Republicans Put No-Tax Budget On Hold (Oregon)

SALEM, OR 2003-08-11 (OPB Radio) - Republicans in the Oregon House have put on hold a proposal to balance the state budget without tax increases. House members are waiting for the Senate to vote on a bipartisan package that includes tax increases.

The plan unveiled late last week would reduce a $145 automatic deduction for individuals and delay the implementation of an income tax cut approved by voters in 2000. The state's minimum tax on corporations would go up and elderly Oregonians who deduct the cost of medications from their taxes would be subject to a new means test.

Governor Ted Kulongoski expects the package to be the framework that will end the budget stalemate.

Ted Kulongoski: Not only is it the best shot, I think it is THE shot. It's the one that we're going to find a way to get the legislature adjourned.

More here

He's not signing anymore interrim spending measures. He may not be as confrontational as Kitzhaber, but he's a no bullshit guy and I have no doubt he'll follow through.

I haven't heard what they are raising the corporate minimum tax level to- currently it's ten bucks- TEN FUCKING BUCKS, which is what 80% of the corporations doing business in Oregon paid- including Enron's PGE corporation, which made $66 million in proft in 2002 (while bankrupting its pension fund and impoverishing its retirees).

Meanwhile, the No-Tax Republicans refuse to get rid of tax expeditures (givaways) on things like luxury boats- that's one alone is worth over $25 million. No, these lunatics would rather close the Oregon Poison Center- which costs a measly $2 million.

And, of course- there not one single media outlet here that connects all the dots- or dares put the blame on Republicans, other than maybe some commentators on OPB's 7 Days (which OPB says it will have to cancel if the Republicans follow through with their threat to become the first state to completely defund public broadcasting).

Living here the last few years is enough to make any thinking person go insane... but just be sure not to unless you have a lot of money or an outstanding insurance- because thanks to the No-Tax Republicans, there's beenvirtually no state mental health coverage since February. Which of course probably costs the state triple in lost revenue, productivity, psych ward and incarceration costs.

ARGGH!

They are the ones that cannot get a budget thru
they have had at least 5 sessions
They tried to scare us with that January tax increase measure
that we voted no on.

because the Republican measure was ill crafted- and didn't address many of the state's basic fiscal problems- and also because they believed the legislature wasn't doing its job and wanted to hold those do nothings' toes to the fire.

When PGE (Enron) pays less state taxes than I do, and I'm fucking UNEMPLOYED, I can't imagine how it could be much worse for working people in Oregon.

And, that's not even taking into consideration the fact that PGE has been ripping off consumers here big time even before the dark days of Enron. We're still paying for their defunct nukular power plant here.

put their house, vehicles, and everything into a corporation.....

and pay the $10.....

He'll fly by Kitzhaber. In May a group of us went to the capitol and spoke w/Kulongoski's aide. In so many words, she said the Governor was not going to let the repugs walk all over him.

When he threatened to shut down the government, I began to believe her.

P.S. It's not only mental health coverage, it's physical as well. I was a part of those that lost medical coverage at the end of February.

I should think so.

PGE (aka Enron subsidiary) paid $10 in state taxes last year and I am sure many previous years. THAT is the current "minimum state tax" in Oregon.

MANY, MANY other corporations in Oregon pay $10 bucks in state taxes.

Are they going to raise that minimum to something like, EGAD..... $50 bucks? Shudders! I hope the legislators still get their lobby money!

or under nourished.

Linda Baker published a fantastic article on hunger in Oregon called Out of Whack Food Chain on Alternet. One of the best piece on any subject I've read all year.