LETTERtoEDITOR

Speaker of the House, Dave Hunt, addresses issues of measure 66 & 67 in the following letter to the chamber membership.

"Our North Clackamas Chamber has long recognized that strong businesses need strong schools, health care, public safety, and infrastructure.

Those critical public services are at risk. 

If Measures 66 & 67 fail, there will be more major budget cuts to our schools, community colleges, and services.  Almost $2 billion was already cut this year from our state budget, which resulted in over 115 fewer teachers in North Clackamas, Gladstone, and Oregon City schools.  Our children cannot afford further cuts.

We all recently received a campaign letter from a Tillamook dairy farmer complaining about the proposed increase in corporate taxes. That farmer will only pay $140 more in taxes -- despite the fact that she has received nearly $100,000 in federal farm subsidies and that she regularly takes exotic international vacations.

That’s all part of a concerted effort to confuse us all about the real impacts of the upcoming votes of Measures 66 & 67.  Let me share some facts about these modest tax increases passed by the Legislature:

$10 is the current annual corporate minimum tax.  It’s been stuck there since 1931. 

88% of Oregon businesses will see their business taxes increase from $10 to $140 dollars. That’s it: $140 per year.  While opponents of the measures claim huge job losses, it’s hard to see how $140 could cause any business to lay off an employee. The non-partisan Legislative Revenue Office shows the impacts of defeating 66 & 67 will cost us far more jobs than if they pass.  These measures will move Oregon from having the third-lowest to the fifth-lowest corporate taxes in America, far lower than Washington and California.

97.5% of Oregon households will not pay a single penny more in personal taxes. Only households earning more than $250,000 per year (less than 3% of taxpayers) will be asked to pay a little bit more to protect our schools and critical public services.

If Measures 66 & 67 fail, our schools will close early, teachers will be laid off, and our kids simply won’t receive the education we’ve promised them.

Drug treatment programs will be cut.  State troopers won’t be hired. Seniors and other needy Oregonians will see their aid cut dramatically.

I’ve always been proud to be a North Clackamas Chamber member because we care for our kids and our neighbors.  Let’s do that again on January 26 by voting YES on Measures 66 & 67."

Speaker of the House, Dave Hunt.