Oregon Public Broadcasting

Ballots are starting to arrive over Oregon for a special election. Amid grim economic conditions, voters are being asked to approve two tax ballot measures.

As April Baer reports, you might notice a distinct tone of class warfare in the ads around Measures 66 and 67.

Yes on 66/67 ad:  “A lot of these same corporations only pay the ten dollar corporate minimum tax. Vote yes on 66 and 67, because ten bucks is not enough.”

No on 66/67:  “Politicians increased personal and business taxes to pay for their higher spending – including $259 million to fund state employee salary increases.”

In an off-year election, these ads may be many Oregonians’ first or only impression of the twin tax ballot measures to be decided this month.

Measure 66 raises income taxes for families that earn more than $250,000.  It raises nearly $500 million to balance the current state budget.

Measure 67 raises the minimum tax corporations pay from ten to $150.  It also changes the way most corporations are taxed.  It raises more than $250 million to balance the current state budget.

The Yes campaign and its allies are betting that voters will be receptive to  a certain unease with the corporate world, and people in top-tier tax brackets.

Nick Kahl “I’ve knocked on doors about this, I’ve talked to people, they get it.”

Nick Kahl is the state representative for Oregon House District 49. He voted for both measures when they were still bills last legislative session. And he says the Yes campaign’s message will resonate with voters in his East Multnomah County district.

Nick Kahl  “There are communities in the state  that have been looking at double digit unemployment for decades, right? There are communities that have been suffering since the 80s. It’s just not OK.”

But while most Democrats across Oregon are on message about the two ballot measures, some supporters wish the messaging didn’t come down so hard on the business community.

Mark Hass is a state senator whose Washington County constituents work for some of Oregon’s biggest corporate citizens.

Mark Hass   “I have four people on my street – two work at Intel, two work at Nike. They are mainstays at the auctions for grade schools to raise money, they coach little league, they are very active on our community.

Hass, a Democrat, is voting for both measures. He says there’s no question they’re needed. But he questions whether the Yes campaign’s ads are the best way to win over voters in his district.

Hass has had very public disagreements with legislative leaders about this year’s corporate tax reforms.

Ambivalence over this winter’s messaging isn’t limited to supporters of the ballot measures. Some Republicans have been less than impressed by the opposition campaign.

Anti-tax campaign strategists got their wrists slapped late last week, for mailing out paper information that the Secretary of State said looked like an Oregon ballot. A separate arm of the campaign ran TV ads about the state budget, that ballot measure supporters say is innacurate.

Jack Roberts, a prominent Republican who runs the Lane Metro Partnership, agrees with ballot measure supporters that the opposition ads painted a less-than-complete picture.

Jack Roberts: “Unfortunately, what we’ve learned in political campaigns is that negative seems to be most effective. There have been sacrifices made by public employees that are not being acknowledged.”

Roberts says the negative tactics on both sides fall short.

Jack Roberts: “One side bashes businesses, one side bashes public employees. I don’t think either one is appropriate, I don’t think either one is fair. “

Sandra Galloway agrees. She’s a working mom in Hillsboro, with concerns about schools and other public services. She  says the broadly-phrased ads she’s heard are a turn-off.

Sandra Galloway  “I don’t think it would be received as intended I think there’s a lot of play on words, and dumbing down of advertisements by both sides, to be honest with you.”