Governor says voters may OK tax hikes
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:58 AM PDT
SALEM (AP) — Oregon voters might be willing to support the state Legislature’s income tax increases if opponents succeed in forcing a statewide vote on them, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said Tuesday.
He said that despite Oregon voters’ past rejection of tax measures and the recent vote by voters in California to defeat tax increases, he thinks times are changing and that Oregonians will want to protect schools and other state services from cuts.
‘‘I will be the first to tell you I do not think Oregon is California,’’ Kulongoski said. ‘‘If it fails, I think there’s a risk we are going to be like California and we don’t want to be like them.’’
The recently adjourned Oregon Legislature approved $733 million in tax hikes on corporations and higher income-individuals to help balance the next two-year budget. Many anti-tax activists and business groups were planning a signature-gathering drive to place the tax hikes on Oregon’s ballot in January.
