise. Our fellow Oregonians, friends and neighbors are the casualties of the Legislature’s tax increases, falsely sold as a means to fund government that will only affect “the rich.” Ballot measures 66 and 67 are bad public policy in a time when our neighbors who are out of work need pro-growth policies to spur economic expansion and new jobs.
Economists have predicted that as many as 70,000 Oregon jobs will be lost if measures 66 and 67 are passed next month. To keep this number in perspective, Oregon has lost approximately 114,600 private sector jobs from November 2007 until November 2009. The job losses Oregon has already suffered have given us the dubious distinction of one of the highest state unemployment rates in the United States. We should not intentionally pursue any policy, tax increase or otherwise, that we know will lead to any additional job losses, whether the correct number of jobs lost is 70,000 or something less. The next person to lose his or her job could be your neighbor, relative or friend.
In the middle of what some are calling the Great Recession, Oregonians are fighting a costly battle over taxes instead of finding creative solutions to help their neighbors in a time of need. This battle over taxes is wholly unnecessary. With Rep. Nick Kahl’s backing and support, the Legislature rejected all compromises proposed by our small businesses for temporary tax increases, smaller tax increases coupled with reductions in non-essential state spending, and any other middle-ground position that would have avoided these drastic job losses. Now, our own legislators and senators are threatening drastic cuts to education and public safety if we do not agree with their extreme tax increases.
Oregonians have a simple choice in January: do we support this extreme proposal that will directly harm our neighbors who will lose their jobs, or do we tell the Legislature – yet again – that we want to see real spending reform, with prioritized spending that matches our values? It is not good enough to hold schoolchildren hostage to massive tax increases. Oregonians should never be forced to choose between their children’s education and their own jobs.
Even worse, there is no indication that these tax increases will successfully close the budget gap. The Legislature does not include in its budget the increases in services the newly unemployed will likely require. By passing these tax increases, we may be increasing the need and further increasing the budget gap.
With one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, it is time for the Legislature to find a better way. Oregonians cannot afford to lose another 70,000 jobs, and Oregonians cannot afford to pay higher prices for all goods and services that businesses would be forced to charge in order to avoid catastrophic job losses. The Legislature has already scheduled a special session in February. Let’s send them a message that we will not allow jobs to be sacrificed and we will not accept threats aimed at our children. Vote “No” on measures 66 and 67, and demand that the Legislature go back to the table in the spirit of compromise for a resolution that will not make our unemployment rate even worse.
Matthew Wand is a Troutdale City Councilor.
One solution would have been to STOP SPENDING money.
You know, the way ordinary citizens have to when we run out?
And I know I'm not the only person who has noticed that they threaten cuts in the places that hurt people most if they don't get their way.
I received an appeal for campaign contributions from Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson a few weeks ago. Since she's not representing me, I laughed and recycled it.
None of them are representing us. It's appalling that the only solution our 'representatives' could think of was to raise taxes on an already-strapped public.
You know, kicking us while we're down.
No thank you.
I'm sending a message with my vote... NO MORE. You're making things WORSE.
(email verified)
Mon, Dec 07, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Ami-
You suggest the state stop spending money. OK, let's see how that would look: Oregon's public schools have one of the shortest school years in the entire US. But under your "stewardship" they would be even shorter and/or with larger classes. I guess 32 kids in a classroom is not enough- cram a few more in there, and the extra heat they generate will keep them warm, so we can cut off the heat in the schools altogether. Next, let's close up state police stations. Who needs pesky patrol officers out there on the state highways? State hospitals? Buh-bye. Many mentally ill people manage just fine dumpster diving. A little more competition will just hone their scavenging skills. Health inspectors? Restaurants and cafes can check each other and paying for inspectors will be a thing of the past. DMV and DEQ? Soon those will be a distant memory. No more long lines.
Yup, all the state needs to do is quit providing services to the citizens of Oregon entirely. What a brilliant idea. Say, Ami, maybe you should run for Governor! With quick thinking like yours... oh, wait, we pay the governor a salary, too... But you'd be willing to do it on a volunteer basis, right? After all, you seem to have all the answers.
(email verified)
Tue, Dec 08, 2009 at 07:19 AM
Ami:
Over 90% of the state's budget goes to education, healthcare or public safety. They aren't simply trying to scare Oregonians by threatening to cut those areas if these measures fail, it's simply the only option.
As for this small tax increase being the "only solution" representatives tried: they also utlized a Democrat-created Rainy Day savings fund, took stimulus money from the federal government, and cut $2 billion from the budget, resulting in hiring freezes and layoffs in schools and shortening of the school year. If you had been paying attention during the Legislative session you could have watched the Ways and Means hear from thousands of Oregonians, including the elderly and disabled who were negatively impacted by the initial cuts.
Now, even more Oregonians will be negatively impacted if these measures fail. That's why I'm voting YES.
(email verified)
Tue, Dec 08, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Super Wonk- you must be refering to the thousands of robo calls and letters sent by the Public Employee's Unions. Gov't must control it's spending and quit adding programs so they can feel good about helping their benefactors. As a small business owner I'm trying to keep all my staff employed and we are all paying taxes and fees that are of questionable value. so to say we small busines or businesses in general are not paying our share is ludicrous. the so called tax of $10.00 really changes to a gross receipts tax without regard to profit. And don't forget the fore mentioned property taxes and fees. We are paying our share. It's time Gov't looked at it's self and quit playing games with the numbers.
Matt is entirely right. Representative Kahl is a patsy for the unions.
(email verified)
Tue, Dec 08, 2009 at 12:16 PM
I thought that Pamplin papers (including The Post and the Outlook) had a policy of only publishing opinion from people in the geographical area, and giving full editorial control to the local editors, but lately they're slipping.
Too bad. Even though I often disgreed with Pamplin Sr., at least he was a straight shooter......
Three weeks ago we got an unsigned, fact free, anti-tax Jeremiad from Pamplin's Big Boss, Mark Garber, (without attribution, of course), now we get this one cross posted in the Outlook and The Post.
Maybe the new policy will be like the old policy except that it'll only apply to positions that they disagree with.........
(email verified)
Tue, Dec 08, 2009 at 03:18 PM
Matt, Ami & Larry are right! I refuse to be suckered in by the pro 66 & 67 tv ads!
Ask Bess at Gresham Ford what this will do to her business. Because the new tax is based on gross receipts & not net profits, it doesn't matter if you lost money during the year or not! You get a new & MUCH higher tax bill! Gresham Ford stated they lost $250,000 last year, but got hit with a $30,000 tax increase because of this new corporate tax.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that significant jobs will be lost when large employers (who are loosing money) go completely under.
Even the Obamanation in the white house said the last thing to do in a recession is raise taxes.
(email verified)
Tue, Dec 08, 2009 at 03:48 PM
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Re: Vote down tax measures for the good of the state
Don't you just love the inflammatory language; extreme proposal - catastrophic job losses - holding school children hostage - friends and neighbors as casualties.
What turnip truck do you think voters fell off of Mr Wand? I notice that you have NO other options on the table.. no other solutions are suggested for the legislative session. Let's just call and complain!
How about a sales tax? Oh wait, forty eight other states are wrong and Oregon is the smart one...maybe reduce the income tax, re-work the property tax legislation of the mid 90's that has hamstrung every small city in the state and let's talk some turkey.
No instead, you'll just complain about this solution because it involves 'tax' and call it anti-business.
I will listen to your postition when it helps to solve the very real school funding crisis, feeds our hungry and takes care of our seniors - maybe our elected officials will too.
"Done with just complaining"
(email verified)
Mon, Dec 07, 2009 at 12:58 PM