Posted on 01/31/2003 6:56:38 PM PST by freepatriot32
Oregon voters have rejected a temporary income tax surcharge -- handing a major victory to the state Libertarian Party, which led the fight against the proposed tax hike.
On January 28, in a statewide referendum, voters rejected Measure 28 by 55%-45%. Had it passed, the initiative would have raised taxes by $725 million over three years.
"We are very happy tonight," said Oregon LP Executive Director Richard Burke, as the magnitude of the anti-tax vote became clear. "We were very surprised by the margin."
Just eight days earlier, a statewide poll by Portland's KATU Television had said the vote was too close to call.
But on the evening of the vote, about 40 Libertarians at the state LP headquarters in Beaverton applauded and cheered as TV news reports showed Measure 28 decisively falling behind.
About 65% of the state's registered voters cast a ballot for or against Measure 28 -- one of the largest turnouts for a special election in state history, reported the Salem Statesman Journal.
Measure 28 would have increased the state's top personal tax rate from 9% to 9.5%, and the top corporate tax rate from 6.6% to 6.93% in 2002, 2003, and 2004. It would have cost the average Oregon taxpayer about $114 per year.
The state legislature had voted to put the measure on the ballot in September.
To fight Measure 28, the Oregon LP had launched a vigorous "Turn The Tide" campaign, visiting 27 cities and towns in 17 days to offer arguments against the tax hike.
A January 6 press conference in Salem to kick off the effort generated statewide media attention.
The Libertarians made a simple -- and apparently compelling – argument against the proposed tax increase.
"We've got a state government that is too big," said Tom Cox, the Oregon LP's 2002 gubernatorial candidate. "Voters [should] stand up and demand fiscal responsibility."
Joining the Oregon LP in the campaign against Measure 28 were the Taxpayer Association of Oregon and Citizens for a Sound Economy.
The Oregon Republican Party never took a formal stand on the measure.
A coalition of public-employee unions -- including the Oregon School Employees Association and the Oregon AFL-CIO -- campaigned for Measure 28, using radio ads, telephone calls, e-mails, fliers, and public meetings to build support for the tax hike.
A number of newspapers editorialized in favor of the tax increase, and some even reported that two people had committed suicide when they received notice that their state-funded psychiatric and health benefits might be cut.
Measure 28 was also endorsed by outgoing Governor John Kitzhaber, who said it was "just common sense."
In all, the pro-Measure 28 groups spent $490,000, while Libertarians and other anti-tax groups spent about $30,000.
When Measure 28's defeat became clear, state and local government employees threatened "drastic" cuts in services.
For example, the Multnomah County sheriff said he would release 114 prisoners because he couldn't afford to keep them locked up. Portland Public Schools said it would trim 24 days off its school year. The Oregon State Police said it would lay off 277 officers. The state court system said it would go to a four-day work week, and stop processing misdemeanor crimes like shoplifting. And the state legislature said it would eliminate medical benefits for 8,000 elderly and disabled people.
But Burke said such threats were designed to chastise voters for rejecting the tax increase.
"If they do this, it is only to punish the people for not voting for taxes," he said. "These people are using scare tactics to extort money. We don't think the cuts will happen the way [they've] been threatened."
During its "No on Measure 28" campaign, the state LP had said 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.
The defeat of Measure 28 is "an opportunity for the legislature to finally make the budget decisions they should have made years ago," said Burke.
The Salem Statesman Journal had said if Measure 28 passed, it would have sent "political ripples across the nation" -- and possibly inspired politicians in other states to raise taxes, too.
The newspaper quoted initiative expert Dane Waters, who said, "I really think this will be a trendsetter. If the voters do adopt this in Oregon, I think that will embolden lawmakers in other states."
But now, with the defeat of Measure 28, the message has been sent that Oregon and other states "can reverse the course of government growth," said Burke.
No more coffee for you this morning! :^)
You may also want to note that there is no power balance against the dems when the Republicans act just like them. LP serves to point out when this happens. Such as when the republicans are silent on tax issues and government largess.
SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN VENEZUELA, CUBA, BRAZIL AND WHAT NOT!!! FRANCE FOR YEARS STAYED MIRED IN THE LEFT BECAUSE OF LE PEN!!!
Is the green party acceptable as long as it helps your goals?
THERE IS NO POWER BALANCE THERE.
The balance is provided when the two major parties start to agree on socialistic causes. If the people cannot find a suitable republican candidate, they will choose either third party or just stop voting. One should look at the LP not with disdain, but with concern as to why people vote that way.
THe LP is only about party power, not about balancing the powers out there or favoring the cause of truth or competition amongst conservatives.
I think I've outlined why the party should exist. Your assertion that it is about their self-serving power trip is silly and unsubstantiated.
