State of Oregon Archives: on Tax Reform
Bruce Broussard:
Provide businesses with tax incentives to create jobs
This country runs best on the strength and vitality of businesses, not on the backs of individual tax payers and tax-based programs of government. We must provide businesses with incentives to create jobs. We must also give individuals
back the power to support their communities by spending more of their money locally. Broussard supports continued tax cuts to individuals and tax incentives that retain and expand their job base by providing work to Americans not to overseas workers.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, BroussardForOregon.com
Mar 2, 2004
Bud Pierce:
Tax relief on mid-tier income earners, to create more jobs
Pierce's campaign focuses on bringing economic prosperity to the state. His main idea is that most of the problems Oregon faces can be fixed by creating more jobs. Establishing a well-trained, well-prepared work force alongside a booming private sector
is the key. "The more people we can employ with real jobs, the better our society will be," he said.Some of the ways he wants to achieve this is through tax relief on mid-tier income and by providing more affordable post-secondary education for
students. He also supports programs that support career technical education, such as Measure 98, which would require state funding for dropout-prevention and career and college readiness.
Beyond growing the private sector, Pierce also highlighted his
belief that private industry could help run state agencies more efficiently. "The government has to live within the realm of what it has," Pierce said. "It can't keep going to the citizens asking for more money, it needs to learn how to manage money."
Source: Portland Tribune on 2016 Oregon Gubernatorial race
Bud Pierce:
Reduce taxes and regulations on small businesses
[On priorities]: "Oregonians currently suffer under the oppressive leadership and poor performance of our current governor," Pierce said in a statement. Pierce outlined several points he would focus on as governor, including solving the
homelessness crisis; reforming K-12 education; reducing taxes and regulations on small businesses; and lowering health care costs by shrinking the "health care bureaucracy."
Source: The Salem Statesman Journal on 2022 Oregon Governor race
Dec 1, 2020
Casey Kulla:
Property taxes not keeping up with local & school costs
Local governments have increasingly looked to outside sources of revenue to provide services where property taxes cannot keep up with the costs of serving the public. Schools now get funding from the state's
commercial activities tax, as property taxes are unable to keep pace with costs. It is time we discuss balancing the burden of taxes to pay for the services we all rely upon and build a tax system that reflects our priorities.
Source: 2021 OR Governor campaign website KullaForOregon.com
Aug 30, 2021
Christine Drazan:
I will veto new taxes & repeal costly regulations
Inflation is a tax on working families. It is compounded by a regulatory and tax environment that has led to additional price increases for many of the goods and services Oregonians rely on.
As governor, I will lead by vetoing new taxes, repealing costly regulations, and by supporting policies that allow Oregonians to keep more of their money in their own pockets.
Source: 2022 Oregon Governor campaign website ChristineForOregon.com
Mar 3, 2022
Gordon Harold Smith:
I believe in pro-growth tax cuts
Asked about the Bush tax cuts, in particular how Smith could defend them in light of the current economic crisis, Smith said, "I believe in pro-growth tax cuts." He said that Oregonians today were paying lower federal taxes because of him, but higher
state taxes because of Merkley's work in the state Legislature. Merkley addressed Smith directly: "The fact is, Gordon, you've voted for taxes 67 times." Merkley said he would support Obama's proposed plan to raise taxes on people making more than
$250,000 per year.
Taxes came up again when both candidates were asked whether it was smart to cut taxes during a time when the national debt is growing. Merkley hung the blame on Smith's shoulders. "Do you understand that our children are going to
have to pay back the debt you are running up?" he asked.
"So what would you have me do?" Smith asked. Much of the money he's asked for, Smith said, has been because state senators, representatives and others back home have asked him for it.
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KATU
Oct 9, 2008
Jason Conger:
Pushed tax relief for middle and low income families
Jason, 45, was first elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2010 and is now serving his second term. While in the Legislature, Jason used the same drive that carried him out of poverty to pursue his vision for a stronger Oregon.
