Oregon's next budget deficit is at least $4 billion based on the most recent revenue forecast. The impact on K-12 of that number is 5,500 teachers. Imagine. The next revenue forecast is May 12, and the number could grow larger.
What we can do
To help, contact Karen, our local organizer: email
1)Critical Ways and Means Budget hearing: Ashland, April 30 5:30 to 8 pm
Thursday, April 30
Southern Oregon University, Ashland
Rogue River Room
Stevenson Union
1250 Siskiyou Boulevard
5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
I know many of you were disappointed two years ago, after standing in line and waiting for hours and not getting to testify. If we have several people who could give up just one hour of their time to hold a place in line, than one person does not have the burden of waiting 4 or 5 hours to testify.
The most important message we could deliver to the legislators at this hearing, is that we want a revenue solution to protect kids and vulnerable Oregonians during this unprecedented fiscal crisis. Imagine if everyone who testified that night said the same thing. That is our goal. I am preparing a flyer to distribute to others waiting in the line that reflects reasonable revenue options.
Volunteers needed:
1)Two Line sitters from 3:30 to 4:30
2)Two Line sitters from 4:30 to approx 5:30 or hearing sign in (the testifier must sign in)
3)Two Testifiers: be there by 5:15. Hearing begins at 5:30 and goes to 8:00. You can leave after your testimony, which should be relatively early since we are in line at 3:30
4) One Line canvasser: 3:30 to 5:15: hand out flyers with me, encourage people to sign 'postcards' to their legislators urging revenue reform. This is more significant than testifying. The more people we can get to bring up the revenue issue, the better.
2)The Postcard campaign
Between May 1 and May 15, Stand will be conducting an electronic postcard campaign. Here is how it works. An electronic postcard will be sent out to members to forward (email) to their legislators. The postcard will urge the legislator to enact revenue solutions that will protect kids. You can help in two ways. First, by filling out and forwarding the postcard out to your legislator, and second, by forwarding the postcard to others on your email list. I have about 150 people on my Stand email list. If everyone sent their postcard on to just 10 more people, that's another 1500 postcards, and so on.
Revenue Options
My last update detailed Stand's involvement in the Revenue Coalition (advocates that support raising revenue to protect education and human services). Altogether, these proposals would raise roughly $1 billion. Federal stimulus dollars and Reserve funds total another $1.8 billion. This could go a long way to cushioning the $4 billion predicted shortfall as of the last forecast.
(1) Ensuring profitable c-corps pay their fair share – changing the corporate income tax rate (6.6% currently) to match the personal income tax rate (5-7-9% currently, depending on income). This would raise $250-300 million/biennium.
(2) Ensuring Oregon’s largest c-corps contribute to public services – raising the $10 corporate minimum to a small tax (0.2 – 0.5%) on “business activity” in Oregon (i.e. payroll, interest/dividends). This could raise $100-250 million/biennium (HB 2070).
(3) Ensuring the wealthiest Oregonians pay a fair share – tax net income above $250,000/household at an 11% rate. The 11% rate could raise ~$475 million/biennium. Tax exemptions are also being reviewed by the legislature as another option.
School Board canvasses in May
We will be dropping flyers on the four candidates Stand endorsed for MSD school board:
Paulie Brading, Sally Killen, Tricia Prendergast and Jeff Thomas. This will be a very simple canvass, we are dropping flyers at houses in 3 select precincts (no door knocking, no address lookup).
Canvass dates and meeting place:
May 2, 3, 9,17 Hoover Elementary parking lot
May 16 Jacksonville (Doc Griffin park)
If you can help or need more information, email
Thank you
Karen
