Yet as the nifty link points out, we're below average in total state and local tax burden. And our per capita tax burden has dropped from 11% of income in 1977 to 9.4% of income in 2008.

Well, the first four states in the list DO have sales taxes, so not exactly an avocados to bananas comparison.

Rep. Chris Edwards, another Eugene Democrat, compared the monthly price of the increases to "a couple of videos and late fees" and "a quick trip to KFC."

Really? This guy must be really bad about returning movies, and eats a LOT of fried chicken.

What is the point? Seems to me the over $250K can well afford a slight increase in the marginal rate. Big deal. Even having top honors wouldn't be bad.

"Today we are asking a fortunate few to help Oregon out of a very tough spot," said Rep. Phil Barnhart, D-Eugene.

When don't they ask the fortunate few?

Oh yeah, tabacco

RWB-- Why should those fortunate few be obligated to finance for their negligent neighbor?

Great - Now we're Cali without the good weather.

Instead of asking the fortunate few, why doesn't Ted asked the gifted masses of state employees to do a little giveback? It'd go a lot further.

If the US is going to get its finances under control we need to *redistribute* 20+ years of misbegotten rentier wealth. A flat asset tax in the 2-5% per annum range sounds about right.

Well, the McMansion market in Vancouver/Battleground is about to see an upturn.

The bad thing about moving to the 'Couv is that you have to live in the 'Couv.

Doing something serious to address the continued drain that the illegals put on Oregon's finances might help on the expenditure side, and reduce the ever growing demand for revenue and services.

We can not forever take in all the world's poor.

I know I'm not politically correct.

So what.

Instead of asking the fortunate few, why doesn't Ted asked the gifted masses of state employees to do a little giveback? It'd go a lot further.

From the 5/28/09 Oregonian: "Kulongoski has called for a freeze on pay, including a seniority increase that he promised to rank-and-file members in 2007. He wants some employees to take a flat 5 percent pay cut and others to take up to 24 unpaid furlough days over the next two years, some on holidays so the public won't feel the pinch. Public unions are outraged. They have offered eight unpaid furlough days and no cost-of-living raises."

OK, maybe he hasn't asked for enough in givebacks for your tastes. But I'll just say this: Most of these employees are making less than $75,000/year, which means that they spend their money. I'm not sure how severely whacking the pay of a bunch of middle class folks is going to boost the economy...

"Doing something serious to address the continued drain that the illegals put on Oregon's finances"

Because there are thousands of white Oregonians who would jump at the opportunity to pick fruit for 30 bucks a day.

Or thousands of African American, Caucasian, Asian, or Latin unemployed legals who would jump at the chance to do construction work at 25.00 an hour that they used to be able to get; or work in restaurants, por elsewhere, that they used to be able to get.

Your stereotyping and racism is showing yuan.

"OK, maybe he hasn't asked for enough in givebacks for your tastes."

OK, I"ll bite, what exactly have they given back? Ted does these little show-dramas and then goes back in his corner.

Almost every public employee union has pushed back on every give-back. A lot of people are taking 10-20% paycusts and less hours.

HOwever, maybe we should ask Randy and his CoP buddies to give back the 3% they just gave themselves.

And....nation-wide, government employee unemployment is at about 3%, right? Dunno what it is here....betcha it ain't a negative figure.

Just sayin'....

"rentier" wealth?

Tell me you don't actually believe that all wealth is the result of exploiting natural resources.

Ever heard of Google, Microsoft, or Intuitive Surgical?

"The bad thing about moving to the 'Couv is that you have to live in the 'Couv."
===

Is that really the case? Not always.

Many people's residences and businesses (that could consider moving) can be run from almost anywhere. So set up your corporation and a small residence in the 'Couv, but spend most of your time in your "Vacation Home".

Or is my (very) limited tax & residency understanding too meager?

I file as an independent contractor. These days I rarely even make minimum wage any more. And yet I still face a huge tax bill at the end of the year.

If the economy was rolling along quite well, and I made say 40,000 in a year...I've never done this but I can fantasize....I would owe probably 45 percent of my NET. Federal income tax, Social Security tax, Oregon income tax, Mult co tax, Tri-Met tax, all at double the rates that "employees" pay, with no write offs. I've actually done the math on this one.

I wonder how many other independent contractors and small business owners out there have done this same math and decided to move their businesses out of Portland, or even Oregon. Eventually, if this keeps up, there won't be any productive citizens left to bleed.

Mark my words, you government parasites with your $60,000 salaries to produce nothing of any use or value, three percent unemployment and gold-plated benefits for life, if you keep this BS up, eventually you are going to kill the host organism you depend on for your very existence.

You know what ?

I am seriously considering the idea of just not paying my taxes any more. I simply don't have the money these days, there are more and more nights that I make 5 or 6 dollars an hour. Literally. Before taxes. And there are no other jobs.

I'll go ahead and file, and then just send each and every bloated bloodsucking government agency one dollar each.

I've been to jail, it doesn't scare me. At least I won't have to worry about the ever-escalating rent.

The significant number in that chart is that Oregon's top rate kicks in at $15,000, while the states that have a higher top rate place it only on income of $372,000 or more.

Oregon's individual income tax is ridiculously regressive, but if the new higher rates go in at $125,000/$250,000 of Oregon taxable income, it will be less so.

Oh yeah, this kind of tax policy will just have the various companies flocking to Oregon won't? Hmmm, we have the 2nd highest unemployment in the nation and the legislature enacts a tax policy that will make business and the wealthy take a serious look at moving elsewhere. We only have one Fortune 500 company, but are these kinds of tax policies going to make other Fortune 500 companies want to come here? I dunno, it's not the way I would run things.

Rep. Chris Edwards, another Eugene Democrat, compared the monthly price of the increases to "a couple of videos and late fees" and "a quick trip to KFC."

The Honorable Representative forgets one small thing: It's not his money.