What’s At Stake In the Measures 66 and 67 Campaign: What the State Does, County By County
Steve Novick
Those are the services that
Measures 66 and 67 are designed to protect – so we don’t have a repeat of
2002-04, when we cut 55,000 people from the Oregon Health Plan and (to give
just one example) Hillsboro schools closed 17 days early.
So that you can get an idea of how much these
state services matter in your community, the following is a list of how many
people receive certain state-funded services in each county in Oregon. Since
Measure 66 gives a tax break to people who received unemployment benefits in
2009, and raises revenue from households making over $250,000 (and single
people making over $125,000), we also list the number of people in each county
who began receiving unemployment benefits in 2009 and those who will pay
additional taxes under Measure 66. (When I say “we,” I mean the Vote Yes for
Oregon campaign, which I am currently working for.)
At the end of the document we have listed
sources and additional notes (explaining, for example, that the number of
unemployed people receiving a tax break is understated by the county-by-county
numbers).
Baker County:
Children in public schools: 2,208
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 1,983
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 152
People who received an initial unemployment
benefit check in 2009: 639
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 47
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more (households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 93
Benton County:
Children in public schools: 9,030
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 5,278
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 320
People receiving unemployment benefits in
2009: 2,588
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 137
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more (households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 930
Clackamas County:
Children in public schools: 58,961
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 26,237
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 2,067
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 20,099
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 763
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 6,270
Clatsop County:
Children in public schools: 5,020
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 3,668
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 248
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 1,766
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 171
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more (households)
or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 283
Columbia County:
Children in public schools: 8,584
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 4,535
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 381
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 3,125
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 165
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 207
Coos County:
Children in public schools: 8,446
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 8,991
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 935
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 3,428
Released criminal offenders under supervision:
194
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 383
Crook County:
Children in public schools: 3,208
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 2,353
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 191
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 2,220
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 73
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 123
Curry County:
Children in public schools: 2,575
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 2,199
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 226
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 1,054
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 51
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 141
Deschutes County:
Children in public schools: 24,578
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 13,319
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 673
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 12,163
Released criminal offenders under supervision:
503
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 1,995
Douglas County:
Children in public schools: 15,181
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 14,076
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 1,037
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 6,932
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 370
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 473
Gilliam County:
Children in public schools: 233
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 132
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 13
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 72
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 6
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): Unknown – less than 10
Grant County:
Children in public schools: 1,032
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 705
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 66
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 394
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 15
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 36
Harney County:
Children in public schools: 1,187
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 846
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 56
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 471
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 47
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): Unknown – fewer than 20
Hood River County:
Children in public schools: 3,973
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 2,507
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 103
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 1,364
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 41
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 236
Jackson County:
Children in public schools: 28,367
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 23,480
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 1,408
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 12,704
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 684
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 1,728
Jefferson County:
Children in public schools: 3,681
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 3,877
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 120
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 1,423
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 92
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 89
Josephine County:
Children in public schools: 11,136
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 12,017
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 882
People who received an initial unemployment check
in 2009: 4,486
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 319
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 447
Klamath County:
Children in public schools: 10,094
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 9,238
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 468
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 3,921
Released criminal offenders under supervision:
280
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 348
Lake County:
Children in public schools: 1,103
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 909
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 44
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 386
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 27
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 35
Lane County:
Children in public schools: 46,686
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 38,105
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 2,402
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 21,000
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 1,403
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 3,050
Lincoln County:
Children in public schools: 5,377
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 5,971
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 551
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 2,095
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 186
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 325
Linn County:
Children in public schools: 21,325
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 14,744
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 1,048
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 8,277
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 642
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 428
Malheur County:
Children in public schools: 5,194
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 5,188
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 282
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 1,144
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 159
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 103
Marion County:
Children in public schools: 58,676
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 46,048
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 2,101
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 16,852
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 1,676
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more (households)
or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 1,883
Morrow County:
Children in public schools: 2,412
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 1,419
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 61
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 517
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 25
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 33
Multnomah County:
Children in public schools: 91,062
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 83,592
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 6,380
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 39,807
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 2,925
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 10,511
Polk County:
Children in public schools: 6,763
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 8,399
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 617
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 3,258
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 183
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 468
Sherman County:
Children in public schools: 275
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 192
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 12
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 69
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 8
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): Unknown; less than 10
Tillamook County:
Children in public schools: 3,301
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 2,670
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 96
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 1,200
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 81
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 152
Umatilla County:
Children in public schools: 13,551
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 10,254
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 672
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 3,465
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 266
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 288
Union County:
Children in public schools: 3,830
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 3,138
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 242
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 1,578
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 73
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 130
Wallowa County:
Children in public schools: 871
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 694
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 89
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 439
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 8
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 27
Wasco County:
Children in public schools: 3,470
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 3,275
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 251
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 1,094
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 78
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 138
Washington County:
Children in public schools: 83,701
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 38,334
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 2,099
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 27,123
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 1,125
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 7,033
Wheeler County:
Children in public schools: 198
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 83
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 6
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 30
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 2
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): Unknown – fewer than 10
Yamhill County:
Children in public schools: 16,635
People on the Oregon Health Plan: 10,582
Seniors and people with disabilities
receiving long-term care (in-home, assisted living, nursing homes): 638
People who received an initial unemployment
check in 2009: 6,004
Released criminal offenders under
supervision: 291
Tax filers who make $250,000 or more
(households) or $125,000 or more (individual filers): 686
Sources and Notes:
The numbers above are derived from data
provided by the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education, the
Department of Corrections, the Employment Department and the Legislative
Revenue Office.
