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Oregon voters have rejected a temporary income tax surcharge

Temporary...bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaaaaa! Temporary...he-he-he-heeeeeeee. Riiiight...three years or less they'd be pushing for a continuation of the tax and demonize those "tax cuts for the rich" for trying to cut those "vital" programs.

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.

45% fiscally irresponsible yahoos still with their collective heads up their asses.

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.

$114 less for those vital services, in which they'd have to squawk to the government for more services. "Wa-wa-wa I need 'free' toddler care."

The Oregon Republican Party never took a formal stand on the measure.

Cowards.

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.K.A., the usual suspects with their sob stories and scare tactics.

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.

Gasp! Puke! Big whoop!

For example, the Multnomah County sheriff said he would release 114 prisoners because he couldn't afford to keep them locked up.

Give us more money or we'll release these prisoners. What a puke!

Yada yada yada.

"45% fiscally irresponsible yahoos" is actually the " coalition of public-employee unions".

If I could count all the times I was told that if we don't pass this measure all the jobs in our county will dry up because the state is our largest employer I'd be richer than Bill Gates.

How they can never get a clue that if everyone is sucking the gov't teat, then no one is actually producing taxable wealth is beyond me.

Oh, I remember, we'll pass a sales tax too and the tourists to pay all the taxes.

I was so relieved this failed, I was convinced by the media it was passing.

I know right away in the News Times (lincoln county, Central Coast) reports that we are losing six State Police Officers and they may close Waldport High. I live out in the rural area of the county and the Sheriffs Dept. will no longer answer non emergency calls. The health dept put out their list of cutbacks.

It is like being held hostage give us more of your money or we will hurt you. Now watch next year these jobs will somehow be re-funded when this election is behind us.