“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” …Ronald Reagan (1986), 40th president of the United States (1981 – 1989)
In this issue:
- Benton Co. Republicans Have New Office!
- Oregon Lowest on Happiness Index Scale
- Democrats pass $733 million in tax increases on small and family owned businesses
- Beginning of a Billion Dollar Tax Day in Oregon Legislature
- Democrats protect special interests, stick small, family owned businesses with cost of health care reform
- Republicans question wisdom and legality Of Governor’s borrow-and-spend plan
- Republicans Unveil AMERICAN ENERGY ACT
- Obama’s Issues Crumbling, says Dick Morris
Benton Co. Republicans Have New Office!
Benton Co. Republicans have moved their office to the Millrace Center,1760 SW Third Street, Corvallis. Please visit us soon! Our office hours are 10 – 2, Monday thru Thursday. Our telephone number is still (541) 754-9155.
Oregon Lowest on Happiness Index Scale
Oregon’s governor and his Democrat legislature are not willing to enact measures that will create jobs in the private sector. This is paying off…in a very negative way. The latest issue of the National Conference of State Legislators magazine reports that Oregon is 50th …the lowest in the nation… on the Happiness Index on Main Street.com. This index looked at household income, debt, employment rates and foreclosures.
The top 5 states on the Happiness Index are #1, Nebraska; #2, Iowa; #3, Kansas; #4, Hawaii; and #5, Louisiana. States at the bottom are #46, Rhode Island; #47, Nevada; #48, California; #49, Florida, and #50, OREGON. What an honor!
Democrats pass $733 million in tax increases on small and family owned businesses
Beginning of a Billion Dollar Tax Day in Oregon Legislature
Salem, OR, June 11, 2009 – On a strictly partisan vote today, Democrats passed two tax bills that will extract $733 million from Oregon small and family owned businesses over the next two years. By the end today, the Senate will vote on more than one billion dollars in new taxes, all targeted at Oregon small and family businesses, despite a second-highest in the nation unemployment rate.
“These taxes will undermine the small businesses that create jobs and help communities around Oregon thrive,” said Senator Chris Telfer (R-Bend). “A report released today stated that over the next six years, Oregon will lose 36,000 additional jobs because of these tax increases. These tax increases take our state in exactly the wrong direction.”
The two tax bills are:
- HB 3405 A – Increases the tax on Oregon businesses for the “privilege” of doing business in Oregon from $10 to up to $100,000 and increases the overall tax rate on Oregon corporations. Total raised: $261 million.
- HB 2649 A – Creates two brand new, highest-in-the-nation tax brackets at 10.8% and 11%.
“Democrats are turning a tin ear to Oregon's struggling economy,” said Senator Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg). “Higher taxes mean employers will be forced to cut jobs. The tragedy is, we don’t need tax increases to pay for the services that matter most to Oregonians!”
Republicans proposed a Back to Basics Budget (see website link below for Republican Back to Basics Budget) in May that outlines a way to pay for Oregon’s most important priorities without increasing taxes.
“We can't tax our way to prosperity,” said Senator Brian Boquist (R-Dallas). “It's time for state government to live within its means, tighten its belt, and fund the most critical services with existing tax revenue. Oregonians and businesses are being forced to cut spending- Salem should do the same.”
Learn about Republicans’ Back to Basics plan here
Democrats protect special interests, stick small, family owned businesses with cost of health care reform
Salem, OR, June 11, 2009 – As Oregon wrestles with record unemployment, Senate Democrats passed a health care premium tax on Thursday that protects labor unions and large corporations at the expense of individual payers and small businesses, the backbone of Oregon’s economy.
“Increasing access to health care for all Oregonians is a noble and laudable goal that we all share,” said Senator Larry George (R-Sherwood). “But small businesses are the life and breath of our economy, and this tax will make already expensive health insurance even more unaffordable for them. For all the talk about ‘fairness’ in this building, this tax is boldly unfair. This premium tax exempts the biggest, wealthiest and most powerful entities and saddles the most vulnerable businesses with the cost of the uninsured.”
The proposed 1% tax on health care premiums contained in House Bill 2116 is not a long-term, workable solution. Over time, this tax will fail to pay for the program it supports. The premium tax unfairly targets small businesses while exempting self-insured entities such as large companies and labor trusts. The tax would extract $90 million from individual payers and family businesses over the next two years. The State of Oregon, the largest purchaser of health care coverage in Oregon, would eventually be exempted from the 1% tax and subject only to an undetermined assessment
amount.
