Laborers Local 483 PAC

In our current climate of economic crisis a coalition of Oregonians have come together to propose reform for our ancient and lopsided state tax system. Defend Oregon is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to a fairer tax system in Oregon and protecting essential services: education, public safety, and healthcare. The information below is just a quick reference of what the proposed ballot measures measures will do. For more details check out http://www.defendoregon.org/index.html.
At the next general membership meeting I will ask our local and the PAC to endorse this campaign so we can add our voices and support to this critical effort.
As public employees we know as well as anyone what happens when the state general fund lacks revenue. Not only are critical social services dependent on these monies many of our jobs are also funded from this source. Let’s help bring some tax fairness to Oregon and end the unfair practice of middle and working class families carrying the majority of the tax burden in our state.

Here are some reasons you should vote yes on Measures 66 and 67:

It’s Simple: Corporations should pay more than $10 in Oregon income taxes

Like the rest of the country, Oregon is feeling the hurt of this financial crisis. Because over 90% of the state’s budget goes to education, health care, and public safety, this crisis could have a major impact on vital services.
The plan:
–Increase the $10 corporate minimum income tax for the first time since 1931. The new minimum will start at $150.
–Increase the marginal tax rate on corporate profits above $250,000 by 1.3% (above $10 million in 2013)
–Increase the marginal tax rate on personal income above $250,000 for couples by 1.8%
97.5% of taxpayers will NOT see their taxes increased
What does it mean? A corporation making $260,000 in profit will pay an extra $130 in taxes (1.3% of the $10,000 above $250,000). A corporation declaring no profits will pay a minimum tax of about one tenth of one percent of Oregon sales. A couple making $260,000 in taxable income will pay an extra $180 (1.8% of the taxable income above $250,000).

These reforms protect nearly $1 billion in vital services like education, health care and public safety. These funds preserve class sizes, save jobs for teachers, provide seniors with in-home care, and provide health care for thousands of Oregonians through the Oregon Health Plan. In this time of economic crisis, we must protect those who have been hit the hardest–seniors, children and the unemployed–without putting more of a burden on the middle class.