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OREGON LEGISLATURE Oregon Senate Democrats unveil alternative corporate tax proposal Less aggressive answer to ballot measure has dim prospects Comment By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Feb. 1, 2016 at 6:06 PM Updated Feb 1, 2016 at 6:08 PM By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Feb. 1, 2016 at 6:06 PM Updated Feb 1, 2016 at 6:08 PM » Social News SALEM — On the opening day of Oregon's legislative session, Senate Democrats on Monday unveiled a new corporate tax proposal that would raise an extra $1 billion for the state during its next two-year budget cycle. About half of that money would fund public education, while the remainder would help the state lower personal income taxes for many Oregonians by, for example, doubling the standard deduction. It's the Legislature's first attempt this year at thwarting a far more aggressive tax proposal for the November ballot, which would raise significantly more money — $5.2 billion total in additional revenue for the 2017-19 cycle — through a higher tax rate on large corporations. But the legislative alternative, which is being spearheaded by Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, faces a lonely, uphill battle from the get-go. "I'm not delusional. I know the chances of getting there this session are very slim," Hass said in a news conference Monday morning. With unions and businesses gearing up for a bitter fight at the ballot, Hass said the negotiating table has so far been empty. That's made it hard to rally support for a compromise package at the Legislature. Members in both chambers are divided on the issue, a big policy change that requires a three-fifths majority vote during an already jam-packed 35-day session. "(Hass) has developed an alternative that is more moderate, it is less disruptive," Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick said in a separate news conference Monday. "The problem is that we have not been able to get the kind of support from both the union side and the business side to really go forward with an alternative. That's very disappointing." Under Hass' proposal, Oregon's corporate income tax would be replaced with a so-called commercial activity tax, which is modeled after Ohio, that calls for a 0.39 percent tax on a business's annual sales above $1 million. The union-backed ballot initiative would require businesses with $25 million in sales to pay a minimum $30,000 tax, plus 2.5 percent on anything above that sales threshold. Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Hood River, said he wasn't quite ready to sign off on Hass' plan as currently drafted, but it's far better than how the unions drafted the ballot proposal. "There was no dialogue, there were no bipartisan interests," he said. "It was simply a plan put forward by the proponents and it's a 'take or leave it' type of scenario." The corporate tax fight is one of several controversial issues facing lawmakers in this whirlwind session. Raising the state's minimum wage, privatizing the state's liquor monopoly, phasing out coal power for renewables and addressing the state's growing housing affordability crisis are among the most pressing topics they hope to tackle within the next few weeks. Policymakers will also explore ways to overhaul the state's troubled foster-care system, refine the new marijuana laws and strengthen background-check requirements recently imposed on firearm purchases. By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Feb. 1, 2016 at 6:06 PM Updated Feb 1, 2016 at 6:08 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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