Contact Information
Salem, OR 97301
503.986.1419
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A RECAP OF THE 2009 SESSION STARTS WITH A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Regardless of the political party you may belong to, I suspect you are likely to agree with me that the imbalance of political philosophy that is dominating our state government in the executive branch and both legislative houses is not healthy for Oregon. What we know for sure is that jobs are being lost daily. We hold the third highest unemployment rate in the nation at over 12.4%, with no end in sight. Whether or not we follow the supermajority's priority agenda and try to create more green jobs, the economy is still tanking.
My vision for the future includes a government with checks and balances working properly to keep debate robust and preserve the power of the people!
History teaches us that the most effective way to increase government revenue is to lower taxes. Yet, that fact is denied by Oregon's leadership as it pushes ahead with government-as-usual. These extraordinary times call for innovative solutions, built upon a solid understanding of our economy. They require collaboration. Liberal tax-and-spend policies are oppressive in a normal economic downturn. We are in the middle of a severe recession and can't afford to revert to tired old methods proven to fail.
My vision for the future includes creating jobs and repealing the tax increases that hurt businesses!
Of course, the government must tax its citizens for the essentials. However, it can overreach and cross the line into establishing barriers that discourage risk-taking and restrict the American entrepreneurial spirit. Innovation must be encouraged at all costs because the hope of America has always been in the character, ingenuity and creativity of its citizens.
My vision for the future encourages entrepreneurial activity!
My vision comes from The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitutional Convention. Our founders hammered out on paper the principles by which we would govern our nation. These documents are further strengthened by the first 10 amendments to the Constitution - the Bill of Rights. Codification of these rights provided balance to the Constitution and kept the federal government from encroaching on the rights of individuals and the states. The most fundamental American principle of government is the idea of self government. This was most famously articulated by Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration and the third President of the United States:
"[Our] object is to secure self-government by the republicanism of our constitution, as well as by the spirit of the people; and to nourish and perpetuate that spirit. I am not among those who fear the people. They and not the rich are our dependence for continued freedom." --Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, 1816. ME 15:39
My vision for the future includes freedom and self-government!
Regular folks could be trusted to exercise self-government at the birth of our nation. Can't we be trusted now? If one looks at the bills that have recently become laws in Oregon, one has to ask government leaders: Do you put more trust in the people or more in bureaucracy?
My vision for the future includes trust in the goodness and integrity of the people!
I would encourage you to ask yourself this question as you think about the Legislative accomplishments of 2009: Do your leaders believe you can be trusted to self-govern or do they believe in the need to regulate your public and personal behaviors in order to have the "right" community outcomes?
My vision for the future includes the priorities of education, public safety and personal responsibility to build our communities!
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A Vision of the Future Requires Reform of the Budgeting Process!
If you would like to read my colleague Representative Richardon's well-articulated ideas for budgeting reform and many insightful analyses and insights that I support
Look up Common Sense Budgeting; July 2009 issue.
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Supermajority Point of View
The 2009 Legislative Session will be known for its supermajority Democrat response to the deepest economic recession this generation can remember. Their response was bold, and took Oregon to new levels of tax-and-spend behavior. The non-partisan Oregon Legislative Revenue Office estimates that the Democrat tax increases alone will kill approximately 5865 private sector jobs in one year. Private economist Bill Conerly estimated that these permanent tax increases will cost Oregon 36,000 private-sector jobs by 2015! With an unemployment rate of almost 13%, a tax and spend approach is not a right one. However, our legislature voted to increase taxes and fees by $2 billion.
Supposedly, the taxes targeted "rich" people and "big" corporations. This sounded more palatable than taxing everyone.
However, according to state officials, "more than 75% of the 31,000 Oregonians who claimed taxable income of $125,000 or more last year were owners of small and family owned businesses."
Keep in mind that the folks who have an s-corporation report the flow-through of income and losses through their personal income tax. So, if they show $250k as income, this amount includes the amounts they have to pay in employee taxes, benefits and investment back into their company. It does not represent a "rich" culture which should be paying more "fair share." Most in this group will have to raise prices or cut jobs in order to pay these taxes. The corporate minimum tax hike included a Gross Receipts Tax. This action will punish even those who have not made a profit in their business.
Think about it. The rhetoric in support of these taxes was all about sticking it to the rich. However, many of those who show above $250k income are re-circulating their income into their businesses that serve the public and create jobs! The so called "fair" taxes are job-killers!
In addition to these big picture economic policies that will drive a business's decision-making, this legislative body continued to pass bills that will make it more difficult to create and sustain jobs due to increased regulation, fees, and laws that increase the threat of lawsuits.
Regarding fees that were passed as part of the $2 billion revenue increase, you will be paying extra cash for everything from dental prices to auto inspections, installation of wells, registration of RV's, fishing, hunting, death certificates, motorcycle riding, aircraft and pilot registrations. There are also new taxes on gasoline and on the vehicles you drive.
In addition to these job-killing taxes (which reduce state revenue by increasing unemployment), the supermajority passed bills that affected the workplace and restricted communication between employees and employers (such as SB519). Union-backed bills were passed to cement benefits, pay scales and special speech rights for unions at the expense of their employers. Some bills whittled away at Enterprise Zones which are intended to draw new businesses to invest in certain areas of Oregon. Business and labor policies have become unbalanced. Under the leadership of the supermajority, union leaders have used their influence on the majority party of the Legislature for the sake of their own power and not for the people. |
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