In this economy corporations are making record profits but they are not paying their fair share. The tax burden on individuals has been ramping up for over 30 years while the burden on corporations has stayed flat. (See accompanying graph.) We all see around us the need in our schools and public services and we need to do something about it.
That’s why Oregon AFSCME is one of several organizations helping launch a campaign to make sure large and out-of-state corporations pay their fair share in Oregon taxes. A Better Oregon is a growing coalition of parents, teachers, small businesses and organizations — including AFSCME — that is circulating petitions for the 2016 ballot to make sure big, out-of-state corporations start paying their fair share of taxes.
“Statistically, such corporations pay less in taxes in Oregon than they do in any other state. We are fiftieth in the country in corporate taxes,” says Council 75 Political Director Joe Baessler. “Most big out-of-state corporations pay just a low minimum tax in Oregon, and some even use loopholes to pay nothing at all. This initiative aims to correct that. We are paying our fair share, but they are not.”
You can sign the petition online here.
If passed, the initiative would benefit virtually all members that AFSCME represents — state workers, local government workers, even many private and special sector workers.
Here is a special focus on state workers; we will highlight the impact on other sectors in the weeks ahead.
The initiative would generate around $2.6 billion in new revenue each year, or a little over $5 billion per biennium, which is how the Legislature budgets. The measure specifically directs funding to early education, K-12 education, health care and services for senior citizens. Our union represents state agency employees that would see direct benefits from an increase targeted at early education, health care and senior services.
But Baessler explains the measure really does more than it may appear to off the cuff.
“For example, while the measure says nothing specifically about Corrections, we spend a huge amount of money within Corrections transporting inmates to hospitals and clinics, as well as what the DOC spends internally on health care,” he said. “If we can aim some money from the measure targeted at those costs, it potentially gives us more stable budgets at DOC. That’s just one example of how this measure will benefit our state membership base both directly and indirectly.”
AFSCME-represented state workers have been quick to embrace the measure.
“This revenue measure is going to be very important,” says Eric Feeley, a chemist at DEQ and a member of Local 3336. “We need funds to serve folks across the state.”
• VIDEO — See more from Eric Feeley
“I support any measure that increases the state coffers and in turn would allow us to better staff state prisons,” says Shawn O’Donnell, a CO at EOCI and member of Local 3361.
• VIDEO — See more from Shawn O'Donnell
Again, you can sign the petition online here.
If you’d like more information about AFSCME’s role in the measure or would like to help gather signatures on hard copies, you can e-mail Baessler or Political Coordinators Ralph Groener or Eva Rippeteau for more information.
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