The public school student numbers come from
the Department of Education’s Fall Membership count. They come with this caveat
from ODE: “For districts that span more than one county, we assign all
students to the primary county (e.g., all Salem-Keizer students are counted in
Marion County). “
The unemployment benefits recipient numbers
from the Employment Department consist only of people who have received an initial
benefit check in 2009 through October 31, 2009. In other words, they
do not include people who began receiving benefits in 2008 and continued to
receive them in 2009. Thus, these numbers are significantly lower than
the number of total unemployment benefits recipients in each county in
2009. The statewide total is 213,188; the Legislative Revenue Office however,
has told us that they expect 271,000 will be eligible for the unemployment
benefits tax exemption. The Employment Department explained to us that they
simply do not have precise data on ‘number of people who received unemployment
checks in each county in the course of a year.’
The “released criminal offenders under
supervision” numbers are from the Department of Corrections. They include
offenders on parole and in “post-parole” and “post-prison” status. The
Department provides funding to counties’ Community Corrections departments for
supervision of offenders in these categories.
The high-income tax filer numbers are from
the Legislative Revenue Office.
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connect with blueoregon
6:47 p.m.
Nov 24, '09
I want a bumper sticker which says something along the lines of "Support Oregon Jobs Vote Yes on 66 & 67".
Nov 24, '09
Good Kevin. Or, how about "Jobs for Oregon, Now More Than Ever. Vote Yes on 66 & 67".
Nov 24, '09
Really impressive. In one post you managed to appeal to liberal cornerstones of school kids, uninsured, elderly & disabled and even managed to throw in the unemployed for good measure. What is amazing is you were able to hedge your bet and appeal to conservatives as well with "being tough on crime."
One question. If money is needed to avert this pending crisis, why are so few being asked to step up and save us?
Nov 24, '09
mp97303, I'll answer, though you won't like it.
Because those who can, should. Now, more than ever. Whether you believe it or not, we're all in this together, so STFU and pay your fair share!
8:24 p.m.
Nov 24, '09
Oooh... I like yours better, Jim.
Nov 24, '09
jaybeat commented: Whether you believe it or not, we're all in this together...
eh... according to above, we're all in Measure 66 together on top of less than 38,800 households (or less than 3% of taxpayers as indicated elsewhere here at BO)
mp97303 is right - only with a broad-based tax increase at a smaller percentage rate can we TRULY say we're all in this together.
Nov 24, '09
"mp97303 is right - only with a broad-based tax increase at a smaller percentage rate can we TRULY say we're all in this together."
And exactly how did you vote on Measure 30, or aren't we supposed to ask?
If these taxes are overturned, there will be budget cuts. If that is denied before the Jan. election, good luck trying to float alternatives if the voters turn down the taxes. And if the voters uphold the taxes by voting yes, good luck convincing people that all good Oregonians vote a straight Republican ticket.
Nov 24, '09
i will vote a resounding no on this measures.get all the non citizens and their anchor babies off all state services including the oregon health plan mr novick and cut the govt to the bone first before you bother asking taxpayers for another dime.
Nov 24, '09
What happened back when M28 and M30 tax increases were voted down?
Nov 24, '09
Mr. Vantress:
Ok, where should we cut? Mr. Novick has pointed out the state services provided. What should be cut? Should we only supervise 30 of the 47 released criminal offenders in Baker County? Would that cut be alright?
How's about cutting some of those 83,000 kids in Washington County in public schools?
Should we wheel people in nursing homes out into the street?
Please, tell me the explicit cuts that should be made. If you think that the state budget needs to be cut, please tell us all what cuts should be made.
Nov 24, '09
alcatross, you have no idea what you are talking about; can you tell me about the tax incidence studies on which you base your claim?
