State’s revenue outlook worsens
So the Statesman Journal is reporting that Oregon could “lose” up to $400 million more than what was originally projected. Not that this really means anything, for
The current state budget in Oregon was 20% larger than the previous budget. Plus 7½% more money from the natural increase in taxes. If you add that together, that’s 27% over four years.
Regardless, this is what is important:
State Rep. Bruce Hanna of Roseburg, the House Republican Leader, was more blunt about what he said was an ongoing “unsustainable spending” habit in the face of a previously predicted revenue shortfall.
On top of that, the governor issued enormous pay increases to state employees and directors of state agencies, so the budget has gone from bad to worse,” Hanna said. “Look, it’s not a lot different than your home budget. When you don’t have disposable income, it’s likely you go out to the movies less often or instead of going to an (upscale restaurant), you go to a (fast food) place. You adjust what you’re doing based on your revenue.
He said the only way out of the shortfall is to cut spending and impose a freeze on state hiring, wage increases and capital spending projects.
And here’s the kicker. How does the governor respond to this?
The governor will not budget based on revenue speculations, his spokesman Rem Nivens told the Statesman Journal.
With this in mind, why should we the people of Oregon be subjected to Kulongoski’s massive tax increase?