He pushed tax relief for middle and low income families, championed greater educational opportunities for Oregon children, and helped acquire the necessary funding to move OSU-Cascades toward becoming a four-year university.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, CongerForOregon.com, "About"
Nov 11, 2013
Jeff Merkley:
No state sales tax
Q: Do you support implementing a state sales tax?A: No. I support equalization between individual and corporate kicker.
Source: Oregon State 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Jeff Merkley:
Supports raising taxes on earnings over $250,000 per year
Asked about the Bush tax cuts, in particular how Smith could defend them in light of the current economic crisis, Smith said, "I believe in pro-growth tax cuts." He said that Oregonians today were paying lower federal taxes because of him, but higher
state taxes because of Merkley's work in the state Legislature. Merkley addressed Smith directly: "The fact is, Gordon, you've voted for taxes 67 times." Merkley said he would support Obama's proposed plan to raise taxes on people making more than
$250,000 per year.
Taxes came up again when both candidates were asked whether it was smart to cut taxes during a time when the national debt is growing. Merkley hung the blame on Smith's shoulders. "Do you understand that our children are going to
have to pay back the debt you are running up?" he asked.
"So what would you have me do?" Smith asked. Much of the money he's asked for, Smith said, has been because state senators, representatives and others back home have asked him for it.
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KATU
Oct 9, 2008
Jo Rae Perkins:
Wealthy pay disproportionately high share of taxes
Perkins said the wealthy already pay a disproportionately high share of the taxes and should not have them increased. "We as a society need to encourage people to go after their dreams and stop standing in their way," said
Perkins, explaining that she's not concerned about rising wage inequality. "I'm one of the people who says, `If you don't like what you were dealt, then go do something different.'"
Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting on 2022 Oregon Senate race
Sep 28, 2020
John Kitzhaber:
No state sales tax; no flat tax; increase gas tax
Kitzhaber indicates he supports the following principles concerning tax issues:- Q: Capital gains taxes & corporate taxes ?
A: Maintain Status
- Q: Gas taxes ?
A: Slightly Increase
- Q: Income taxes (incomes below $75,000) ?
A:
Slightly Decrease.
- Q: Income taxes (incomes above $75,000) ?
A: Maintain Status
- Q: Do you support implementing a state sales tax?
A: No. - Q: Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
A: No.
Source: Oregon Gubernatorial 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Kate Brown:
Need more taxes from business to support basic needs
Brown said, "I think it's really important that we have additional revenue to meet Oregon's basic needs," during a legislative session preview. Brown has proposed trying to appease businesses and labor groups that are pushing for either a
$15- or $13.50-an-hour minimum wage. Her proposal would raise the minimum wage to $15.52 in the Portland metro area and $13.50 everywhere else by 2022. Still, she said there's no path forward on avoiding the business tax measure.
Source: Bend Bulletin on 2016 Oregon gubernatorial race
Jan 27, 2016
Knute Buehler:
No new or higher taxes during booming economy
While some pundits say this year's election will be a referendum on Trump, Buehler has strived to make it a referendum on Kate Brown. It's unacceptable, he said, that at a time when the booming economy is generating record tax revenue, the
Brown administration has repeatedly sought new and higher taxes. If elected, he vows to sign no spending bill until Salem launches meaningful reform of the public employee retirement system.
Source: The Oregonian on 2018 Oregon Governor race
May 6, 2018
Mark Callahan:
Implement a Flat Tax to replace 74,000-page tax system
I will support legislation for the implementation of a Flat Tax, to replace the current tax system. The current tax system is 74,000+ pages long, and full of carve outs and cronyism that disadvantage those in the lower and middle class.
I am in favor of greatly reducing the size and scope of the Internal Revenue Service, to bring our country back in line with the precepts of limited government. I believe that we should be able to do our taxes on a post card.