These tax measures will make OR taxes MORE FAIR no matter how you look at it. The bottom 20% income bracket is now paying 8.7% of their income in state and local taxes, compared to 7.9% for the top 20% bracket, in Oregon. BEFORE you make outrageous claims next time, how about checking out some real data:
http://www.itepnet.org/wp2009/statespecific.html
Nov 24, '09
How about:
REAL JOBS, REAL SERVICES VOTE YES ON 66 & 67
6:23 a.m.
Nov 25, '09
The only thing I would suggest adding is the number of people living in each county to further contrast those who benefit and those who will pay. 200,000 people live in Jackson County.
Nov 25, '09
Paulie makes a great suggestion - adding the population of each county.
Other worthwhile additions: the number of tax returns filed; the number of businesses; the tax revenue paid in each county; the spending budgeted in each county, to name but a few.
Steve, you did do a great job compiling the information.
Still missing from the discussion is a definition of "fair share".
Nov 25, '09
Mike M commented: Still missing from the discussion is a definition of "fair share".
heh... good luck on that one-
Nov 25, '09
mp, I fear you can't get a decent response anymore. Totally canned arguments from both sides. No matter what we ask, we'll hear one of their "pull my string and watch me wonk off" responses.
And you can tell by the formatting that sooo much thought went into this.
I am now fully convinced that the Dems are behind conservative talk radio. Look how fired up the sticker writers are! 80% motivated by anti-TEA rhetoric. They would be far less fired up if they were explaining why this is a good idea, and debating the way funds are wasted, with people further left. Or anyone thinking. How convenient. A pitiable straw man, saying exactly what would most motivate the Dem base to turn out and vote. And that is why they are not edited out, as progressives routinely are. That they would leave a matthew ventress post and censor something mp said as off topic- the genuine poster least motivated by oneupmanship in the history of blogging- makes me spit bile.
Nov 25, '09
Here are some specific cuts:
-Cut the supervision are prosecution of drug users, -Audit the in-home caretaker system, -Eliminate the Commission on Children and Families, -Stop paying for oxy, viccodin, etc. for addicts
On a side note: I find it interesting that when tax hikes are at issue, "progressives" start supporting the police state and the war on drugs.
11:36 a.m.
Nov 25, '09
Regarding the togetherness comment: individuals and corporations that have made enough $ to be in the highest brackets have made their fortunes on the spending of all Oregonians. It is via the existing very comfortable tax arrangement that their fortunes have been coated with an extra spread of frosting.
Over the past several years, "regular" folks have been hammered by every conceivable increase on every conceivable commodity and service while at the same time seeing stagnant wages, or worse, jobs lost.
Harsh times need tough solutions, and there is no panacea that will be universally popular. Yet it is a small sacrifice to raise a Corporate minimum that has been $10 since 1931.
It is a small sacrifice to ask a couple who earns almost $20,700 in a MONTH, to invest just $15/month more in the Oregon economy.
11:39 a.m.
Nov 25, '09
Oh, and the Multnomah County population, 2008 estimate:
714,567
Nov 25, '09
blizzak, don't believe the hype. No progressives support Nixon's War on Drugs. You're confusing them with Dems that post things like "Blue Oregon is a place where Oregon progressives gather 'round the water cooler".
Real progressives are STILL reminding those that seem to be history learning impaired, that even the phrase is highly offensive. WE still bristle that it was coined, like the best practices of conservative talk radio, as a guffaw at that stoopid, socialist idea of LBJ's, the War on Poverty.
Dems will not consider real reform because, 1) they harbour conservative beliefs in the heart, 2) they actually know little of the detail of exactly how the rhetoric is a lie, 3) law enforcement couldn't continue its dysfunctional ways and growing budgets without it, and they actually like the police state, 4) private profits from drug testing and the monies that brings in for teaching and university hospitals, 5) the gov's systematic promoting of poor science, 6) keeping low paid workers from changing jobs, 7) reducing the WOD reduces their personal influence, 8) to get as many people on custodial supervision as possible (particularly people of color), but most of all, they find it useful to have a quick and handy way of measuring if a person will drop his/her pants on command.
No, far easier to give middle manager's COLAs, demand we pony up more to cover it, while holding a gun at kids' and seniors' heads. Yeah, most with any logic/conscience will have to vote for it. If you're proud of that fact, than get a life an look around you. The fact you run with a better herd makes your personal character no better than the Beck dittoheads or enviroterrorists like Jamieee/JK/K arlock/billy/Marie (all, James K arlock, of course).
12:14 p.m.
