House Democrats' Tax Proposal Introduced

I suspect this is just the first step. HB 3176. This is the bill everyone knew was coming, raising about $363 million from an array of tax preferences, exemptions, and avoidance mechanisms. AP reporter Curt Woodward covers it here.

The new revenue package's public debut kicks off serious debate about raising taxes in the aftermath of a crippling recession, amid the highest state unemployment rate in 25 years.

But it won't be the last word on tax hikes at this year's legislative session...

Rep. Ross Hunter has a brief desciption of the bill's provisions. Brad Shannon summarizes it this way in the Olympian.

Hunter’s tax plan includes provisions to undo the effects of a court ruling in the Dot Foods case that affects supplies for door-to-door sales as well as provisions to tax out-of-state companies that do a certain amount of business in the state. Others would tax airplane ownership and close a sales-tax exemption for out-of-state residents such as Oregonians who shop here. Others would affect mortgage deductions, tax debts and foreclosures.

That sales tax exemption for Oregonians surprised me. Remember this?

And so it begins...