Rep. Reschke: Gas tax bill is making everything worse

By Oregon State Representative E. Werner Reschke,

State Legislators are meeting in Salem to organize for a special session called by the Governor. The session is expected to last six days and is meeting over the Labor Day holiday weekend — mostly so people will not notice because they are busy enjoying their last time of summer with family and friends before school begins.

The Governor’s goal is to pass a transportation package, raising taxes and fees, to ensure hundreds of public union employees do not lose their jobs. What is ironic is that two days ago state economists revealed a loss of 25,000 jobs this year in Oregon — but mostly in the private sector. Why did the Governor not call a special session to protect their jobs?

When your government picks winners and losers, very few win. Most people lose. Under Oregon’s current and previous Governor, and associated Democrat dominated legislatures, Oregonians have experienced this poor decision making, which has led directly to Oregon’s economic and social decline.

My last newsletter, Tipping Point, highlighted the fact that this year alone, two home-grown business headquarters left Oregon: Tektronix and Dutch Bros. Oregon is experiencing massive layoffs; and also missing hundreds of billions of dollars in corporate investment returning from overseas to rebuild manufacturing. In addition, Oregon’s economic hub, Portland, continues to tax its residents and businesses into oblivion with the second highest taxes in the nation (only New York City is more expensive).

NOW IS NOT THE TIME

Given all of this, the Governor and her allies in the Legislature, are eagerly meeting today to start the process of raising your taxes at the pump, at DMV and in your paycheck. Some say, “I can afford a 6¢/gallon increase.” If that is you, it’s a blessing to be in a place of life that allows such taxing. Until the people say no more, taxes will continue to increase, until fewer and fewer of the people can afford it. Increasing taxes is the only answer Democrats have to every problem. They take some now, then a little more later, and then again, and again. It is only when they are threatened with the prospect of losing their jobs will they stop.

With Oregon’s economic and social decline:

Now is Not the Time to raise gas taxes — which will ripple throughout the economy, making everything in Oregon more expensive.

Now is Not the Time to dramatically raise fees at DMV, making it harder to own a car or truck.

Now is Not the Time to take more out of every Oregonians’ paycheck to pay for a public transit system that only serves 2% of Oregonians and where 60% goes to the Portland Metro area.

Now is Not the Time to make it more expensive for Oregonians to live and for businesses to stay in Oregon.

Now Is the Time for Legislators to deal with the root causes of Oregon’s decade of decline.

Now Is the Time for the Governor to support a transportation package that fixes ODOT’s structural problems without raising taxes.

Now is the Time for Oregonians to speak up and pay close attention to how their State Representatives and State Senators vote.

Now is the Time for real change in Oregon’s political landscape.

Be sure to pay close attention this weekend to the voting of those who represent you this Special Session.

The post Rep. Reschke: Gas tax bill is making everything worse first appeared on Oregon Catalyst.