Posted on 01/31/2003 6:56:38 PM PST by freepatriot32
Oregon voters have rejected a temporary income tax surcharge -- handing a major victory to the state Libertarian Party, which led the fight against the proposed tax hike.
On January 28, in a statewide referendum, voters rejected Measure 28 by 55%-45%. Had it passed, the initiative would have raised taxes by $725 million over three years.
"We are very happy tonight," said Oregon LP Executive Director Richard Burke, as the magnitude of the anti-tax vote became clear. "We were very surprised by the margin."
Just eight days earlier, a statewide poll by Portland's KATU Television had said the vote was too close to call.
But on the evening of the vote, about 40 Libertarians at the state LP headquarters in Beaverton applauded and cheered as TV news reports showed Measure 28 decisively falling behind.
About 65% of the state's registered voters cast a ballot for or against Measure 28 -- one of the largest turnouts for a special election in state history, reported the Salem Statesman Journal.
Measure 28 would have increased the state's top personal tax rate from 9% to 9.5%, and the top corporate tax rate from 6.6% to 6.93% in 2002, 2003, and 2004. It would have cost the average Oregon taxpayer about $114 per year.
The state legislature had voted to put the measure on the ballot in September.
To fight Measure 28, the Oregon LP had launched a vigorous "Turn The Tide" campaign, visiting 27 cities and towns in 17 days to offer arguments against the tax hike.
A January 6 press conference in Salem to kick off the effort generated statewide media attention.
The Libertarians made a simple -- and apparently compelling – argument against the proposed tax increase.
"We've got a state government that is too big," said Tom Cox, the Oregon LP's 2002 gubernatorial candidate. "Voters [should] stand up and demand fiscal responsibility."
Joining the Oregon LP in the campaign against Measure 28 were the Taxpayer Association of Oregon and Citizens for a Sound Economy.
The Oregon Republican Party never took a formal stand on the measure.
A coalition of public-employee unions -- including the Oregon School Employees Association and the Oregon AFL-CIO -- campaigned for Measure 28, using radio ads, telephone calls, e-mails, fliers, and public meetings to build support for the tax hike.
A number of newspapers editorialized in favor of the tax increase, and some even reported that two people had committed suicide when they received notice that their state-funded psychiatric and health benefits might be cut.
Measure 28 was also endorsed by outgoing Governor John Kitzhaber, who said it was "just common sense."
In all, the pro-Measure 28 groups spent $490,000, while Libertarians and other anti-tax groups spent about $30,000.
When Measure 28's defeat became clear, state and local government employees threatened "drastic" cuts in services.
For example, the Multnomah County sheriff said he would release 114 prisoners because he couldn't afford to keep them locked up. Portland Public Schools said it would trim 24 days off its school year. The Oregon State Police said it would lay off 277 officers. The state court system said it would go to a four-day work week, and stop processing misdemeanor crimes like shoplifting. And the state legislature said it would eliminate medical benefits for 8,000 elderly and disabled people.
But Burke said such threats were designed to chastise voters for rejecting the tax increase.
"If they do this, it is only to punish the people for not voting for taxes," he said. "These people are using scare tactics to extort money. We don't think the cuts will happen the way [they've] been threatened."
During its "No on Measure 28" campaign, the state LP had said the state government could avert the so-called crisis by going on a "fiscal diet," and could cut the budget by reforming the state workers' pension system, laying off 2,000 middle-level bureaucrats, and eliminating the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
The defeat of Measure 28 is "an opportunity for the legislature to finally make the budget decisions they should have made years ago," said Burke.
The Salem Statesman Journal had said if Measure 28 passed, it would have sent "political ripples across the nation" -- and possibly inspired politicians in other states to raise taxes, too.
The newspaper quoted initiative expert Dane Waters, who said, "I really think this will be a trendsetter. If the voters do adopt this in Oregon, I think that will embolden lawmakers in other states."
But now, with the defeat of Measure 28, the message has been sent that Oregon and other states "can reverse the course of government growth," said Burke.
I see this is the kind of attitude that is going to reduce the left to rubbles.... not.
The LP is only there to bash the GOP, split the right, "solving" the two party system by making it a 3 party system, not competing amongst conservatives within the GOP but dictating their own hypocritical terms within their fascist party lines, and helping the Dims.
The dope card? That is rich! It's the LP who base their party lines in dope pandering. THe dope card! what a bunch of hypocrits.
But that is actualy weak, because the LP is pro-abortion and against the war on terror, Iraq and communism... they love China... and democrats and Clinton having sex privately in our WhiteHouse.
