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SUNNY Temp: 53 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 11, 2002 House nixes two income tax increases By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune SALEM — After 10 days of haggling over ways to fill a $482 million budget hole, Oregon House members voted Tuesday night on two possible fixes. Both were turned down. Both bills included more than $400 million in income-tax increases. One would have referred a tax increase to the voters, while the other needed only the votes of legislators to pass. State Rep. Alan Bates, an Ashland Democrat, carried the bill asking for a straight up or down vote of legislators. "We cannot continue to cut our way out of this problem," Bates said, adding that the average Oregonian would pay only an extra $150 a year if the bill was passed. "That’s a lot cheaper than the cost of lost days at schools (which may have to close early because of the budget shortfall.)" Republicans insisted that the amount of taxes in the bills were too high. "If the right things are targeted in our bloated state government we can significantly reduce the pain to our citizens," said Rep. Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass. "With judicious cuts and careful borrowing we will live to see tomorrow." The vote on whether the legislature would impose the tax went down 32 to 26, with state Rep. Cherryl Walker, R-Murphy, and Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, voting against it. The vote on the referral was defeated 57 to 1. But the referral was sent back to the budget committee for reconsideration. Several moderate Republicans, who called Tuesday’s bills "Democrat bills" said taking the referral back to committee is the beginning of true compromise. "There are a number of people, a number of Republicans, who are willing to ask the question of Oregon voters whether or not they are interested in passing an income tax surcharge," said Rep. Max Williams, a Tigard Republican. "We think there is an opportunity to fashion a compromise on that question." Patridge said the plan he and Williams will push includes a $325 million income tax increase referral, $200 million in bonding, $50 million in cuts while protecting elementary, middle and high schools from further cuts. But another proposal also may be on the table. State Sen. Jason Atkinson, a Jacksonville Republican, said he expects a previous plan by House Speaker Mark Simmons — made up entirely of cuts and bonding — to "come back to life." In addition to the legislative wrangling Tuesday, the Capitol was busy with dueling press conferences. The Governor held a press conference saying that without tax increases, 130 state troopers would be laid off, four regional juvenile corrections centers would be closed by early 2003; and 4,000 prison inmates would be freed. After Kitzhaber’s press conference, nine Senate Republicans including Atkinson held a rebuttal press conference insisting there are places where the state’s budget can be cut by $100 million to $180 million. "We want to get rid of nonessential government functions such as the World Affairs Council, and (upkeep on the) Tom McCall statue," Atkinson said. "We can protect core things and get rid of the pork. " Then, later at a House budget hearing, the governor said he would allow up to $400 million of borrowing as long as it was part of a package that reduced the debt for the next legislative session. Many Democrats and Republicans have been opposed to borrowing the bulk of the money to make up the deficit because it makes things more difficult in the future. Bates, who had expected his bill to fail, said there is still hope — and it lies in the compromise package of tax increases, bonds and cuts. "If we just end up walking out of here the legislature will be looking like a totally dysfunctional institution," he said. "There is a very slight chance that we can put together tonight or tomorrow morning a true compromise bill." Some legislators predicted a new bill could go to the House as early as today. Those same predictions, though, also were made last week. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S