Oregon’s Legislature isn’t just a disgrace. It’s a national laughingstock. We are the last state in the country without a budget.
And Southern Oregon lawmakers are part of the problem, not the solution.
As the Senate GOP caucus first helped craft a compromise, then pulled the rug out, House Republicans, including Reps. Rob Patridge, George Gilman and Dennis Richardson, continue to pretend they can come up with $1.2 billion in new revenue without raising any taxes. Maybe if they click their heels together three times and recite, "there’s no place like Salem," it could happen. But we doubt it.
So ... let's raise a vehicle insurance fee, REFUSE to raise a beer tax, REFUSE over $10 million in federal funds, REFUSE to consider limiting or eliminating deductible mortgage interest on second residences, REFUSE to consider a minimal sales tax, REFUSE to consider restructuring the brackets so that perhaps a top bracket could really impact folks with LOTS of money and no serious discomfort caused by a minimal increase in rate (As opposed to how things are now where our 'low bracket' - 6% and 'high bracket' - 9% are transitioned to by incomes ranging from abysmal poverty to abject poverty, with nowhere else to go for those scraping by, doing OK, living comfortably, or so awash in disposable income so as to not need to decide between a new Range Rover or a Lexus - just get 'em both. Cuz the abject poverty crowd and the two luxury vehicle crowd are currently taxed at the same rate. And I am sure it hurts them both the same (Not!).)
wow, that was a long parenthetical rant. But on with my point. Rob's solutions so far? Consolidate School districts (can you say 'Screw local control'? I knew you could); Consolidate Public Safety providers (Can you say 'Screw local control AND screw appropriate specialization'? I knew you could); Tax vehicle insurance but don't call it a tax, call it a fee... this is leadership? Create monoliths and somehow that is reducing government? Give me a break.
Figure out how to make Oregon a better place for Oregonians or get outta Salem.
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