Oregon gives inmates a pass State's budget problems force emergency release after tax hike rejected 01/30/2003 Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. - A county jail began freeing inmates Wednesday as state agencies across Oregon implemented emergency spending cuts after voters rejected a temporary income tax increase. "It's a party atmosphere at the jail today," said Multnomah County Sheriff Bernie Giusto as he announced the early release of 31 inmates - among 114 scheduled to be freed Wednesday. Some of the inmates had been in jail pending trial. Others were serving time for crimes including assault, drug manufacturing and sex abuse....