Oregon Business Association

September 18, 2009

OBA Offered Better Path Through the Revenue Crisis

On Wednesday September 16th, the OBA Board of Directors put forth the following principles as it pertains to the corporate tax increases passed by the Legislature.

• OBA opposes the taxes passed by the Legislature due to their permanent nature and structure of the corporate minimum increases.

• OBA continues to advocate for the package of temporary tax increases that we proposed to legislators during the session.

• OBA has deferred our formal decision on whether or not to enter the referendum campaign.

• Regardless of where OBA lands on the campaign, many of our members will actively participate in the referendum and OBA will defend them in doing so.

Recognizing that private sector job retention and creation will be the engine that drives Oregon out of the current recession, OBA put forward our tax proposal with broad business support to get the state through the current crisis.

We remain disappointed that the Legislature did not capitalize on this opportunity to work together with the business community and avoid an acrimonious ballot fight.