Showing posts with label Measures 66-67. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Measures 66-67. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Could Nike swoosh into Idaho?

IDAHO STATESMAN, 2/20/2010 by Dan Popkey - Nike founder Phil Knight is hopping mad at $727 million in tax increases on corporations and the wealthy in Oregon. Idaho leaders long to catch their rich neighbor's eye. ∴ Idaho has wooed Nike before - a revelation offered by Lt. Gov. Brad Little, who salivates at the prospect of landing one of the world's best-known brands. ∴ "Phil Knight was up front: Don't change the tax code, and if you do, we're going to do something," Little said. Knight hasn't expressed interest yet, Little said. "But we're gonna call him." Read more at the Idaho Statesman... Read More......

Montana GOP hopes Oregon taxes mean Montana business

HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD, 2/21/2010 by Martin J. Kidston - It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and these days, jobs may be the bone. ∴ Montana Republicans are asking the Department of Commerce to target Oregon businesses in an advertising blitz that looks to steal jobs and promote Big Sky Country as a friendlier place to do business. Read more at the Helena IR... Read More......

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Tax hikes create anxiety

PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/12/2010 by Andy Giegerich - Barely two weeks after Oregonians increased taxes on businesses [Measure 67], some doomsday scenarios are coming true, with businesses employing hundreds of workers planning layoffs, shuttering divisions, delaying expansions or moving their businesses altogether. ∴ Among the activity: Read more at OregonRepublicanParty.com... Read More......

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

WSJ: Why Chicago Loves Portland

WALL STREET JOURNAL/OPINION, 2/2/2010 (Hat tip: Linda Bartcher) - Mayor Daley has his eye on jobs from high-tax Oregon: The bright idea comes from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, who is looking to lure employers from Oregon after that state's voters approved a huge tax increase last week. The tax hike in Oregon "will help our economic development immediately. You'd better believe it," Hizzoner told the Chicago Sun Times late last week. "We'll be out in Oregon enticing corporations to relocate to Chicago." Read more at WSJ...
Read More......

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

GT: Voters OK tax measures; both pass easily in Benton County

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, 1/26/2010 by Raju Woodward - Linda Weimer sat quietly in the back room at High 5 Sports Bar & Grill as the results of Tuesday's special election became evident: Measures 66 and 67, which increased taxes on wealthier Oregonians and corporations, respectively, had passed. ∴ She was part of a small group of Benton County Republicans and Americans for Prosperity members gathered at the restaurant at 1644 Main St., in Philomath. ∴ "I'm disappointed," Weimer said. "I expected this, but I thought it would be closer. It could have gone either way. We gave it our best shot." [Snip] About 62 percent of Benton County voters cast a ballot; about 63 percent of them voted "yes" on Measure 66; 61 percent approved Measure 67. Read more at the GT...

See how Benton County and Oregon voted.

Courtesy of the Gazette-Times
How Benton County voted

MEASURE 66 - PERSONAL TAX
Yes 20,253 — 62.9 percent
No 11,971 — 37.2 percent

MEASURE 67 - BUSINESS TAX
Yes 19,783 — 61.4 percent
No 12,439 — 38.6 percent
*Unofficial returns as of 11:30 p.m., Tuesday

How Oregon voted

MEASURE 66 - PERSONAL TAX
Yes 609,201 - 54 percent
No 519,342 - 46 percent

MEASURE 67 - BUSINESS TAX
Yes 602,060 - 53 percent
No 524,636 - 47 percent
* Unofficial returns as of 11:30 p.m.
Read More......

Measures 66 and 67 passing by wide margin

OREGONLIVE.COM (The Oregonian), 1/26/2010 - It looks like Oregon corporations and high-income earners will pay higher state taxes as voters weighed in Tuesday on two hotly debated measures. ∴ The latest results indicate both Measure 66 and 67 passed in 11 of Oregon's 36 counties. Read more at Oregonlive...
Read More......

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Is the Corvallis LWV presenting facts and full information?

Motto: The League of Women Voters believes that democracy can work only when voters are able to base their decisions on facts and full information.

