Thanks to everyone who worked in the incredibly short timeframe in the effort to repeal HB2001. The petition failed to gather enough signatures to be turned in on Sept. 25th deadline.
Stay tuned for more action to help change Oregon.
Single Signer | Al | 
September 21, 2009 2:17 pm | 
Comments (0)
Word has been strategically spread by some alleged anti-tax activists that there may be too many referendum petitions out there for voters to handle. To that, we say: “Phooey!”
In May, California voters were quite capable of handling and defeating six tax and spend measures.
A Los Angeles Times article, soon after the election, noted the following about the results: “Anti-tax activists called the propositions’ rejection a defeat for what they characterized as the tax-and-spend status quo of Sacramento.”
“‘People aren’t dancing in the street over this; they’re tired and disgusted over all that’s gone on,’ said Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. ‘Maybe now our governor and Legislature will get the message.’ ”
If the people of California can reject that many measures, the people of Oregon are just as capable of rejecting a tax and spend Oregon legislative agenda.
Three other Referendums now being circulated
Aside from the Gas Tax Referendum, there are three other measures on the streets. Two have been out for a month: Referendums #301 and #302 (StopJobKillingTaxes.com) roll back legislatively passed income tax increases to businesses and individuals.
Part of the “too many petitions” mantra came about at the beginning of the #301/#302 campaign.
That combined campaign had a legitimate reason to initially worry that these measures might be harmed if people had to get signatures on three or four issues. After all, if the push was barely enough, it might slow down the time it would take to get four signatures from each voter, rather than two.
Now, with a huge influx of helpers and that campaign already implementing a paid circulator component, success is no longer in doubt on #301 and #302. Count on them being on the ballot.
And now, the stop the gas tax measure is a wonderful “lead” petition to get huge majorities in the signing mood that helps as a draw.
People are concerned for our country and our state. In large numbers, they are showing they want to reject the tax and fee and spending ways of Oregon’s legislature. We see our #304 enhancing, not inhibiting the overall push to roll back massive tax and fee increases.
How massive?
In all, the Oregon legislature of 2009, led by Democrat Governor Ted Kulongoski, President of the Senate Peter Courtney, and Speaker of the House, Dave Hunt, had over 100 bills passed that increased fees and taxes by over $2 billion for Oregonians!
And aside from this gas tax referral, the other relative newcomer referendum on the streets is #303, a HB2116, a bill that puts a 1% sales tax on premiums for health insurance or health care programs sold in Oregon. (The printable pdf bill for it, HB 2116, is available here for its circulators.)
Two plus two equals four
So, before you conclude that there is only room for the two income tax referendums on Oregon’s ballot for voters to digest as has continued to be spewed by a few alleged tax fighters, think again.
Things can change quickly in politics and this time around, we’re counting on unprecedented level of citizen activity in the petition process to step up and get the job done.
The election schedule speaks to a separate approach to Referendums #301 and #302 vs. #303/#304. The former two have been scheduled by the state to be on a January 2010 ballot. And if #303 and #304, either/both would be placed on the 2010 May primary ballot.
Too many issues for voters?
It is as simple as the rallying slogan for freedom fighters in Soviet occupied Poland. Those fighting for freedom argued against a government tyranny that said that if 2+2 is said by official channels to equal three, then the people were supposed to believe it.
The slogan there became by freedom fighters: “2+ 2=4.” Likewise, we say the overall campaign to stop the big spenders of Oregon is just as easy to grasp. It is: “2+2=4.”
In the News | Al | September 3, 2009 1:26 pm | Comments (2)
We’ll have links to some news articles on this referral effort here…
Salem Statesman Journal Article
Don McIntire and two former legislators have filed a referendum petition against the massive transportation bill passed by the legislature. This package could use more discussion, so you might want to sign the petition if you get the chance…
In the News | Al | August 25, 2009 12:32 am | Comments (0)
Subscribe