Voting day for Oregon's Measure 28!

[Wingznut]

So, due to overspending the last ten years or so, and the incompetancy to cut spending as revenue decreased, has put Oregon into a budget shortfall. Now the powers that be would like to initiate a "temporary" three-year tax hike to compensate. Thus, Measure 28 was born.

Oh, btw... As an added bonus, this is retroactive.

I'm not going into any great detail, but if this passes today, I'm not going to be real proud to say that Oregon might take over NY as having the highest state income tax in the nation.

This measure is very close in the polls. If you are an Oregonian, I urge you to vote!

More info on Measure 28 can be found at KATU.com.

 

[ElFenix]

see, thats the problem with gov't, is they can't seem to figure out that, hey, if you're barely breaking even when the economy is healthy, you're going to have to cut back when the economy tanks, even if you're still deficit spending.

 

[Vic]

Our state government currently has its largest budget ever, and it is only short on cash due to massive bloat and mismanagement. As for the schools, Portland Public Schools currently spends more $$$ per student, while providing a minimal education, than does the best private school in Portland, which provides an excellent education including music and foreign languages.
The time has come to stop opening our pocketbooks to government and to force government to be more accountable with the money that we already give them.
I won't even go into how sneaky and underhanded I think this special election is, with only one measure on the ballot, where Measure 28 proponents know that a low voter turnout will help their cause. Just go out and vote NO.

 

[Linflas]

This measure is very close in the polls. If you are an Oregonian, I urge you to vote!

Supporters of the sales tax increase in Virginia had similar polling data before the November election. The proposal was defeated by a very large margin.

 

[Wingznut]

Vic you need to change your sig... And I hope you don't mind that I copied it.

Of course now the mayor of Portland is in NY trying to convince MLB that we need the Expos. Now, don't get me wrong... I'm a HUGE baseball fan, and make a few trips up to Seattle every year. But if the funds for our schools and public services are in such dire straits, why are we even considering building a new stadium???

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
Vic you need to change your sig... And I hope you don't mind that I copied it.

Of course now the mayor of Portland is in NY trying to convince MLB that we need the Expos. Now, don't get me wrong... I'm a HUGE baseball fan, and make a few trips up to Seattle every year. But if the funds for our schools and public services are in such dire straits, why are we even considering building a new stadium???

Thanks, changed it. Please use it.

Because Vera is more concerned about making some lasting public monument to herself than in properly running the city. Look at all the expensive and needless projects she has supported: capping the 405 to put a park and museum over it, building the OHSU tram, PGE Park, etc. If MLB does come to Portland and we build some half billion dollar stadium for it, I bet she's gonna want her name on the stadium :|

For those interested, here are the arguments against Measure 28 from those parties and political organizations that are against the measure as recorded by the Secretary of State: Link

I like the Republican party's stance:

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
You cannot build character and courage by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. "

 

[Wingznut]

Vote.
Vote.
Vote!

 

[crt1530]

You mean you don't want to have the highest state income tax in the nation?

Oregon already spends more money on schools than Washington or California. Of course at my school (Oregon State), something like 75% of funding is used by administration. That means professors and instructors receive 25% of state funding.

I think that anyone running for a public position or applying for a government job should be required to take a basic math test. Or even better, make them take a personal finance course.

 

[Occifer]

Big fat NO! here.

 

[datalink7]

I'm still a bit undecided. I suppose my views are a bit skewed because I am going to Oregon State, and I actually CAN'T afford a tuition hike they say will take effect if it does't pass.

 

[Vic]

Woohoo!

Still... a bit closer than anticipated.

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: Vic
Woohoo!

Still... a bit closer than anticipated.

In one way, I'm not dissapointed. I think government should stop wasteing taxpayers money and this sends them this message.

On the other hand I'm not looking forward to skipping lunch in addition the the breakfast I already skip

 

[dababus]

dude, i don't wanna pay too much for school. am already paying out of state tuition.

 

[RossMAN]

Damn inefficient government!

PAB should handle all government money I hereby declare.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Vic
Woohoo!