Right, who else would pull the dope card!
And just what is the basis for this assertion? Where is the evidence?
Tacticaly the green should be encouraged, but not so much as to get above 5% of the vote. The green only advocate what the Dems are already advocating. They are a voice of redundance for them. It is bad in that it may increase marginaly the amount of leftist ammo criss crossing the US, but it can easily be defeated in that they add nothing new from their lies to the issues table, thus they can be made irrelevant. What is bad is when the green make coalitions with the left as in Germany.
I strongly suggest the LP to make such a truce and coalition with the GOP INVARIABLY (but that never happens), tacitly or overtly, but it does not seem like its going to work due to the Jerry Springer show thing going with the GOP attacked on two fronts, by dems and Libs, and sometime even paranoid Perotistas!
The Libertarians bashing the power of the GOP. Bam! class/power struggle within the right. Truth is used to empower frauds through misinformatin, instead of people empowering the truth by creating an interesting debating plank within the right/GOP, bringing their ideas and programs on board. The GOP is open and is not a dictatorship IMO. Even Dems accept rightwing values in their own party at times. Why can'T the LP do that?
Gees, like the paranoia of the LP about the GOP is substantiated....
And I agree on the four issues mentioned - there are other issues in which I agree with the LP, such as the second amendment and most cases where the government oversteps its authority (can you say "seat belt laws"?).
The LP has a role to play, I'm glad they are there. At least it gives people who feel politacally marginalized an alternative to the far left. But they overstate their importance. Rather than checks and balances, I'd say it's a case of the tail trying to wag the dog. Oregon voters reject new tax proposals religiously, even while electing Demos to statewide office.
Yes, I think we are more in agreement than disagreement. I just tend to have problems with people that scream and rant and rave that the party has no right to exist. I still call it a check and balance - no party spoke against the tax except the LP. Republicans, particularly those that choose not to distinguish themselves from democrats, ought to take some lessons from both the LP's amplified press release and the voice of the people. As such, I see people choosing the LP as an alternative to the moderate-leftist right as well as the authoritarians and statists that frequently wish to impose their beliefs upon others.
That appears to be your opinion. I asked for evidence, preferably at least a preponderance thereof. Opinions and anecdotes don't serve that purpose. If you wish to sway peoples' opinions, you need to back it up. I will listen.
Easy fer you to say...MUD
Is she on FR?
I have several friends in Oregon (not on FR) that are big private property rights advocates ... we email each other, go to meetings, write letters, etc.
Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!
"House of the Vile Clinton!!
(To be sung to Bob Dylan's acoustic version of "House of the Risin' Sun")
In OUR White House down in ol' DeeCee...
There lived the Vile Clinton!!
And he's been the hero of many Lib'rals...
But Slick's a bag o' scum!!
Bill Clinton is a TRAITOR...
He sold our nukes fer cheap!!
Our FReedoms are endangered, folks...
'Cuz good Sheeple sleep!!
Now, good folks, the thing Slick Willie needs...
Is fer his TREASON to be judged!!
'Cuz the only way we'll stop his lyin'...
Is when we string him up!!
Slick killed them lasses down in Texas...
He torched that Waco Compound!!
Folks, the only pleasure Bill gets outta life...
Is when he's Abusin' his Power!!
I tell ya, Nation, listen...
We gotta do what must be done!!
Must show the Powers in ol' DeeCee...
That Justice is fer everyone!!
Folks, it's time to take on that Whore!!
Yes, we must remove his stain!!
We're marchin' back to ol' DeeCee...
Let's put that boy in chains!!
We're a'marchin' back to ol' DeeCee...
Slick's place is in Prison!!
We're goin' back to force Congress...
To Re-Impeach Clinton!!
It's OUR White House in ol' DeeCee...
We Shan't Condone TREASON!!
Must sing this tune of Justice, dear Lord...
Yes, we'll DETHRONE CLINTON!!!!
Mudboy Slim
FReepers, we must...
RE-IMPEACH. CONVICT. DETHRONE.
DISBAR. DE-PENSION. DE-LEGITIMIZE.
INDICT. CONVICT. IMPRISON. DISCARD KEY.
Please join your fellow FReepers in Washington, DC on the 15th of February of this year!!
WE SHALL DETHRONE THE TYRANT!!
FReegards...MUD
1 Posted on 07/08/2000 13:29:56 PDT by Mudboy Slim (Impeach@gain.harder!!)
Perfect!
Hi Delphinium. :)
Yes, but you know what, I am wondering why the yellow foam coming out the LP is so much more appealing. If there is foam on my mouth, it's because I've been cleaning it from others WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY DROOL FROM THE SIDE OF THEIR MOUTH.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.