Source: 2016 Oregon Senate campaign website CallahanForOregon.com
Aug 31, 2016
Mark Callahan:
Support flat tax or FairTax; oppose growing government
Q: What do you think an improved tax system should look like?CALLAHAN: I support scaling back and potentially eliminating the IRS, in favor of implementing a more simplified tax system such as a Flat Tax or a Fair Tax.
Q: How will you try to reduce polarization in Congress so problems can be solved?
CALLAHAN: Concentrate on items that we have in common, as Americans, as One Team, as opposed to the issues that divide us.
These items can then be solved in a Limited Government manner, by not growing the size of government to solve the problems.
Growing the size of government to solve problems is not something we should be doing, as it results in more debt, and less freedom.
Source: League of Women Voters Guide to 2016 Oregon Senate race
Sep 9, 2016
Monica Wehby:
40% of budget on debt servicing is generational theft
Our nation spends forty cents on the dollar just to pay for our debt servicing. If we don't do something to end this fiscal insanity our entire country will end up like Greece or Detroit. This is generational theft. As Oregon's U.S. Senator,
Monica would enact a Balanced Budget Amendment so that we don't leave our kids with our legacy of debt. It's a moral imperative that we as Americans strive to ensure that the next generation has access to the same opportunities we had growing up.
Source: 2014 Ore. Senate campaign website, www.MonicaForOregon.com
Mar 18, 2014
Paul Romero:
Downsize government and balance budget
Let's keep this simple---
Downsize Government and TAXES
- ?Balanced Budget
Source: 2020 Oregon Senate campaign website Romero4Oregon.com
Dec 23, 2019
Ron Wyden:
Sophisticated wealthy few distort tax system
Q: What do you think an improved tax system should look like?WYDEN: The U.S. tax code is mind-numbingly complex, increasingly unfair, and terribly inefficient. As a result, one of the most consequential pieces of our economic policies stifles
rather than encourages economic growth. In effect, America has two different tax systems. The one working families use is mandatory and paid straight out of the paycheck.
Then there's another system for the sophisticated, wealthy few, and it distorts the system by saying "pay what you want, when you want." We must simplify the tax code, closing loopholes, lowering compliance burdens, and delivering a tax
system that works for all Americans, not just those who can afford costly tax lawyers. The tax code has not been significantly reformed for almost 30 years, and it is long past due for a complete overhaul.
Source: League of Women Voters Guide to 2016 Oregon Senate race
Sep 9, 2016
Winona LaDuke:
Favors economic and tax policies to benefit poor, not rich
"I see people who don't benefit from the economic boom. The trickle-down economy never trickled down," she said. "That inspires my yearning to see some kind of justice. When are we going to have policies that tax the rich instead of the poor?"
Source: The Oregonian, "Activist Fire"
Jul 12, 2000
Betsy Johnson:
Reduce some taxes, say no to new taxes
I will work to reduce some taxes and tap the breaks [sic] on runaway state spending. I will say no to new taxes, and I will lead to reduce and reform the CAT tax and the estate/death tax. I will dedicate more to the state's
rainy-day fund, so we can ride out inevitable fluctuations in the economy without drastic services cuts or tax increases, and, where appropriate, I will exercise my line-item budget veto authority to stop inappropriate spending by the legislature.
Source: 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial campaign website RunBetsyRun.com
Oct 6, 2022
Tina Kotek:
Increase gas tax, double the payroll tax funding transit
Kotek's plan to prevent layoffs at the Department of Transportation relies on a 6-cent gas tax increase, hikes to title and registration fees and doubling the payroll tax that funds transit."I am confident that next month, legislators are going to
show up, they're going to approve the necessary funding for the state's transportation needs, and I truly appreciate their partnership right now to address the crisis that is facing the state when it comes to transportation," Kotek said.
Source: Oregon Capital Chronicle on 2026 Oregon Gubernatorial race
Jul 23, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026