Nov 25, '09
The job killing taxes BIG LIE: Oregon Center for Public Policy: "The Tax Policy Center’s analysis shows that the campaign against Measures 66 and 67 is relying on phony job numbers shoddily cooked up by hired-gun economists."
http://www.ocpp.org/ and
http://www.ocpp.org/2009/20091123_TPC_Oregon_Memo_final.pdf
kudos to OCPP's and BO's Chuck Sheketoff!
Nov 25, '09
Put Rush, Sean and Glenn out of work! "Liberals Against Tax Killing Jobs"!
Nov 25, '09
"I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Nov 26, '09
Steve Novick again omits that he is a PAID operative of the YES on 66 &67 campaigns. Therefor his prose could be rightly questioned.
At the end of the day (since the beginning of the biennium): state employment has risen by 1,700 FTE's according to Salem; State employees got raises; State employees pay nothing towards their health insurance; ODOT continues to waste money and PERS has a $1.7BILLION gaping hole.
Voting yes on 66&67 WILL not guarantee that existing funding and staffing for schools, public safety, public health and justice will be maintianed. Beginning July 2010, PERS will begin taking an additional 6% or so out of budgets because THE STATE PERS BOARD messed up. This is not the fault of city, county or school board employees. It is not the fault of the great majority of state employees. It is, however going to be the responsibility of the general population of Oregon and all of these employees unless Gov K grows a backbone and shows some leadership.
Nov 26, '09
It's not about what state government needs. It's about what Oregon corporations need. Who needs the State Police? A private security firm like Blackwater would be more cost effective anyway. And we could simply solve the school issue by having vouchers and more private schools.
~EIO (un-PAID operative)
Nov 26, '09
It's not about what state government needs. It's about what Oregon corporations need. Who needs the State Police? A private security firm like Blackwater would be more cost effective anyway. And we could simply solve the school issue by having vouchers and more private schools.
~EIO (un-PAID operative)
Nov 26, '09
Vouchers have been on the ballot and lost in this state. One reason was that when people asked questions about the logistics of vouchers, they'd get vague responses or "well, I should hope so!"
Peoople who don't see serious information coming from a campaign are not required to vote for that campaign.
At some point, it really is about what ordinary voters want.
I wonder if Edward I. O'Hannity is being sarcastic.
Nov 26, '09
I wonder if Edward I. O'Hannity is being sarcastic.
Either that or he learned what Libertarian was on Wednesday and is taking his first wacks at it.
Try marrying the accountability/bottom line bit with citizen oversight of government which executes, or else, and you'll be a lot closer.
12:37 a.m.
Nov 27, '09
Kurt,
I believe Steven Novick DID state it:
(When I say “we,” I mean the Vote Yes for Oregon campaign, which I am currently working for.)
So much for your outrage....
Nov 27, '09
Sarcastic!?! I should think not! We need to completely defund Oregon and sell off all public assets to the highest bidder. The Private Sector should be running this show. All of society's ills can be directly traced to our neo-socialistic state government.
~EIO
Nov 27, '09
mlw commented: "I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Of course, he said that sometime within the last 50 years of his professional career during which he didn't have to pay income taxes on his salaries as a justice on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court or associate justice of the Federal Supreme Court - government officers and employees were not subject to income taxes until the Public Salary Tax Act of 1939... enacted 4 years after Holmes had passed on and 7 years after he had left the Supreme Court.
Nov 28, '09
Fair enough David, I missed that in Novick's post. Thanks for pointing it out. The fact remains that this tax, if enacted WILL NOT maintain current levels of public education, public health and public safety.
Nov 28, '09
Alcatross - News to me. Presumably he paid property and/or sales taxes. The principle is the same. I really hate it when some conservative spouts off about how overpaid public employees are in Oregon, or how little Oregonians get for their tax dollars. In fact, they pay very little and get a very good value for what they do pay. If they want to pay a lot, they should try the East Coast. I spent most of my grade and high school years there. We paid a lot of taxes and public school per capita student expenditures were among the highest in the country. Consequently, I received a wonderful education. We had a number of Ph.D.s teaching in my high school. They were well paid, and deserved to be. You get what you pay for.
Dec 15, '09
Novik's article is an excellent compendium of hard facts (as opposed to airy-fairy speculations like "School vouchers could solve the problem!"). Red herrings like "school vouchers" diverts our energy from attending to the current fiscal emergency.
Anyone who cares to observe the results of governance by experimental fantasy need only look one state south. Maybe one day Oregon's economy will return to the kind of stability that supports "hobby" experiments with our system of government -- but wait! We like our government the way it is! Or don't we? I do.
<h2>The teabaggers and other traitors currently attempting to chip away at our state budget like so many nibbling termites might consider emigration to a society more to their liking, say, Uzbekistan.</h2>