Oregon Can’t Wait!
Tell Oregon Legislators We Need Stable Funding Now!
The Oregon state legislature is rapidly drawing to a close and is still grappling with a $1.4 billion revenue shortfall, along with a constitutional requirement to balance the budget. For too long Oregon families have borne an unfair share of the tax burden, while corporations enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in the nation. Without meaningful tax reform, we will, once again, see severe cuts to vital programs that support our schools, seniors, the disabled, and our most vulnerable Oregonians.
We need our state leaders to take bold action, find the means to fund critical services at adequate levels and make key investments in schools and families that Oregon needs.
The proposed Commercial Activities Tax (CAT) offers meaningful tax reform. It provides a stable funding base for Oregon schools and programs for mental health, seniors, and the disabled, while protecting family and small business incomes. http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-corporate-tax-overhaul-commercial-activity/
The details: The breakthrough proposal combines long-term cost-containment measures with a corporate tax on gross receipts (under 1 percent) above a threshold ($3 million) http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/362473-242674-oregon-democrats-propose-breakthrough-plan-for-revenue-reform. Small businesses under the threshold would end up paying a nominal $250 fee, and individual income taxes would be reduced to accommodate price increases. Tax reform has the support of League of Women Voters of Oregon http://lwvor.org/.
Tell the Oregon State Legislature that Oregon Can’t Wait for Tax Reform!
**ACTION 1: Call Your State Senator**
Not sure who your state representatives are? https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts.html
State Senator Alan DeBoer (Republican – District 3 – Ashland)
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/deboer
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Email:
As a Republican, Senator Alan DeBoer can dramatically help ensure the passage of the CAT proposal and maintain his campaign promises to boot http://www.mailtribune.com/news/20170611/deboer-can-stop-big-cuts-to-schools-and-health-care. Tell him he needs to represent his constituents, and not corporate lobbyists.
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
My name is [-] and I’m a constituent from [City], Oregon. I am calling to urge you to support the Corporate Activities Tax (CAT) proposed by the new Joint Committee on Tax Reform. Corporations need to pay their fair share, not just working families and small businesses. Year after year, we see cuts to our schools, mental health services, services for seniors and the disabled. Oregon cannot move forward without real tax reform.
ASK Senator DeBoer: Will you fight for Oregon students, seniors and working families and work to pass a revenue package that raises at least $1 billion from corporations, so we can make the investments we need to move our state forward?
Senator DeBoer has already said NO, but ask him anyway. He needs to hear this again and again!
State Senator Herman E. Baertschiger Jr. (Republican – District 2 – Grants Pass) https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/baertschiger/
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1702 District Phone: 541-787-1702
Email:
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
My name is [-] and I’m a constituent from [City], Oregon. I am calling to urge you to support the Corporate Activities Tax (CAT) proposed by the new Joint Committee on Tax Reform. Corporations need to pay their fair share, not just working families and small businesses. Year after year, we see cuts to our schools, mental health services, services for seniors and the disabled. Oregon cannot move forward without real tax reform.
ASK Senator Baertschiger: Will you fight for Oregon students, seniors and working families and work to pass a revenue package that raises at least $1 billion from corporations, so we can make the investments we need to move our state forward?
**ACTION 2: Call Your state Representative**
Contact your representative and tell them you support corporate accountability and meaningful tax reform in Oregon. Who represents me? https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts.html
ASK Your State Representative : Will you fight for Oregon students, seniors and working families and work to pass a revenue package that raises at least $1 billion from corporations, so we can make the investments we need to move our state forward?
Background Information on Oregon State Legislature: Oregon’s state legislature consists of a 60-member House of Representatives and a 30-member Senate. You can sign up for newsletters from your state legislators and even alerts on particular bills on their website https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/.
Kate Brown changes course on new business tax, says she built ‘sense of urgency’ http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/06/kate_brown_changes_course_on_business_tax.html