The Corvallis League of Women Voters will hold a "forum" on "YES on 66 and 67" tomorrow, January 13th, at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library in the main meeting room from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. They promise "Learn the Facts about Measures 66 & 67" in their "handout. Apparently, there are no facts they want you to learn on the "NO on 66 & 67" side of the argument from anyone representing the 'No' side. So what happened to that "...full information" part of their motto? These community representatives will present the facts: Katherine Cleland (D), Sara Gesler[sic] (D), Annabelle Jaramillo (D), Jock Mills (?) and Anne Schuster (D). Former state representative, Tony Van Vliet (former Republican now an Independent) will serve as the Panel Moderator. The panel is certainly stacked with Democrats. Let's hope that Mr. Van Vliet shows fairness during the Q&A section of the program. He's always been known as a fair man.

The Benton County Republicans and Benton County Republican Women recommend a "NO VOTE" on Measures 66 & 67. Please vote early & help pass out "NO on 66 & 67" literature at the Library from 6:15pm to 7:15pm on Wednesday the 13th. Read More......

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Oregonian: Wrong time, wrong tax hikes: Vote no on Measures 66, 67

OREGON Live, 1/2/2010, by the Oregonian Editorial Board - Of all times, of all things, the Democrats in the Oregon Legislature chose now, in the throes of one of the worst recessions in history, to make business an enemy. They chose this moment to pit business against schools, the private sector against public unions, employers against the jobless.

The two referrals on the Jan. 26 special election ballot -- Measure 66 and Measure 67 -- insist that Oregonians pick a side, to accept one lousy, harmful choice or the other. No, we won't do it. You shouldn't, either.

It didn't have to come to this. The Democrats who control the Legislature could have approved a modest and mostly temporary package of business tax increases with the full support of the Oregon Business Association, which represents many of the state's largest and most public-minded corporations.

Instead, Democrats bent to the demands of the most liberal members of their House caucus and approved an unwise and ill-timed package of corporate and personal tax increases that has infuriated virtually every business group and commercial sector in Oregon.

The Democrats who hold a supermajority of seats in the Legislature could have sent to voters a proposal to reform the tax kicker and allow the state to build a strong and durable rainy day fund to avert future revenue crises and address the most glaring problem with Oregon's system of public finance, its volatility.

Instead, the Democrats buried kicker reform and chose to fill a large hole in the budget by tacking more onto Oregon's already high personal income taxes -- exacerbating the top-heavy volatility of the state's tax system. The self-described progressives in the House caucus further insisted that income tax increases on wealthier Oregonians -- mostly business owners and professionals, otherwise known as employers -- be permanent, not levied just long enough to get the state through its budget crisis.

The supporters of the tax measures bristle now at any suggestion of class warfare, but they are spending millions of dollars on advertisements claiming that the measures are not about you, but about them -- those lucky few rich Oregonians not paying their "fair share." They don't bother to explain how paying one of the nation's highest income taxes amounts to skating on one's responsibilities.

This is ugly stuff, at an especially ugly time in Oregon. People are suffering, business is hurting, plunging tax revenues have ripped a $727 million hole in the state budget. There were, of course, no easy, pain-free and non-controversial ways for the Legislature to fill that hole and protect schools, public safety and other essential services.

But there were, and still are, better ways than Measures 66 and 67. Oregon doesn't have to tack a permanent increase onto the income tax that lands on the very people Oregon most needs to invest more in their businesses and their employees. It doesn't have to replace the absurdly low $10 minimum corporate tax with a new scheme that would force businesses with high sales volumes but no profits to pay up to $100,000 a year in minimum taxes even as they fight to cut their losses and hold on to as many jobs as they can.

Oregon doesn't have to further polarize its politics at the very moment the state ought to be pulling together to solve its very serious problems. Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Dave Hunt keep telling us that they did everything possible last session to accommodate the interests and needs of Oregon business. Why, then, is there more anger and hostility in Oregon between business and labor, and between business and state government, today than at any time in recent memory?

The public debate over the tax measures has been framed by both sides as though there is no middle ground. You're either for business, or against it. For schools, or against them. The Democrats shouldered aside the Oregon Business Association, the Portland Business Alliance and other business leaders who have stood up, time and again, for schools, higher education and other essential government services. Now moderate, pro-education business leaders have been pushed into the same camp with the anti-tax, anti-government conservatives whose only interest is to slash the size of state government and spend ever less on schools and universities.

Oregon business leaders don't belong there. The ones we've spoken to in recent weeks have no stomach for the $727 million in cuts that Democratic leaders are promising if voters reject Measures 66 and 67. They have pledged to go to Salem during the upcoming February session to push for a smaller, mostly temporary package of tax increases that would help the state limp through its current crisis.

