Oregon gives inmates a pass - "It's a party atmosphere at the jail today"

Associated Press ^ | January 30, 2003 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Oregon gives inmates a pass

State's budget problems force emergency release after tax hike rejected

01/30/2003

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. - A county jail began freeing inmates Wednesday as state agencies across Oregon implemented emergency spending cuts after voters rejected a temporary income tax increase.

"It's a party atmosphere at the jail today," said Multnomah County Sheriff Bernie Giusto as he announced the early release of 31 inmates - among 114 scheduled to be freed Wednesday.

Some of the inmates had been in jail pending trial. Others were serving time for crimes including assault, drug manufacturing and sex abuse.

Their release was one of the first cost-saving measures to take effect after voters rejected the tax increase proposal Tuesday by 54 percent to 46 percent.

Measure 28 would have staved off $310 million in spending cuts by raising income tax bills for most residents by 5 percent over three years. The cuts come on top of $700 million that lawmakers slashed from the budget last year.

Without the higher income taxes, the state plans to stop medical benefits for 12,000 elderly or disabled people and reduce mental health services for 7,200 people. In addition, 129 state troopers were to be laid off Saturday, and school districts will lose out on $95 million in state funding that would have been provided by the tax increase.

Legislative leaders met Wednesday with Gov. Ted Kulongoski to discuss how to soften the blow. The Democrat has said he will let the cuts take effect even though Oregon already has one of the nation's highest unemployment rates.

The Portland School District, which reduced its school year by 15 days after last year's cuts, will probably have to cut nine more days.

In rural Union County, services will be scaled back at the Center for Human Development, a nonprofit organization that provides public health and mental health services. The tax increase would have restored $11,000 to its budget.

"The most serious patients will still be seen," said executive director David Still.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/nation/stories/013003dnnatoregon.c3b4.html

[MeekOneGOP]

So it sounds like the state of Oregon has decided to punish its' citizens for turning down a tax increase by turning the bad guys loose on them? Jeepers! Glad I live in Texas, where we deal out Texas Justice and make budget cuts that MAKE SENSE !

[MeekOneGOP]

Heads up, Grampa. Bad guys winning in Oregon - again!...

[wideawake]

Without the higher income taxes, the state plans to stop medical benefits for 12,000 elderly or disabled people

I though the State of Oregon had planned to kill the elderly and disabled. Didn't they pass that euthanasia law a while back?

I wonder how many tax-and-spend Oregon legislators decided to trim their salaries and perks to help balance the budget?

[Mr. K]

amazing how ONLY a tax increase can solve this problem... and the only spending cuts they could find would be programs for old people and essential police services...

nothing else could have been cut..?

[JeeperFreeper]

Good point re politicians cutting their salaries and perks. Any Oregon Freepers out there with the scoop on the politcos belt-tightening?

[TigersEye]

Sounds like taxpayer blackmail alright.

[Libloather]

...state agencies across Oregon implemented emergency spending cuts after voters rejected a temporary income tax increase.

Yet another case where Big Gubmint doesn't know how to properly handle a budget...

[Mudboy Slim]

Notra Trulock on "Hannity&DOLT" in a coupla minutes...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"Read David Horowitz's 'Radical Son' for a true eye opener."

This is TYPICAL DemonRAT BlackMail...VA's Governor closed down many of the Div. of Motor Vehicles offices instead of trimming the $Billions in new spending created in the late 90's by VA's MilqueToastModerate RINO Republican!!

I can't believe Grampa Dave allows this to go on in his own backyard...LOL!!

FReegards...MUD

[Centurion2000]

What a bunch of a$$hole jailers ..... so let's see, we can't cut spending but we can release prisoners who commited high misdemeanors into the population.

[Flyer]

Posted by Mudboy Slim to MeeknMing; Corin Stormhands; Grampa Dave
On 01/30/2003 8:33 PM CST #9 of 8

============

See that where it says #9 of 8?

Hmmm. . .

[Mudboy Slim]

LOL...I did that on purpose...MUD

[Flyer]

Let me try that. . .

[Flyer]

Nope.

[Mudboy Slim]

Not everybody's got the technique down...LOL!!

FReegards...MUD

[freepatriot32]

yes there is lots that could be cut

the state government could avert the so-called crisis by going on a "fiscal diet," and could cut the budget by reforming the state workers' pension system, laying off 2,000 middle-level bureaucrats, and eliminating the Oregon Liquor Control Commission

from another story i posted aboutt he oregon tax defeat that you can find here Oregon Libertarian Party helps defeat $725 million tax increase