I believe that people work harder and invest more when they can keep a larger portion of what they earn. I don’t believe this concept is unique to the left or right. I also believe government should promote work; savings and private investment; and stable sensible policies to facilitate the efficient exchange of goods and services. Good tax policy promotes balance between livability and livelihood.
In Oregon the gas tax revenue maintains the state highway system. Because it’s getting squeezed by rising cost of materials and labor along with a decline in revenues due to improved fuel efficiency and people driving less due to the economy the frantic lawmakers are proposing a mileage-based tax system. You’ll be required to attach a GPS to your motorcycle and it will track miles traveled in Oregon. Service station pumps will have electronic reading devices to collect mileage data from the motorcycle and you’ll receive a tax bill in the mail. Never mind privacy issues.
This from a state where voters couldn’t pass the “no brainer” measure 59 which would allow a taxpayer to deduct from Oregon taxable income the entire amount of federal income taxes the taxpayer paid on the income subject to Oregon income tax. At the same time there was pure genius from the Oregon Zoo management who paraded out an endearing baby elephant just as voters were being ask to pay more property taxes via a $125M bond measure to enlarge the elephant reserve. I’m not anti-zoo, but paying more $$ to make an inadequate elephant exhibit a litter bigger in the middle of the Portland metro area seems anti “peta-ish.”
If that wasn’t enough elephant Haathi Chap for you there is the Oregon governor, Ted “Sleepy” Kulongoski. He seems to be clueless in coming up with one idea after 6 years in office other than to propose building a 2000-room hotel by the convention center and open it as a state-owned casino. How ironic because Kulongoski was the most vocal opponent of video poker back when the state economy and budget wasn’t in free fall. If this is his best idea of dramatic state government restructuring and leading Oregonians through a recession that has forced over 12% of the residents out of their jobs — then Ted your cheese has slid off your cracker! All he talks about is raising taxes (property, mileage, lotto, cigarettes, gas, sales, and the list goes on) — gimme, gimme, gimme and nothing about downsizing incompetent government. In a very recent interview Kulongoski said,
“When you do not have enough revenue,… a lot of the fun leaves.”
A true mark of a real loser is to whine when the going gets tough!
There are TEA Parties and tax revolts being held all over the state. Join in and have a voice.
Northwest Harley Blog 
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