No one should be naive about the prospects for another significant tax package in the February session. Legislators would return to Salem just days after the election in no mood to consider more tax hikes. Yet Oregon's corporate taxes would remain low compared to those in most states and could and should be carefully and strategically increased, just as business leaders offered last year and say they would be willing to do again.

Yes, this is the start of an election year. Yes, Republican legislators would be reluctant to offer any votes in support of another tax plan. Yes, Democrats would not be inclined to run up the hill alone, yet again, waving the banner of higher taxes. And yes, any substantial tax increase would likely prompt anti-tax groups to pursue another referral to voters.

But the anticipated budget cuts would be deep and harmful. It's one thing to insist now that failure of Measures 66 and 67 must be met by cuts, and only cuts, and another to actually find the votes in the Legislature to slice into the bone of Oregon's public services. The Legislature could tap a few hundred million dollars still held in reserve, but it's likely that lawmakers still would be confronted with a deficit of $500 million or more. Schools, community colleges and universities make up more than half of the state budget; they could not and would not be fully shielded from the cuts.

Yes, that's a disturbing prospect. But such awful choices were not the only ones available to the Legislature last session, and they will not be the only choices in the February session. There will be other revenue options, albeit much smaller than this tax package. There will be myriad ways to reduce state spending, and some are less destructive to essential services than others.

The bottom line, though, is that the Legislature can do better than Measures 66 and 67, whether in the February session or in 2011 and beyond. Lawmakers can work closely with business to craft a careful, responsible increase in corporate taxes. They can refer kicker reform to Oregon voters and explain, this time with the help of business leaders, why it's vital that this state never again be caught with such a volatile tax system and so little in reserve.

Those are the measures that Oregonians should be preparing to vote on in the coming days. Instead, the Legislature has presented voters with accept-them-or-else tax increases that strike at the very businesses and employers that Oregon is depending on to lead an economic recovery, start hiring again and pay the wages that support state services.

That's not what Oregon needs. Vote no on 66 and 67.
Read More......

Tax hike SUPPORTERS offer poll showing voters favor Measures 66, 67

OREGON LIVE, 12/30/3009 by Harry Esteve - Proponents of two ballot measures that would increase taxes released poll results today showing strong voter support for both measures. ∴ The poll, paid for by Vote Yes for Oregon, a labor-backed group that supports the tax increases, shows that with less than two weeks before ballots go out, voters say they favor Measure 66 by a margin of 55 percent to 38 percent, with 7 percent undecided. The numbers are identical for Measure 67. ∴ Measure 66 sets higher tax brackets for high income earners. Measure 67 raises taxes on corporations. The vote-by-mail election is Jan. 26. ∴ "The key message coming through is, these measures are better than the deep cuts to services everyone cares about," said Scott Moore, spokesman for Vote Yes for Oregon. "And they're better than broad-based tax increases that affect the middle class." ∴ The survey was conducted last week by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, of Washington D.C. It sampled opinions from 610 likely voters statewide. ∴ Opponents of the tax hikes discredited the poll as a public relations stunt. Advocacy groups typically keep their polling private, said Pat McCormick, spokesman for Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes. ∴ Releasing the results to the news media "is clearly intended to sway public opinion in their direction" -- not find out how voters are leaning, McCormick said. "These data are not an accurate reflection of where voter attitudes are." Read More......

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Help defeat job-killing taxes in January!

From Bob Tiernan, Chairman
Oregon Republican Party

What you can do to help:
1. A few hours of your time in the next few weeks can help save up to 70,000 Oregon jobs! Please visit the Oregon Republican Party's NO on 66 & 67 Victory Phone Bank and sign up to help today!
2. Write letters to the editor. Please contact us if you need help.
3. Learn more about Oregon Measures 66 & 67 at Oregon Republican Party Online and Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes
4. Vote early and vote NO on Measures 66 & 67! Read More......

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Need Extra Holiday Cash? - Phonebanks Underway for "No on 66/67"

(Hat tip: Charles Nelson) Phone banks to identify "No on 66/67" voters are now underway. Due to a generous grant, AFP Members now have a chance to earn extra cash by participating in these phone banks! Sign up now to work at one of the 7 phone banks around the state!
    Pay: $10/hour
    Hours: 8 hours per day are available
    Contact: Andrew Over, Oregon Republican Party (503) 595-8881
    Click 'Read More' for dates, times, places, responsibilities, etc.

