Oregon may hike tax to close budget. Republicans cave.

The Oregonian ^ | 9/3/2002 | HARRY ESTEVE

[Jack Black]

What is FLAT about a tax that goes from ZERO to 10% depending on income? Especially combined with the fed graduated tax, and no write off for that tax on the O. state income tax. It's not flat in any sense. It is "progressive" in the extreme. I'd like to see the "top 25% of Oregon income earners pay XX% of taxes." That is the problem. Big income earners are making way less, and there for revenues are way down. A sales tax is both flat (every one pays equally according to what they spend) and less subject to fluctuation, spending is not down as much as disposable income in Oregon.

A poll tax would be the ultimate flat tax. Everyone pays $10,000 a year, period. That might convince the Dem. voters to be for tax cuts.

[Jolly Rodgers]

Howcome nobody is posting phone numbers to call in the State Capitol, here?

You'll find all the contact information you need on Senator George's website. He's one of the few good guys.

[Jolly Rodgers]

Therefore lowering the state income tax and the outrageous property taxes in Oregon.

The problem is spending. It doesn't matter what kind of tax they use, or how they mix the taxes, ultimately they will tax us whatever they wish in order to pay for the spending they can get away with. I posted the graphs showing how insane the spending growth really is, and yet they are screeching that they aren't spending enough.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I just get tired of hearing Republicans whine about how their party screws them over and then going out and voting for more of the same. If you are happy with "He's better than XXXX (D)" then that's fine. But for Pete's sake, quit whining about the result.