"Woohoo!" is right!!!

 

[bleeb]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
So, due to overspending the last ten years or so, and the incompetancy to cut spending as revenue decreased, has put Oregon into a budget shortfall. Now the powers that be would like to initiate a "temporary" three-year tax hike to compensate. Thus, Measure 28 was born.

Oh, btw... As an added bonus, this is retroactive.

I'm not going into any great detail, but if this passes today, I'm not going to be real proud to say that Oregon might take over NY as having the highest state income tax in the nation.

This measure is very close in the polls. If you are an Oregonian, I urge you to vote!

More info on Measure 28 can be found at KATU.com.

OREGON *NEEDS* to get a sales tax going to reduce property tax.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: bleeb
OREGON *NEEDS* to get a sales tax going to reduce property tax.

And gasoline tax, and "sin" taxes, and...

I'm actually in favor of a sales tax, if it reduces taxes in other areas (such as the ones mentioned above.) However, I don't think anyone will vote one in, because the citizens of this state don't have the confidence in our govt to actually make taxes more fair.

I just read that the prisons are going to let ~114 inmates loose tomorrow, because of Measure 28 failing. Are we REALLY supposed to believe that our fine govt can't figure out a better place to save some money?

What a frickin' joke!

 

[numark]

I've never understood this whole thing about why people oppose tax increases such as this one. People want more and more services but want to pay less and less for them. The same thing is happening in Virginia; schools are getting funded much more and they're improving, roads are being maintained, and still the people refuse to pay for it and put the state in a budget crisis. Either pay up the taxes to get the services you want, or stop complaining about services not being what you want. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: bleeb
OREGON *NEEDS* to get a sales tax going to reduce property tax.

And gasoline tax, and "sin" taxes, and...

I'm actually in favor of a sales tax, if it reduces taxes in other areas (such as the ones mentioned above.) However, I don't think anyone will vote one in, because the citizens of this state don't have the confidence in our govt to actually make taxes more fair.

I just read that the prisons are going to let ~114 inmates loose tomorrow, because of Measure 28 failing. Are we REALLY supposed to believe that our fine govt can't figure out a better place to save some money?

What a frickin' joke!

The inmate release gimmick is how the state punishes us for voting wrong. Of course they can find better places to save money, but if you heard that they were going to stop paying Oregon Health Plan services to illegal immigrants, you'd probably be glad you voted no, wouldn't you? And the state doesn't want that, they want some type of fear factor, a public punishment, so they release some inmates and get a front page article.
The govenments always do this. When budgets get tight, they never cut the fat, the unnecessary or unpopular programs. Instead, they cut school funding, they cut road spending, they cut police, they cut parks, they cut whatever it takes so they can get a front page article to encourage people to pay more in taxes. If you want government to finally get around to cutting the fat, then we have to turn down every tax bill AND force them to pay for the essential services we want from government, and not for the unnecessary socialistic services that government does behind our backs.
Personally, I will only support a sales tax if they do away with the income tax. I may support both at the same time if they were both permenantly and forever capped below 5%. Otherwise, it would be too easy for both to be raised and to end up like the great state of CA where you both taxes and they're both more than 7%.

Oh, and numark? Come back and post after you finally get a job and your first paycheck, then tell me what you think of taxes. Or, if you actually are older than you appear, ask yourself: what services do people want from government? Then go look at your state budget and see where the money really goes.

 

[Maetryx]

Good grief, 45% voted Yes. Scary. I'm a former Oregonian myself, with dozens of relatives there. I wonder how my mother-in-law voted. She's always suckered by anything that can be spun to look like compassion.

I hear you guys about the government axing the most desirable programs first. Bastards. You gawd damn KNOW that there is at least one state employee in every state building/agency that is completely unnecessary. Why not eliminate some bureaucracy? It could be done.

And you know that there are some services provided that no one seemed to need twenty years ago, and that they had to advertise the bejeezus out of to get anyone interested in them. Why not cut unpopular social engineering divisions/departments? Grrrrrr.