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Editorial: Do we want them back in session? The (Medford) Mail Tribune The referendum petition to overturn tax increases passed to balance the state budget gives a whole new meaning to the old saying, "Be careful what you wish for." We would add, know what you're signing before you sign. In August, lawmakers enacted a package of tax increases including a temporary personal income tax surcharge, an increase in the corporate minimum tax and reductions in corporate tax credits, an extension of the cigarette tax and a smorgasbord of other revenue-raising devices to reach a total of almost $800 million in new revenue for the two-year budget period. Many voters may be under the impression that the referendum campaign seeks only to overturn the income-tax surcharge that received most of the attention when lawmakers enacted the revenue package. They are wrong. Knowing that anti-tax activists would likely mount a referendum campaign, legislators also passed a bill setting out nearly $545 million in budget cuts to be imposed if voters repealed the revenue measure. The problem is, the two figures don't match up. Lawmakers figured the anti-tax folks would go after the high-profile part of the package the income tax increase - and leave the rest alone. They guessed wrong. The petitioners also are seeking to repeal the corporate tax increases, the cigarette tax extension and more. The draft ballot title for the referendum posted on the state Elections Division Web site says overturning the legislation would trigger "$544.6 million in scheduled state budget cuts to education, human services (and) public safety." That's true. The problem is, it would also require more than $200 million in unscheduled budget cuts. That would bring the Legislature back into session to finish balancing the budget. And we all know how effective it was in doing that in the first place. Think about that when you're asked to sign the referendum petition. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -