Senator Atkinson is using a political ploy to curry favour.
"Salem – Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point) will again introduce legislation in the 2010 legislative special session to eliminate the taxation of unemployment benefits. The bill is similar to a bill Atkinson introduced in 2009, which would give unemployed Oregonians their first $2,400 of unemployment benefits tax free.
“"Taxing someone who doesn’t have a job is like kicking them when they’re down,' said Atkinson. 'Oregon continues to have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Those looking for work don’t deserve to have their unemployment benefits taxed. The least government can do is wait until they can find a job.'
"The legislation would follow the federal government’s lead and end taxation of an individual’s first $2,400 in unemployment compensation. Congress ended the taxation of initial unemployment benefits as part of the economic stimulus package past in February.
“'Unemployed Oregonians need to know that someone is on their side,' said Aktinson. 'If we really want to create jobs and get Oregonians back to work, we need to stop taxing their unemployment benefits.'
"Currently, Oregon taxes the first $2,400 of unemployment compensation on a sliding scale, depending on an individual’s taxable income. Most Oregonians collecting unemployment compensation are taxed at the top rate of 9%."
Unemployed Oregonians don't "need to know that someone is on their side", a la Atkinson. Oregonians need to know that someone with a brain cell knows how jobs are created or lost. It has nothing to do with the reluctant fodder of our State's assault on productive employment. If anything, I would have greater respect for Senator Aktinson if he took the opposite path, that those who have been sacrificed for their inefficencies during the recent downturn were able to personalize a fact; if you weren't of any value to the company or enterprise for whom you were employed, don't be surprised when you find yourself out of a job.
I don't want the unemployed to have reduced taxes. I want them to have increased taxes. They voted for the Left. Let the Left deploy their Smarter and More Important Policies to make the poor better off.
Perhaps, they will mandate their hire by the State.
Change!
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3 comments:
Hey, that boondoggle velodrome he wants to built might create a job or two!
AMEN BROTHER! I read about this earlier and the same thought crossed my mind. This is what it is going to take to get these freakin wing nuts off their collective asses and vote these maroons out of office! Yes. It gets worse before it gets better. At what point do we say "this aint workin'"
There is a "young" Republican by the name of Scott Bruun.
His family has money, his family has a significant Oregon business.
He has no clue how either occured.
Jason Atkinson was "my guy" for Governor in 2010 until I read his latest presser. He is smart, articulate and right on the priorities of the State.
Until this.
To be fair, if the Senator had spent more time pointing out that our United States Senator--Merkeley--was helping to pass a "Stimulus Bill" that the Oregon Legislature was working actively in order to strip out the macro-economic effects of the national bill in Oregon's economy...I might be a little less condescending.
But I don't recall Senator Atkinson making much of a stink when the Democrats de-coupled the federal Stimulus Bill from Oregon law.
That is, all the tax incentives that were included in the federal Stimulus Bill were deliberately rescinded by the Democrats in the Oregon Legislature.
This may have been the impetus behind Sen. Atkinson's latest presser. But, it's still off-base.
Just as is Scott Bruun's statement that green technology is really a great idea.
Pandering is pandering. Stupid is stupid. And lack of leadership translates into an Electorate that isn't given the chance to make educated decisions when campaigning politicians decide to take short-cuts in order to avoid the messy task of telling the voters the truth.
There won't be any more jobs until we fix the investment environment in Oregon. You know that every company you deal with is willing to attempt more with less, since we--the business community--has no clue what the impact will be of the increased taxes proposed by Oregon, the impact of Health Care, and still out there, the destructive impact of Cap & Trade.
Politicians, as a class, have never had to make a payroll. They've never had to make a profit. They have no idea how jealous we are of the talent that we hire and employ.
They are geese.
Thanks for the comment.
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