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Liberal states reject gas taxes

dog-logo-stamp.serendipityThumb [1]Liberal states reject gas taxes — will Oregon make this mistake?
By Taxpayer Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com [2]

Two very liberal states, Massachusetts and Michigan, have recently rejected gas taxes at the ballot by spectacular margins.

Michigan’s gas tax was defeated by voters by 80%. The defeat made it the worst defeat of a constitutional measure in nearly a half century. It failed in all of 83 counties. Having a gas tax fail so miserably that it becomes the most hated measure in the state’s history is not an uncommon event. A few years ago, Oklahoma defeated a gas tax increase by 87% making it the largest defeat of any ballot measure in their history. If you wish to go down in history as a colossal failure– a gas tax is a good way to do it.

In 2014, Massachusetts repealed their gas tax index measure at the ballot. This is a state with less than 12% Republicans. Clearly, gas taxes are a populist issue that cross party lines as both lower and middle class voters find it hard to afford the cost of gas.

How about Oregon?

Oregon has a history of gas tax defeats. The last time Oregonians have voted on a gas tax they have defeated it by large margins. In 1978 a gas tax increase was defeated by 74% of the voters. Two years later in 1980 voters rejected another gas tax increase with a 66% NO vote.

Oregonians have rejected four times using gas and fuel revenue for other purposes such as police, parks and other dedicated earmarks.

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