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Orcutt makes direct plea to
protect taxpayers
Kalama Republican tries again to restore tax levy
limit
Rep. Ed
Orcutt this evening made yet another attempt this session to
formally reinstate the taxpayer protections created by Initiative 747.
"Several times this
session, leaders in the majority party have spoken of the concern
citizens have about property taxes. Yet none of the legislation that
would have put the I-747 language into law -- that's four bills, two of
them introduced the very first week of this session -- received even a
committee vote," said Orcutt, who is Republican leader on the House
Finance Committee. "I gave it another try tonight, to put the wheels in
motion and bring the I-747 language straight to the floor in a new bill.
Once again, we hit a wall.
"The majority party sent
this bill off to die, just as it did with the others. So the score is
bills, five; taxpayers, zero."
Prior to the passage of I-747 in 2001, taxing districts could
raise their regular property tax levies up to 6 percent annually without voter
approval. I-747 lowered the limit to 1
percent without voter consent. The tax limit saved approximately $1
billion before it was struck down by a Seattle judge on a technicality
in June 2006 (click
here
for the ruling). A stay was granted later to reinstate the law while the
case is on appeal to the state Supreme Court.
"It’s disappointing that
other bills to erode taxpayer protections have had hearings, committee
votes and floor votes, while the legislation I’ve sponsored to reinstate
the I-747 taxpayer protections received nothing more than a single
committee hearing," said Orcutt, R-Kalama.
"That bill,
House Bill 2117, had 40 sponsors -- 23 Republican, 17 Democrat. A
total of 47 House members have signed on to one bill or another to
reinstate I-747 this session. It takes 50 votes to pass legislation in
the House. I think a bill to restore the I-747 protections would stand a
good chance of passing, if we only had the opportunity to vote on it
this session."
Orcutt twice tried without success to move HB 2117 to the finance
committee's voting list following its public hearing. The bill Orcutt
advocated tonight,
House Bill 2403, also had bipartisan sponsorship.
"I have tried all session
long to reinstate the I-747 protection. Not just because the initiative
passed with 58 percent support, but because the rise in property taxes
is the number-one issue I hear about from my constituents -- even more
than education, transportation, social services and Oregon’s income tax!
"It would be irresponsible for the Legislature to abdicate its
policy-making responsibility and leave the Supreme Court to decide
whether the I-747 limit is upheld. That could leave taxpayers vulnerable
to tax increases. I think the message being sent to the taxpayers is
clear. The wishes of local government outweigh taxpayer protection. That
isn't the message I think we should send."
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Contact: Rep. Orcutt, (360) 786-7812
Eric Campbell, House Republican Communications, (360) 786-7720
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