At a town hall-style meeting Monday at the University, a panel of state senators and representatives voiced their support for a large tax increase going to vote in January.
Specifically, the legislators addressed measures 66 and 67, which will be decided by Oregon voters in a special election on Jan. 26. The measures call into question a $733 million tax increase — mostly on high-income earners and corporations — signed into law this summer. If the measures pass, the increases will be retained.
The panel was composed of Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D-South Lane and North Douglas Counties), an aide to Sen. Bill Morrisette (D-Springfield) and Reps. Phil Barnhart (D-Central Lane and Linn Counties), Terry Beyer (D-Springfield), Paul Holvey (D-Eugene) and Val Hoyle (D-Eugene). The Democratic legislators said the state budget was in dire condition even with the tax increase and would be even worse if the measures failed.
Opponents of the tax increases, officially organized as Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes, say the increases will further hurt the state economy by driving down employment and driving businesses away from the state.
However, the legislators in attendance contested the claim and said the state’s tax structure unfairly favored corporations and high-income earners.
“The business and corporate taxes in Oregon are the lowest in the nation,” Rep. Holvey said. “Even if the taxes stay on the books, we will have the fifth lowest corporate taxes in the nation — still much lower than our neighbors in the north and south.”
Rep. Barnhart, one of the chief architects of the increases, said his opponents’ arguments are “complete, utter and absolute nonsense.”
“Two-thirds of all Oregon businesses will not be affected,” he said. “The typical family of four covers the taxes of 310 corporations in Oregon.”
The legislators also stressed the impact on students if the measures do not pass.
“If the measures fail, the odds are good that your tuition will go up,” Rep. Barnhart said. “Probably not for spring or summer, but certainly by fall. My argument: Students, register and vote yes, or your tuition will go up.”
About 15 people were in attendance, mostly students involved in the ASUO. ASUO President Emma Kallaway and Vice President Getachew Kassa were on hand and asked several questions.
Kassa, a recipient of the Oregon Opportunity Grant, asked the panel if they supported the grant and what they would do to further enhance it.
Rep. Beyer said she supported the grant but said the condition of the state budget was severely limiting.
“I think that we have to be realistic here,” she said. “There are going to be very few, if any, enhancements in February or 2011, and definitely not if the measures fail.”
Kallaway said the town hall meeting was organized by the ASUO and Rep. Barnhart. ASUO legislative affairs coordinators said earlier in the fall that the student government would be conducting a non-partisan, educational campaign about the measures.
The ASUO, along with the Oregon Student Association, has also organized a voter registration drive. During the meeting, Kallaway said the ASUO has registered 2,100 students to vote so far this term.
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Students, panel discuss measures 66 and 67
Daily Emerald
November 9, 2009
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