Goody.
Moreover the LP is not about truth, it is about power. The LP wants power, period. I mean, the megalomania of "founding" a party that adds nothing, but absolutely nothing, to the debate and the issues.
Oh, that is rich. LP politicians never were kicked out of the GOP for their ideas or for bringing debate. Nope, the LP had to have the power of the party, while deriding hypocriticaly the power of the other parties.
THe LP is not about truth and competition in truth, it is about power.
So, if there are RINO republicans, why aren'T there Libertarian republicans in name only? WHere are the "Libertarians"? Except to split the right and help the left win, for 5 minute of attention and party fame?
THe LP does not care about the truth or the AMerican people, but only about their party.
Why the hell not ?
Because they did not want to participate in the Libertarian Party lead Jerry SPringer show.
Why the hell not ?
Because they did not want to participate in the Libertarian Party lead Jerry SPringer show.
You know, the dope pandering and screaming, the GOP bashing, and all that other nice stuff the LP brings about, all for power and recognition, none for truth.
Oregon Libertarian Party: "Hey, we helped defeat the tax increase! NOW will you join our anti-war protest?"
Yes, and I was reiterating that for those that misread it. It seems that the mere mention of the libertarian party brings out "foaming-at-the-mouth" responses that the party is insignificant and shouldn't exist.
I'd argue that the party is significant and should exist. If nothing else, it serves as a check and balance against government largess as often prescribed by the democrats and sometimes prescribed by the Republicans. This is despite the notion that some have that the libertarian party is about drugs and only drugs.
This case of the tax vote shows exactly where each party put their efforts. The liberals supported the tax, the conservatives kept quiet, and the libertarian party, despite its small size, spoke out against it. Checks and balances.
If one is to believe the flame wars, I would presuppose that Libertarians took an alternative stand on the tax hike; pledged commitment to raising that amount of money by "adding a surcharge" on all pot sold *for one year*. </sarcasm off > FReegards!
Nope, the LP is only interested about its party. If it is to lower taxes, they go by the same leftist mantra: Donate us money to save you money.
Of course, meanwhile they split the right, help the left pass and the treachery goes on unabated, because the LP competes for votes, not for conservatism or truth within the right.
How do you get checks and balance when in the corrupt democratic system the right gets split because of the LP!!!
THERE IS NO POWER BALANCE AGAINST DEMS WHEN THE RIGHT SPLIT!!!!
SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN VENEZUELA, CUBA, BRAZIL AND WHAT NOT!!! FRANCE FOR YEARS STAYED MIRED IN THE LEFT BECAUSE OF LE PEN!!!
THERE IS NO POWER BALANCE THERE.
THe LP is only about party power, not about balancing the powers out there or favoring the cause of truth or competition amongst conservatives.
Indeed, the entertainment value is a bit less power hungry and sick than the megalomania of the LP party seeking party power by denouncing a reasonably open GOP party of being this dictatorship.
Scumier than scum, they are, and this megalomaniacal headline says it all.
Too much caffeine this morning? You seem over-excited.
But that is actualy weak, because the LP is pro-abortion and against the war on terror, Iraq and communism... they love China... and democrats and Clinton having sex privately in our WhiteHouse.
And I disagree with most of those position, though I don't know where you get the notion that they are either pro-China or anti-China. They tend to be free market promoters, which is quite the opposite of the democrat's socialistic approach. As for Clinton's privacy, I have to ask you if you agree with the democrats that it was about sex since that is what you seem to be insinuating. It was about lying under oath - I don't really know anybody that cares a whit about Clinton's sex life.
Goody.
whatever!
Moreover the LP is not about truth, it is about power. The LP wants power, period. I mean, the megalomania of "founding" a party that adds nothing, but absolutely nothing, to the debate and the issues.
Now I really would like to know how you came up with the silly notion that the libertarian party is seeking power. In the sense that it promotes keeping power among the populace, I'd agree, but I don't see how decreasing government authoritarianism is somehow trying to increase the party's power. Nor do I see how speaking out against further tax increases can be seen as seeking power. Their actions speak the opposite of what you propose.
As I said in a previous post, the libertarian party serves to provide checks and balances when the two major parties start to act alike. As much as it may bother you, they have that right. And when it comes to things involving liberty and financial freedom, the libertarians are most often right. Their stance on taxes in Oregon illustrates that nicely.
THey speak it in the name of a party, bashing the GOP in racist manner about the tax issues. They want the power of the party, not the power for the truth to rise, but they use the truth to empower their party and get benefits for it.
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