    Dates:
    Friday Dec. 18th - 12:00-8:00pm
    Saturday Dec. 19th - 9:00am-5:00pm
    Monday Dec. 21st - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Tuesday Dec. 22nd - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Wednesday Dec. 23rd - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Monday Dec. 28th - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Tuesday Dec. 29th - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Wednesday Dec. 30th - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Thursday Dec. 31st - 10:00am-6:00pm

    *Please note the urgency as the possible start date is 12/19/2009.*

    Locations:
    Hillsboro
    233 SE Washington Street
    Hillsboro, OR 97123

    Tigard
    11560 SW 67th Avenue
    2nd Floor
    Tigard, OR 97223

    West Linn
    1980 Willamette Falls Drive
    Suite #130
    West Linn, Oregon 97068

    Salem
    495 State Street
    Suite 350
    Salem, OR 97301

    Bend
    61396 Highway 97
    Suite 208
    Bend, OR 97702

    Eugene
    2225 Coburg Road
    Eugene, OR 97401

    Medford
    1175 E. Main Street
    Suite 2E
    Medford, OR 97504

    Responsibilities: Making Voter ID survey calls to Independent voters to determine how they are leaning on voting in the upcoming Special Election. The surveys are completed directly on the phones using VoIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) technology that allows us to electronically record and capture the responses which are automatically uploaded and tagged on the voter's record. There is no recording answers on bubble sheets or the need to data enter the results as it is done in real time.

    Impacts: By identifying these voters now, it allows us to more effectively and efficiently target only the voters we want to ensure are voting during our Get-Out-the-Vote efforts over the last 2 ½ weeks of the campaign. These efforts will save the campaign valuable dollars and allow our paid and volunteer efforts to be more effective in their use of resources.

    Please take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to earn extra money over the Christmas season!
Read More......

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Need Extra Holiday Cash? - Phonebanks Underway for "No on 66/67"

(Hat tip: Charles Nelson) Phone banks to identify "No on 66/67" voters are now underway. Due to a generous grant, AFP Members now have a chance to earn extra cash by participating in these phone banks! Sign up now to work at one of the 7 phone banks around the state!
    Pay: $10/hour
    Hours: 8 hours per day are available
    Contact: Andrew Over, Oregon Republican Party (503) 595-8881
    Click 'Read More' for dates, times, places, responsibilities, etc.

    Dates:
    Friday Dec. 18th - 12:00-8:00pm
    Saturday Dec. 19th - 9:00am-5:00pm
    Monday Dec. 21st - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Tuesday Dec. 22nd - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Wednesday Dec. 23rd - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Monday Dec. 28th - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Tuesday Dec. 29th - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Wednesday Dec. 30th - 12:00pm-8:00pm
    Thursday Dec. 31st - 10:00am-6:00pm

    *Please note the urgency as the possible start date is 12/19/2009.*

    Locations:
    Hillsboro
    233 SE Washington Street
    Hillsboro, OR 97123

    Tigard
    11560 SW 67th Avenue
    2nd Floor
    Tigard, OR 97223

    West Linn
    1980 Willamette Falls Drive
    Suite #130
    West Linn, Oregon 97068

    Salem
    495 State Street
    Suite 350
    Salem, OR 97301

    Bend
    61396 Highway 97
    Suite 208
    Bend, OR 97702

    Eugene
    2225 Coburg Road
    Eugene, OR 97401

    Medford
    1175 E. Main Street
    Suite 2E
    Medford, OR 97504

    Responsibilities: Making Voter ID survey calls to Independent voters to determine how they are leaning on voting in the upcoming Special Election. The surveys are completed directly on the phones using VoIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) technology that allows us to electronically record and capture the responses which are automatically uploaded and tagged on the voter's record. There is no recording answers on bubble sheets or the need to data enter the results as it is done in real time.

    Impacts: By identifying these voters now, it allows us to more effectively and efficiently target only the voters we want to ensure are voting during our Get-Out-the-Vote efforts over the last 2 ½ weeks of the campaign. These efforts will save the campaign valuable dollars and allow our paid and volunteer efforts to be more effective in their use of resources.

    Please take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to earn extra money over the Christmas season!
Read More......