Submitted By: dixiedarrow@icloud.com – Click to email about this post
I haven’t heard of anyone in the Legislature who supports Measure 118 on the Nov. 5 ballot. The initiative would increase business taxes in order to give most Oregonians an annual tax rebate estimated at $750.
During a virtual town hall last month, several Portland-area lawmakers denounced the proposal, which was going through the signature verification process as Initiative Petition 17. Rep. Lisa Reynolds, D-Beaverton, called it “a totally twisted version of the kicker.”
“It’s another example of out-of-state monied interests using Oregon’s low bar to get something on the ballot to create an experiment here in Oregon,” she said. “It happened with Measure 110, which we had to roll back after a lot of gnashing of teeth. And so there will be very concerted efforts by many people, including elected officials, to defeat IP 17.”
During a virtual town hall last month, several Portland-area lawmakers denounced the proposal, which was going through the signature verification process as Initiative Petition 17. Rep. Lisa Reynolds, D-Beaverton, called it “a totally twisted version of the kicker.”
“It’s another example of out-of-state monied interests using Oregon’s low bar to get something on the ballot to create an experiment here in Oregon,” she said. “It happened with Measure 110, which we had to roll back after a lot of gnashing of teeth. And so there will be very concerted efforts by many people, including elected officials, to defeat IP 17.”
Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, added, “If there is a legislator supporting it, they’re supporting it very quietly.”
Opponents are not quiet. Led by Oregon Business & Industry, a lengthy list of groups created a coalition against the measure, contending it would implement the largest tax increase in state history.
Oregon Senate Republicans issued a press release Wednesday unanimously opposing the measure and thanking Gov. Tina Kotek for also opposing it. The Taxpayers Association of Oregon put it this way last week: “The tax is so bad, even Gov. Kotek is against it. That’s bad.”