“If we are going to find a solution, it should be a solution to which everyone contributes, not just small businesses and individual payers,” said Senator Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg). “State government, big businesses and labor unions should contribute just as much as the hardware store down the street.”
Republicans also cautioned that the timing of the program expansion is flawed, noting that a recession when the state is racked by budget shortfalls is the wrong time to increase spending. Oregon’s unemployment rate is the second highest in the nation. More than 260,000 Oregonians can not find a job, much less afford healthcare.
Republicans question wisdom and legality Of Governor’s borrow-and-spend plan - Stealing from unemployment insurance is a hidden tax on business, doesn’t create lasting jobs
Salem, OR – Governor Kulongoski’s plan to borrow-and spend-money reserved for paying
unemployment insurance claims will end up increasing the rates of Oregon employers who pay into the trust fund. Legislative Counsel has also issued an opinion stating that this plan could force Oregon employers to fall into noncompliance with federal unemployment insurance law.
“While there are hundreds of thousands of Oregonians who need jobs, this plan does nothing to create lasting, local jobs in the private sector,” said Senator Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). “This is a hidden tax of $90 million on Oregon businesses that are already facing more than $1 billion in increased taxes this session. This legislature is placing a monstrous burden on the backs of Oregon businesses, the very people we need to help us survive this recession. Where does it end?”
Oregon employers are assessed a percentage of the wages they pay employees to fund the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. When the money in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund declines, rates paid by employers increase. Kulongoski’s plan will result in higher rates paid by Oregon companies, and just for the purpose of creating a new government program and increase spending.
“You would have thought Democrats would have learned a lesson when their plan to create jobs by borrowing and spending in January only created a little over 100 of the 3,000 jobs promised,” said Ferrioli. “Government spending is not the way to create jobs. Empowering businesses and creating a climate that encourages businesses to grow and invest is how we should be creating jobs.”
Democrats have spent the past week saddling businesses with over $1 billion in new taxes, increased regulations and even a legislative gag order curtailing their right to free speech.
Republicans Unveil AMERICAN ENERGY ACT
Comprehensive Energy Plan Will Not Raise Taxes - As gas prices continue their steady rise and utility rates are going up, Democrats push for a national energy tax bill, which every working family, small business and farmer would have to pay.
“It is clear that for the sake of our environment and our economic security, we need a better plan than a national energy tax,” said U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, chairman of the American Energy Solutions Group, that introduced the bill this week in Congress.
“The American Energy Act is centered on domestic exploration of our natural resources, and a renewed commitment to safe and emissions-free nuclear energy. According to the Department of Energy, the safest and most efficient way for utility companies to control carbon emissions is to increase their supply of nuclear energy.
“Domestic oil supply will also be increased by lifting restrictions on the Arctic Coastal Plain, the Outer Continental Shelf, and oil shale in the Mountain West. Revenues generated through domestic exploration will support innovation in renewable and alternative energy sources, like wind and solar technologies. “This comprehensive energy solution creates jobs, makes energy more affordable, and helps clean up the environment. But the greatest strength of this solution is that it calls forth not only the natural resources of this great land, but it taps into the unlimited resources of American ingenuity.” Read all about this sensible solution to our nation’s energy problems on our website at here.
Obama’s Issues Crumbling, says Dick Morris
While Obama’s approval remains high – and his personal favorability is even higher – the underlying numbers suggest that a decline may be in the offing. Even as he stands on his pedestal, the numbers under his feet are crumbling.
According to a Rasmussen poll, more voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats to handle the economy, by a margin of 45 – 39. Scott Rasmussen notes that “this is the first time in over two years of polling that the GOP has held the advantage on this issue.”
On handling the economy, Obama’s numbers have dropped since February, when he had a 59 percent approval rating. Now, only 45 percent approve of his handling of federal spending, while 46 percent approve of his treatment of the budget deficit. Morris says it becomes clearer that the deficit caused by spending has landed us in a new economic crisis, entirely of Obama’s own making. The old recession – that the public says was caused by Bush – shows signs of winding down. But the new recession and/or inflation – triggered by Obama’s massive deficits – is just now coming upon us. No matter how Obama handles this crisis, the blame will fall squarely on Obama’s deficit and spending policies.
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