Last push for tax challenge under way
From our weekly issue dated September 23, 2009
Anti-tax activists in Josephine County and throughout Oregon are wrapping up efforts to refer a series of tax increases to voters in January.
Friday, Sept. 25 is the deadline for petition sheets to be submitted to the Secretary of State’s office to challenge boosts to the state’s corporate, income, gasoline and health insurance taxes made by the Legislature earlier this year.
To be approved for a Jan. 23 special election, tax opponents must gather approximately 55,000 valid signatures. But organizers, including Jeff Kropf Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Oregon state director, said that they will exceed that figure for the corporate and income tax referrals.
Kropf said that as of Wednesday, Sept. 16, AFP had turned in more than 35,000 signatures, with 92 percent deemed valid.
On the Sept. 16 KAJO Radio talk show, AFP Josephine County Coordinator Jack Swift said that around 1,500 signatures were gathered during a Sept. 12 “tea party” protest in front of the Josephine County Courthouse in Grants Pass.
Signatures also were gathered during the Josephine County Fair and the Illinois Valley Lions Labor Day Festival in Cave Junction, Swift reported.
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The focus of anti-tax activists now is shifting to challenging House Bill 2001, the Jobs and Transportation Act. That piece of legislation includes a gas tax increase.
Kropf said that volunteers have been gathering signatures at 30 gasoline service stations throughout the state to force a vote on HB 2001.
On Friday, Sept. 18, signature gathers made a final push at post offices and Dept. of Motor Vehicles offices statewide. Referendum organizers are asking that petitions be submitted to them by Sept. 23.
“We need a day or two at least to put all the petitions in the particular order that the Secretary of State’s office demands that we turn them in,” Kropf said.
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