THE OREGON ANSWER

It's clear to me that government wasn't built to handle economic development. It is also quite clear that most people in government have a very hard time understanding this fact and insist on taking the rest of us down the same garden path every time there is a less than rosy economic picture.

The Oregon answer to this is to increase taxes and fees so government can provide a truly measly number of jobs for a specialized industry with an end result that will leave most of us poorer for the effort.

The Governor appeared before a legislative committee yesterday to unveil his plan to increase the $27 a year you and I pay to renew a car licence to an incredible $81 a year! He would have the government double title fees and create a whole new title fee for out of state cars brought into Oregon. He says this should raise $500-million a year in the first five years.

What will he do with it? Provide 2100 construction jobs. That's statewide. What will those workers be building? Roads and bridges. Where? he doesn't say but you and I know exactly where that will be going...the proposed new I-5 interstate bridge. So more jobs for the Portland/Vancouver area and maybe a hand-out or two for the rest of Oregon. If it doesn't all go toward that multi-billion dollar project I suppose they could tear up the 5 at Salem again..or perhaps tear up the 5 in Roseburg again. a caller this morning suggested that some of that money might find it's way into the plan to increase pay for legislators and key state officials including the Governor. Then, of course, we'll have legislators pushing for annual sessions. That will be played as an additional justification for the pay raises.

Will you get a raise this year? Will you have a job next year?

It's interesting to note that the Governor opposes the construction of the LNG terminals here and Congressman Baird has stated that those 500 construction jobs over three years really aren't that significant and the long term jobs to run the terminals and storage are not enough.

Really? Do taxpayers have to lay out a single dime for those projects? No. Will local people still be working at those terminals after the construction is done? Yes.

So we are back to my original point. When it comes to the economy, government hasn't a clue.

When it comes right down to it, regardless of where road and bridge improvements may be made this is a bad time to smack Oregonians with more taxes and higher fees when we are already paying high state income tax, property taxes, gas and diesel taxes, cigarette taxes, paying on bond measures and taxing districts who are always asking us to "give up another pizza", and the umpteen other fees we pay. How about all those francise fees you and I pay every month for utilities that go somehere, who knows?

Enough.