The tax debate begins: House leaders square off

Speaker Dave Hunt and Republican leader Bruce Hanna discuss ballot initiatives in Oregon City

By Anthony Roberts

The Clackamas Review, Nov 17, 2009, Updated Nov 18, 2009

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Hanna, on the other hand, categorized the increases as “job-killing taxes” that will lead to further job loss and decreased investment in the state. Hanna also said there is enough money in state coffers to cover critical expenses without raising taxes.

“What we need to do is get tough,” Hanna said. “We tighten our belt and we act like Oregonians. We act like businesses.”

Hanna said Republicans introduced a “Back to Basics” proposal during the legislative session that would have increased the state contribution to education without increasing taxes by “prioritizing spending.”

He also cautioned that the tax increases would affect everyone, even if they are only levied on a small number of businesses and individuals.

“Costs will increase. Oregonians will pay more for gasoline, they will pay more for groceries,” he said. "These tax increases hit every person who lives or works in Oregon.”

He also cautioned that an increase in income taxes could spur wealthy Oregonians to move elsewhere to avoid higher taxes.

Not surprisingly, the two men had vastly different ideas of what would happen if the measures failed.

Hunt said it would gut public services. “If the measures fail, there will be hundreds of millions in cuts to what we have already made,” he said.

Hanna said that if the measures fail, “business has a fighting chance.”

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