Vote NO on Measures 66 and 67

Measures 66 and 67, on the January ballot, sound good: tax "the rich" and "the big corporations" to fund vital services like education, public health and public safety.

But as permanent measures to overcome a temporary budget shortfall, these measures are sure to do more harm than good.

Raising the corporate minimum tax under Measure 67 sounds fair - but it's impact will be harmful, creating one more drag on business in a climate that is as hostile as it has ever been in Oregon.

And it's not just "the big corporations" that will pay. Designation as a corporation does not make a business "big business": many small businesses - some of them owned and operated by your neighbors in Sisters - will be affected. Those are businesses that will generate the jobs so desperately needed if we are to get relief from this grinding economic downturn. It makes no sense to add any more weight to the burden they carry.

As for taxing "the rich," some of those are your neighbors as well. The two percent of the tax-paying public targeted by Measure 66 already pay more than 30 percent of all income tax in Oregon, so it's not like they're not paying their fair share.

The Sisters community supports education and public safety. We have taxed ourselves with local option and repeatedly voted in favor of sheriff's levies and the police levy at Black Butte Ranch. We pay our fair share, and willingly. It is time to ease up on the load.

This is no time to add to the tax burden, which will affect everyone, not just the targets of the legislature's pen.

Vote no on Measures 66 and 67.

Jim Cornelius, Editor