SB 116B Sets Special Election requirements

CONTACT SENATORS FOR FLOOR VOTE (See sample below)

This bill sets Special Election date January 21, 2020 for referendum petition to repeal gross receipts tax, and allows Legislature to set ballot title.

Limited Government
The election date is set right after the federal holiday for the referendum of House Bill 3427—which is a gross receipts tax, or a “hidden sales tax,” that will be layered throughout the economy and will be paid by Oregon businesses, employees and consumers. This new sales tax will cost the average household upward of an additional $1,000 a year. The legislature will write the ballot language to favor the majority party in their favor to thwart attempts by the people to overturn this tax.

SAMPLE TESTIMONY TO COPY AND PASTE INTO EMAIL (email list)

I STRONGLY OPPOSE SB 116 B

This bill sets the Special Election date for January 21, 2020 for the referendum petition on House Bill 3427 to repeal the gross receipts tax, and allows Legislature to set the ballot title.

This bill is a distasteful maneuver to give advantage to the opposition of the referendum. The filing dates and election date is set to give as little time possible for collecting signatures. Election date is set the day after the federal holiday when people are particularly busy after a three-day weekend. Special elections historically have low turnout and making it more difficult does not present an atmosphere for a fair election. Voters should have every opportunity to respond to this “hidden sales tax,” that will be layered throughout the economy and will be paid by Oregon businesses, employees and consumers. This new sales tax will cost the average household upward of an additional $1,000 a year and voters deserve a fair opportunity to respond.

Further, manipulating the law so the legislature will write the ballot language to favor the majority party is an attempt to thwart attempts by the people to overturn this tax.

This bill should not pass and left to the established law.