Senate GOP counters Courtney Economic

[Oregon Senate Republican Release]
Senate Republicans offer Courtney
ideas for job creation

Salem, OR — Following a press release issued Monday from Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) that made the observation “jobs are key to economic recovery,” Senate Republicans are offering Courtney two ideas that could create over 20,000 jobs and help end Oregon’s highest unemployment rate since 2005.”We are thrilled that the Senate President has come to the realization that jobs are the basis of economic recovery, given that we have hemorrhaged over 25,000 jobs in the past year,” said Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day). “Senate Republicans have been advocating several concepts that will put Oregonians back to work, and we are looking forward to the Senate President’s co-operation on the ideas.”

Senate Republicans have been fighting for tax relief for working families that would create 19,951 new jobs, according to the Legislative Revenue Office. The concept would put more Oregonians into a lower tax bracket and provides the average working family with a 20% tax break. The tax relief puts $375 million back into the economy every year. It also restores fairness to the tax structure by taking low income earners out of the higher tax brackets. The proposal accomplishes these goals by doubling the size of Oregon’s 5%, 7% and 9% tax brackets, so Oregonians pay less tax on more income.

Senate Republicans are also advocating for a plan that puts Oregonians to work managing the state’s forests to keep them green and cut carbon emissions from forest fires. Proper management could result in thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars placed back into the economy.

“Job creation efforts are long over-due to Oregonians who have seen and felt this crisis coming for the past year,” said Ferrioli. “Thankfully, the Senate President now understands how important jobs are in our state, so now is the time for the legislature and Governor to act. Let’s get Oregonians back on the job and our economy back on track.”

Oregon lost another 7,400 jobs in August, raising Oregon’s unemployment rate from 5.9 percent to 6.5 percent. 123,116 Oregonians were unemployed in August.

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