Ava Land/Daily Emerald

“Death tax.”

While the name conjures up images of the Grim Reaper brandishing a form 1040, the reality of this ominously named tax is far more complex. But what is it really, and why has this loaded term been circulating in Oregon news recently?

On Dec. 2, 2025, Gov. Tina Kotek held a press conference about Oregon’s 2026 economic development strategy. The conference, meant to rehabilitate Oregon’s bad business reputation, detailed a plan to court major businesses through reduced corporate taxes.

Many big names made an appearance at the conference, including Tim Boyle, the billionaire CEO of Columbia Sportswear and University of Oregon trustee. In a speech lamenting Oregon’s poor business climate, Boyle pointed a finger at the Multnomah County preschool tax and something he referred to as “the death tax.”

While it sounds foreboding, this is a deceptive term popularized by Republican political consultant Frank Luntz and former Vice President Dick Cheney. The term, chosen over the original title of “estate tax” to elicit a more negative reaction from voters, actually refers to a tax applicable to estates over $2 million, lowered to a threshold of $1 million in the state of Oregon under the Oregon Estate Tax, excluding estates bequeathed to a spouse or charitable donations.

As fiscal conservatives, Luntz and Cheney aimed to poison the public opinion against a tax that most are not wealthy enough to encounter.

Unfortunately, their gambit succeeded.

Of course, I am not claiming that our state’s estate tax is unproblematic. The $1 million minimum has not been adjusted for inflation since it was set in 2002. Money doesn’t go as far as it used to, especially in a rapidly urbanizing state such as Oregon, and raising this threshold is logical — especially to aid those such as the inheritors of family farms or small businesses, for whom this 10 to 16% tax can be devastating.

“A $1 million tax minimum does seem awfully low, especially considering inflation and the rising costs of living in Oregon,” Benni Howard, a UO senior majoring in political science, said.

However, I do not believe that it is in Oregonians’ best interests to heed conservative calls to eradicate the estate tax.

In his capacity as the Columbia Sportswear CEO, Boyle does not represent the average Oregonian — especially the average millennial or Gen Z Oregonian — who will likely never amass a million dollars. He does not even represent the average Oregonian millionaire. Instead, he represents the interests of billionaires, those most affected by this tax, who want their children to inherit their elite status without lifting a finger.

Boyle claims that Oregon’s taxes are scaring away corporations and that to entice CEOs such as himself to stay in the state, we must throw them a bone by lowering taxes. But does having a major corporation centered in your state still guarantee prosperity for ordinary citizens?

“I think offering incentives to keep major corporations in our state is in Oregonians’ best interests — so long as they are done in moderation, Izzy Pope, a UO junior majoring in political science, said. “But with these tax breaks comes an obligation for businesses to give back to local communities. It’s hard to mandate this responsibility, but ultimately having big businesses can stimulate economies.”

“Although keeping corporations in Oregon is certainly in the state’s best interest, the devil is in the details,” Howard said. “These issues are rarely black-and-white.”

Columbia Sportswear does not create manufacturing jobs for Oregonians, as their factories take advantage of cheaper labor and laxer labor laws in Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India. The company’s high-paying, desirable executive jobs are limited and inaccessible to the average Oregonian. The vast majority of jobs available to Oregonians — mostly retail — offer low pay, low benefits and are limited in number.

As our institutions suffer from cuts in federal funding, Oregonians are increasingly reliant on corporate tax dollars to keep our state running. If we accept Gov. Kotek’s proposal of personal and corporate tax breaks for the uber-wealthy, what will the average Oregonian stand to gain? Don’t be fooled by their scare tactics: billionaires do not represent our interests, but only their own.

Next time you hear the term “death tax,” don’t give in to the knee-jerk repulsion — instead, think critically about what the speaker gains by turning you against it.