Oregon Supreme Court modifies tax ballots slightly
Sunday, November 15, 2009 9:58 PM PST
PORTLAND (AP) — Supporters of a $733 million tax package aimed at corporations and wealthy Oregonians say they are pleased with an Oregon Supreme Court ruling that made only slight changes in ballot measure wording. Opponents of the tax increase the Legislature approved last summer gathered enough signatures to force a referendum vote in a January special election. Pat McCormick, spokesman for Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes, also went to court to challenge the wording, arguing it was biased in favor of the tax increase because it described the potential impact on education, public safety and health care. The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that only minor changes in the wording were required. One change replaced the word ‘‘maintain’’ with the word ‘‘provide’’ in phrases that had said ‘‘to maintain funds currently budgeted for education, health care, public safety, other services.’’
The court also ordered another change. Instead of ‘‘reduces funding currently budgeted for education, health care, public safety, other services,’’ the ballots will say ‘‘leaves amount currently budgeted for education, health care, public safety, other services underfunded.’’
A wrote on Nov 16, 2009 7:29 AM: