Bill Sizemore’s Ballot Measure 59 would give the richest 1% of Oregonians an average tax break of over $15,000 a year while middle-income families would get the impressive sum of – are you ready for it? – two bucks.
That’s according to a study released this week by the Oregon Center for Public Policy.
Measure 59 would let Oregonians deduct the full amount of their federal income tax payments from their state income tax. Currently the deduction is capped at $5,000 – and about 75% of Oregon households fall under that limit.
The wealthiest 1% of Oregon households would get about half of the total tax break under Measure 59, according to the OCPP analysis, and fewer than one out of four taxpayers would get any tax benefit at all. The top 1% — average annual incomes of over a million dollars – would get an average cut of $15,800, while middle-income households ($30,600 to $50,000 annual income) would get just $2.
The OCPP calculates that Measure 59 would cost the state between $1.1 billion and $2.4 billion each biennium, depending on how federal tax law changes. “Just the conservative $1.1 billion cost estimate is equivalent to the total funding that Oregon’s public universities will receive from the state in the current biennium or to cutting the salaries of all Oregon K-12 public school teachers by 70%,” the OCPP said.
“Measure 59 is a raw deal for Oregonians,” said OCPP policy analyst Michael Leachman. “It’s a scheme slanted heavily in favor of the state’s wealthiest households. Most Oregonians get nothing but significant cuts to important public services.”
Oregonians defeated a measure similar to 59 in 2000. Only three other states – Alabama, Louisiana and Iowa – presently allow 100% deduction of federal tax payments.
This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2008.
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Why don’t you be more forthright and include the tax rates of both groups and the ratio of cut to the amount of tax monies paid?
If a cut of 10% goes to all, the top 1% or the rest of us, it would be fair. A cut of 50% to those paying very little tax and no cut to those paying the majority of tax monies collected would not be fair, it would be socialistic wealth redistribution.
yep that sounds like oregon. the lower class is left to die. that is why i am moving out of state.
“If a cut of 10% goes to all, the top 1% or the rest of us, it would be fair.”
But it doesn’t go to all. The point is that 75% of Oregon households get no tax cut at all under this plan because they’re within the $5,000 deductible. All of the cut goes to the top 25% and the lion’s share goes to the top 1%.
Tax, tax,tax the rich and feed the poor invisible people!!!