From the September 25, 2009 OEA Leader Letter Signatures Turned in to Put Tax Fairness on the Ballot
Some large corporations and out-of-state special interests opposed to the legislature’s tax fairness measures appear to have turned in enough signatures to force an election this January. In order to uphold these measures and preserve Oregon’s critical services, now is the time to get involved in the YES campaign. (Notice they say "appear to have turned in enough". Sheesh we needed 55,179 and got over 125,000 on each petition)
The two measures, which will likely be on the ballot in January, protect about $1 billion in funding for schools, healthcare, and public safety without making things more difficult for middle-class families.
Voting YES on these measures will preserve services by raising the $10 corporate minimum income tax for the first time since 1931. Right now, two-thirds of the corporations doing business in Oregon pay just $10 a year in income taxes, while the average family pays about $3,100.
When a single Oregon family pays more than 300 corporations combined, it’s time for a change. Voting YES on these measures will make Oregon’s tax system more fair for working families and will preserve schools and the essential services we all depend on. (Ah yes, it's always the old violin, "we'll lose schools....." How about balancing the budget with the money you already had, Democrats? How about the "hidden" money that is not HIDDEN!)
The YES campaign needs your help. The corporate-funded opponents may have millions of dollars to spend on misleading TV ads, but we have you. We need your help to reach out to voters to explain why a YES vote will protect schools and critical services by making our tax system more fair. Your voice will make the difference. (Again, look at the spin: "outside money". "Big corporation's money". So, if money comes from the NEA, SEIU & OPEU which have contributed huge sums in previous tax campaigns is not considered "outside money"? Hmmm...)
Here’s how you can get involved: (And of course I DON'T want YOU to do any of the actions below, but I DO want you to know what they are up to!)
Sign the Pledge: Visit www.DefendOregon.org to get the facts and sign the Defend Oregon Pledge. Then, get your friends and family to sign up as well, letting the campaign know that you plan to vote YES on January 26.
Spread the Word: Join an upcoming neighborhood event to get the word out about these measures. RSVP by visiting www.defendoregon.org/volunteer.php or by calling the campaign at 503-234-0444.
Finalize Your Local Plan: Now's the time to put the finishing touches on your local association or UniServ's plan to engage and mobilize members. Schedule your dates for volunteer activities like phone bank and neighborhood walks. Begin recruiting members today!
You can start by urging members to participate in the Defend Oregon Neighborhood Walk on October 3. Details below. Saturday, October 3
10am to 1pm
Machinist District Lodge 24
3645 SE 32nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97202
Download a flyer here. |
5 comments:
Perhaps they could retain a shred of honesty and call their walk the Defend Oregon Unions Walk.
I guess I don't see what's wrong with corporations paying their fair share in taxes. After all, they use more resources than we individuals do. I sure wish I could get by with paying a minimum of ten bucks a year! Look up the difference between a C Corporation and an S corporation to know who is really whining about "raising taxes"! It sure ain't your small business person. Those taxes have ABSOLUTELY NO EFFECT on him or her. Do your research before putting out your knee-jerk "no new taxes" talking points.
Ok Anon: let me explain how these taxes will affect ALL Oregonians.
First, I DO know the difference between C and S Corp. I have had both.
If these taxes are raised on corporations, they will do one of two or three things: pass on the cost to consumers, that would be you and me. OR, they will cut and run t another state, OR they will cut their employees.
Simple mathematics.
"They use more resources"? Your kidding right? You of course mean resources as in JOBS!!!
At a time of all time HIGH unemployment you want to "stick it to the corps and evil rich folks" right? So will you be offering jobs to the 40-60,000 that will lose their jobs if these pass?
You claim small businesses AREN'T complaining. Would you like to see who was out in front of the petition drives? They were small business persons. Many of them, are advertisers here. No, sorry but you are wrong and so are your seiu and oea pals.
Oh, and I detest ANONYMOUS, it's so whimpy.
You've got your job numbers backwards. The tax measures will preserve many more jobs than if they fail because they will generate an extra $1.5 billion in spending, approximately, at a time when we need that kind of stimulus the most. Since the taxes will be paid by wealthy individuals (over $250k income per couple) and mostly out-of-state corporations, most of them will not reduce spending. And let's get real: 95% of Oregon businesses will pay $150 OR LESS in these taxes. How many jobs would a business cut because they have to pay $150 in taxes?
"The tax measures will preserve many more jobs than if they fail because they will generate an extra $1.5 billion in spending, approximately, at a time when we need that kind of stimulus the most."
Ahh Keynesian economics. To play on Patrick Ewing's phrase, you think spending a lot of money will help us make a lot of money? If you wanted to shift everyone from working for private companies to working for the government, this is how to do it. According to Oregon Live, the stimulus spending "has created or saved thousands of Oregon jobs, state officials boasted Monday, but at least three out of every four positions were in government work, according to the state's own figuring."
Ask the people of Russia how 100% government employment worked out...
Also, the devil is in the details. "Measure 66 phases out the federal income tax subtraction for high-income taxpayers." (Oregon Center for Public Policy) So it is a "small" increase, but instead of being able to deduct from your income the money you paid in federal taxes, Oregon is now going to tax it - at the "slightly" higher rate at that (but only if you make more than $250,000)!
"Measure 67 institutes a new minimum tax for C-corporations based on a sliding scale tied to Oregon sales."
Not gross income. Not even net profit. Sales. This is a new sales tax. Now, I would rather have a sales tax instead of a state income tax (like Washington where I am from), but not both.
Why do we need tax increases? To avoid cuts? Nope. To avoid budget shortfalls because the state government increased the budget. The 2007-09 budget was appx. 7 billion more than the 04-06 budget. How many of us increase our spending when our income goes down?
And why is it always the "rich" who have to pay more, and it is called "their fair share"? The OCPP says wealthy Oregonians pay less income tax due to "deductions." What is one of the biggest deductions? Charitable giving. But, I suspect the government would like to see "charity" replaced with "welfare."
The OCFPP also concludes:
"The two revenue measures enacted by the 2009 legislature that voters are being asked to approve as Measures 66 and 67 help avoid deeper cuts to vital state services than those already taking place. Measures 66 and 67 also have the positive effect of moving Oregon one step closer to having a tax system based on ability to pay."
1). The deep "cuts" are actually smaller increases in the budgets.
2). "ability to pay" is another way of saying "from each according to his ability..."
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