Taxpayer Association Capitol News: Changing the tax name

Taxpayer Association of Oregon Legislative Update;

1. Revenue and Taxes: Change to Tax Policy Proposed
2. Modifies Use of Rainy Day Funds
3. State Financed Health Care
4. Amendments to 2007 Ethics Reform Legislation
5. Education and Human Services
6. Government Regulation
7. Land-Use

Revenue and Taxes: Change to Tax Policy Proposed
The Senate Finance and Revenue Committee held a hearing on SB 28 which would change the definition of a tax in Oregon statute. The definition amendment changes tax to “Revenue” and restructures the basic values of equity and fairness and throws out seven guiding principles and only includes these five; Equity, Adequacy, Economic growth, Stability and Efficient administration. These changes are significant and this change; “(D) Be equitably divided between households and businesses.,” will allow the majority party with their super majority to rein terror on “who” they decide has the ability to pay, and you and I know it will be businesses that they have felt for a long time have not been paying their fair share.

Modifies Use of Rainy Day Funds
HB 2073 Modifies conditions under which Legislative Assembly may appropriate moneys from Oregon Rainy Day Fund and allows the appropriation if approved by three-fifths of members of each house of Legislative Assembly and approved by the Governor and declares emergency, which is effective on passage. These changes, effectively allow this Legislature to dip into the “Rainy Day Fund” this session without otherwise being required to wait until 2011 or later. The bold citing below tells the story:
(b) The appropriation is approved by three-fifths of the members serving in each house of the Legislative Assembly and the Governor declares an emergency.

Education and Human Services “State Financed Health Care”
The House Health Care Committee held another hearing on HB 2009 the legislation designed to establish a Oregon Health Authority Board and Oregon Health Authority with duties, functions and powers. This is the trigger legislation for the plan and implementation of state financed health care. This legislation creates a tax on health insurance, managed care plans, and sets fixed rate for hospital assessment (tax) plus it creates a new cigarette tax, all to help fund the new program. For the proposed purposes of this legislation the new program will cost more than may be available this legislative session if insurance policy holders and insurance companies revolt, or if by chance it passes it will certainly cost the taxpayers and insurance payers of Oregon more than what they will want to pay now and in the future!!

Government Regulation: Amendments to 2007 Ethics Reform Legislation
The Senate Rules Committee held hearings on Senate Bills 30, 31, 32, and 85 this week considering changes, though very small, to the 2007 Ethics Reform legislation that ended up being very controversial with many appointed officials throughout the state resigning due to reporting and disclosure requirements. Some of the proposed changes will definitely help but there are more changes needed that would allow the transparency of reporting for citizens to see and not restrict the elected officials to the degree that they do today.

Land Use: “Big Look” Land Use Legislation
The House Land Use Committee held another hearing on HB 2229. Oregonians In Action are submitting several amendments to this omnibus land use legislation that nobody likes, including DLCD and 1000 Friends of Oregon. As the amendments are released I will report on those proposed from the familiar groups interested in land use in Oregon.

Oregon Catalyst