Tax Fairness
Economic inequality is one of the most egregious areas of injustice, whether locally, nationally or internationally. Tax policy is an area of immediate practical and powerful affect in leveling the structural playing field for deeper equality and greater opportunity.
EJAG’s Tax subgroup works in partnership with Tax Fairness Oregon.
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Take the Pledge for Tax Fairness!
In 2009, the Oregon legislature passed two tax increases in order to patch revenue shortfalls in the Oregon budget and to institute a measure of tax fairness.
These two bills
* increased the corporate income tax from $10 to a sliding scale starting at $150.00 based on corporate profits - it has been $10 since 1931; it is time for corporations to pay a fair tax for the privilege of doing business in Oregon
* increased the personal income tax on individual income over $150,000.00 and on couples over $250,000.00.
Without these increases, the State of Oregon would have had to have made drastic cuts to the services provided to the citizens of Oregon – services like healthcare, education, social services, prisons and more. Those cuts will still have to be made if you don’t Vote Yes for Tax Fairness.
Take the Pledge to Vote Yes on January 26, 2010!
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Taxes are the dues of citizenship
Equitable taxation is the obligation of government
Who We Are
Tax Fairness Oregon is an all-volunteer citizens group advocating for taxation that is fair and rigorously enforced. We believe that the taxes so necessary for crucial government services in a healthy democratic society need to be shared by those most able to pay them. We feel that fair and progressive taxation is one of the best means of decreasing the growing wealth divide that has become so exacerbated over the past twenty years.
Our focus is not on general education, but rather on working with and positively influencing our state and national legislators and the governor.
Our Mission
We advocate with partner organizations and state legislators for a tax structure that is fair, adequate, accountable, and stable. To us, that means:
* The tax structure should be progressive, and corporations as well as individuals should pay their fair share. (fair)
* Tax breaks should serve the common good, not special interests. (fair)
* Oregon’s public structures should be better funded. (adequate)
* Undercollection of revenues should be remedied by better enforcement and collection practices. (accountable)
* Unintended consequences of tax laws should be corrected. (accountable)
* Rainy day savings should be at least 15% of the state general fund. (stable)
What We Do
Tax Fairness Oregon carefully monitors and evaluates tax reform ideas, new tax breaks and expiring tax credits during legislative sessions in the interests of the common good.
* We monitor legislative bills that deal with taxation. We identify critical bills and do research on the positive and negative facets of those bills. We testify at legislative hearings and meet privately with legislators. In addition we are monitoring the work of the Revenue Restructuring Task Force. Several members of Tax Fairness Oregon are registered lobbyists.
* We advocate for retention of the estate tax at both the state and federal level. It is the only tax on wealth in the US — a tax which only the wealthiest 1% now pays.
* We advocate for equal taxation of all income, believing that those who work for their income should not pay taxes at a higher rate than those who earn capital gains on their investments.
* We advocate for increased tax enforcement, encouraging legislators to sponsor and pass tax enforcement legislation.
* We believe that when individuals and businesses get tax credits, reduced property taxes or other forms of special tax consideration, they should meet meaningful benchmarks relating to the public good in exchange for the special tax treatment they receive.