Oregon Public Broadcasting

Even as the state budget is under stress, Oregon is one step closer to adding people to state funded health insurance under a bill approved Monday in the Oregon House.

It’s the first in a series of tax increase votes planned for this week in the Oregon Legislature.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

The measure would slap a one percent tax on some health insurance premiums, and raise taxes on the state’s largest hospitals.

Supporters say the move would add 80,000 children and 35,000 adults to the state’s health insurance plan for low-income people.

House Majority leader, Democrat Mary Nolan, says higher taxes now would actually bring down health care costs in the long run.

Mary Nolan:  “By insuring more Oregonians, hospitals and other providers will be able to see more paying patients, rather than accruing deficits for treating the uninsured.”

The measure passed the House on a party line vote and now heads to the Senate.  

Lawmakers are also set to vote this week on a pair of income tax increases on corporations and wealthy Oregonians.

Still unknown?  Whether anti-tax activists will be able to gather enough signatures to refer any of the tax increases to the ballot.

Online:

Oregon House Bill 2116-C