Governor proposes Carbon Tax

Governor Brown is at it again. In the works is another new, monstrous tax. A new $600 million dollar per year tax to grow even larger in subsequent years. (Quick calculation: that is $150 per year for each man woman and child in Oregon) It will be sold as a “Cap and Trade” carbon tax.

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Does County help or hinder opioid crisis?

By Taxpayer Association of Oregon Foundation Multnomah County filed a $250 million lawsuit in August against drug companies, distributors, and doctors. The county alleges a conspiracy to hide the danger of prescription pain pills in order to promote the widespread, long-term and lucrative use of their opioid products. Last week, Governor Kate Brown’s task force…

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Calculate your Kicker Tax Refund

Million of your tax dollars were over-collected by the state of Oregon during the current budget cycle.  Oregon voters approved a law that requires lawmakers to return over-collected tax revenue to those who paid it. The average Oregon Tax Refund is $227 and can be claimed when you file your 2017 taxes next year. Use…

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Despite “crisis” budget grows 10%

Oregon’s 2017 Legislative Session began with laments of a “budget crisis” and “shortfall”. To close the gap between what previous Legislatures had promised to spend and the actual amount of money available, virtually every kind of tax increase imaginable was proposed. At the end of the Session, and with only marginal new or increased taxes…

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PERS crisis where it stands

The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) crisis has hit a $22 billion deficit and the Legislature seems paralyzed to address the crisis.  The media is sounding the alarm and experts are hinting that we might have to fall off a cliff before changes will come. A website Oregon Ponzi Scheme helps to compare the Bernie…

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Central Ore. rebounds, Portland and Eugene weaker

Oregon Regional Economic Indicators (click chart for larger view) By UofO Oregon Economic Indicators Regional economies experienced some mixed numbers in February, but underlying trends remain solid. Highlights of this month’s report include: – For all regions, moving average measures (which smooth monthly volatility) remain above zero, indicating above trend activity. Recall that these figures…

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