A critical citizens’ initiative, Measure 118, will be on the ballot this November. If it passes it will dramatically change Oregon’s tax and spending policy. It would raise around $7 billion per year through a new gross receipts tax on corporations (that’s 50% more than the State’s current revenue from all taxes!) and devote it all plus some General Fund money to fund a one-of-a-kind rebate program to dole out payments to all residents who’ve lived here at least 200 days.
The proposed ballot measure is simple in concept and appeals to principles that Tax Fairness Oregon supports: increasing taxes on large businesses that have learned how to avoid paying taxes or hide their profits in tax shelters, and makings sure people have enough money to live with dignity. While the language of the measure was written by a group of folks in Eugene, funding for signature gathering and staff has been primarily financed by a California investor who supports a guaranteed minimum income and sees Oregon as a relatively inexpensive state in which to get a citizens’ initiative passed.
Unfortunately, we do not support the Measure as it was designed. Like most initiatives that are designed by a group without broad public discussion or legislative input, this attempt at funding a guaranteed minimum income is poorly drafted and fatally flawed.
This is an issue that will get a lot of attention in Oregon over the next four months. Let us know if you have questions. We encourage you to read not only our wonky set of talking points, but the measure itself and the State’s latest fiscal analysis (which will show you why we call Measure 118 a hot mess).