[Peace-discuss] Oregon voters pass tax increasing measures by big margin

Fri Jan 29 01:37:27 CST 2010

Omg, this is GREAT!! Any chance that the 49 remaining will follow suit??  --Jenifer

--- On Thu, 1/28/10, unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net> wrote:

From: unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net>
Subject: [Peace-discuss] Fw: [laborsmilitantvoice] Oregon voters pass tax increasing measures by big margin
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;@smtp118.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 4:20 PM

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Richard Mellor 

To: “444“ 
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 10:33 AM
Subject: [laborsmilitantvoice] Oregon voters pass tax increasing 
measures by big margin

Oregon voters pass tax increasing measures by big 
marginhttp://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/01/voters_pass_tax_measures_by_bi.html

Oregon 
voters pass tax increasing measures by big margin
By Harry Esteve, The 
Oregonian
January 
26, 2010, 10:17PMView full sizeDoug 
Beghtel/The OregonianSupporters 
of the Yes on 66/67 tax measures celebrate as early returns project the passage 
of the tax increases. Rob Melton, (from left) Eileen Wende, (holding sign) and 
Roger Wende cheer as early returns project the tax measures passing Tuesday 
night.

Election 
results» County-by-county results, news 
stories

» Reporter Jeff 
Mapes' analysis

» 
Archive of stories on Measures 66 and 67Oregon voters bucked decades 
of anti-tax and anti-Salem sentiment Tuesday, raising taxes on corporations and 
the wealthy to prevent further erosion of public schools and other state 
services. 

The tax measures passed easily, with late returns showing 
a 54 percent to 46 percent ratio. Measure 66 raises taxes on households with 
taxable income above $250,000, and Measure 67 sets higher minimum taxes on 
corporations and increases the tax rate on upper-level profits. 

The 
results triggered waves of relief from educators and legislative leaders, who 
were facing an estimated $727 million shortfall in the current two-year budget 
if the measures failed. 

"We're absolutely ecstatic," said Hanna 
Vandering, a physical education teacher from Beaverton and vice president of the 
statewide teachers union. "What Oregonians said today is they believe in public 
education and vital services." 

The double-barreled victory is the 
first voter-approved statewide income tax increase since the 1930s. Other 
states, facing similar budget woes, are watching the outcome closely because 
Oregon, after all, is a state that capped property taxes and locked a surplus 
tax rebate program into the constitution. 

The last time voters 
approved a tax increase was 2002, when they agreed to bump up tobacco taxes to 
help pay for the Oregon Health Plan. Voters rejected income tax increases twice 
in recent years. 

"You're going to find a lot of people are going to 
be talking about this," said Kevin Looper, campaign director for Vote Yes for 
Oregon, the main support group for the measures. 

Looper was among 
more than 300 supporters who packed the Wonder Ballroom in Northeast Portland to 
watch results. Within 15 minutes of the polls closing, counties around the state 
released a flood of vote counts and it became clear that both measures had 
passed. 

Multnomah County was key to the victory, with voters 
approving both measures by more than a 2-1 ratio. There was deep support 
elsewhere around the state, including Washington, Lane and Benton counties and 
communities on the coast. Even in more conservative areas, support was stronger 
than expected. 

Overall statewide turnout was expected to be around 
60 percent of Oregon's 2 million voters. 

Tuesday's strong support 
also validated a strategy by Democratic lawmakers to single out the rich and 
corporations for targeted tax increases. 

Campaign ads by supporters 
highlighted banks and credit card companies and showed images of well-dressed 
people stepping off private jets. They also hammered on the $10 minimum tax that 
most corporations have paid since its inception in 1931. 

Those 
messages helped counter warnings by opponents that the taxes would lead to job 
losses, worsening the state's 11 percent unemployment rate, and prompt wealthy 
residents to move elsewhere. 

"They did a great job of pounding, 
'It's only $10,'" said Bob Tiernan, chairman of the state Republican Party. "We 
got swamped by the union money." 

Supporters spent at least $6.9 
million, most of it coming from teacher and public employee unions. Opponents, 
led by a coalition of business organizations, spent at least $4.6 million, 
donated by wealthy entrepreneurs such as Nike's Phil Knight and Columbia 
Sportswear's Tim Boyle. Opponents who gathered at the Grand Hotel in Salem were 
optimistic early, but as the results came in, the mood quickly 
darkened. 

"It's disappointing and discouraging," said Pat 
McCormick, spokesman for Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes. "The tone and 
tenor was often venomous, trying to pit the haves against the 
have-nots." 

He said the business community now must figure out "how 
to participate in a system that's largely disconnected from 
us." 

Lawmakers, who are scheduled to convene Monday in Salem for a 
monthlong session, are expected to move onto other issues, such as tackling 
Oregon's unique "kicker" law that rebates revenue surpluses totaxpayers and 
reining in rapidly expanding tax credits for green energy 
companies. 

They also may be looking to repair a broadening rift 
between the state's business leaders and Democrats who control both chambers of 
the Legislature and the governor's office. 

"It means the February 
session won't be focused on cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from 
schools, public safety and health care," said House Speaker Dave Hunt, 
D-Gladstone. 

"It's a great sign of hope that Oregonians continue to 
be ruggedly independent and continue to be focused on a long-term vision for the 
state." 

Gov. Ted Kulongoski thanked voters for approving the 
measures but tried to set a tone of reconciliation. "The election is over," 
Kulongoski said in a statement. "Tomorrow is a new day, and we must make a 
commitment to put our differences aside and work together to make the best 
choices we can for Oregon's collective future." 

-- Harry 
Esteve
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