News Release
April 24, 2008
For More Information Contact:
* Chuck Sheketoff, Executive Director (503) 873-1201
* Mike Leachman, Policy Analyst (503) 873-1201
* Juan Carlos Ordóñez, Communications Director (503) 873-1201
Oregon State and Local Taxes Hit Poor and Middle Class Harder Than Rich, Study Finds
(Silverton) -- Oregon state and local taxes take a bigger bite out of the pocketbooks of poor and middle-class families than those of wealthy families, according to a new analysis released today by the Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP).
The figures were compiled for OCPP by the Washington, DC-based Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. OCPP is presenting the information today to a state task force examining how to restructure Oregon's tax system.
"Oregon's tax system is upside down," said OCPP policy analyst Michael Leachman. "A tax system promotes opportunity when it is based on ability to pay. But in Oregon, those who can afford to pay more wind up paying the smallest share of their income."
Adding up all state and local taxes, Oregon's low-income families had an effective tax rate of 9.2 percent, compared to an effective rate of 7.8 percent paid by Oregon's wealthiest 1 percent of families.
The effective tax rate paid by Oregon's wealthiest families falls further, to 6.7 percent, when federal deductions for state income and property taxes are taken into account.
Though faring better than the poorest families, middle-income families in Oregon are also paying a larger share of their income than the wealthiest families. Families in the middle had an effective tax rate of 8.4 percent before federal tax offsets and 7.9 percent when factoring in the federal deductions.
According to Leachman, the bigger impact on poor and middle-class incomes is due to the income tax system going easy on the wealthy and to state and local property taxes and excise taxes, such as gasoline and cigarette taxes, eating up a larger share of the income of families in the middle and bottom than of those at the top.
Oregon's wealthy don't pay significantly more in income taxes because Oregon's income tax brackets and rates are flat compared to the federal system and the wealthy can fully use Oregon's subtraction for federal income taxes paid when calculating taxable income, said Leachman.
Even though the wealthy tend to own more valuable homes, the wealthiest 1 percent of Oregon families paid only 1.2 percent of their income in property taxes, compared to 2.6 percent for middle-income families and 4.6 percent for the poorest families.
The analysis comes as a task force created by the state legislature and appointed by the governor is reviewing Oregon's tax system. The Revenue Restructuring Task Force, which includes as one of its members OCPP executive director Chuck Sheketoff, is expected to issue its recommendations this November for the 2009 legislature.
Among the key changes recommended by OCPP is making our tax system more fair by expanding the Earned Income Credit, a tax credit that's targeted at boosting the income of low-income working families.
"The task force has a great opportunity to respond to the imbalance in our tax system and foster opportunity for low-income working Oregonians," said Sheketoff.
The Oregon Center for Public Policy is a non-partisan research institute that does in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues. The Center's goal is to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians.
- 30 -
Friday, April 25, 2008
Story Assignment: Police Brutality and Racism
Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
___________________________________________________
Friday, April 25, 2008
Police Brutality and Racism
Interviews Available
AP reports: "Three detectives were acquitted of all charges Friday in
the 50-shot killing of an unarmed groom-to-be on his wedding day, a case
that put the NYPD at the center of another dispute involving allegations
Florida and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Race
Relations. She is author of "Protecting Our Own: Race, Crime, and
African Americans."
She said today: "These cases -- Bell, [Amadou] Diallo -- explain
the African American community's reaction to the O.J. Simpson case and its
general disillusionment with the criminal justice system."
Rev. LENNOX YEARWOOD Jr., via Darryl Perkins, darryl@hiphopcaucus.org, http://www.hiphopcaucus.org
President of the Hip Hop Caucus, Yearwood said today: "This verdict exemplifies the inadequacy and shortcomings of local courts/criminal justice systems to adjudicate police shootings, especially those that result in death. We have not been witnesses to 'fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans' as is stated in the mission of the Department of Justice. If the mission of the Department of Justice and rule of law is being broken, then the integrity of the institution and system is lost, and there is no rule of law. When there is no rule of law, people will organize to work for justice as a means to protect themselves out of necessity."
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
___________________________________________________
Friday, April 25, 2008
Police Brutality and Racism
Interviews Available
AP reports: "Three detectives were acquitted of all charges Friday in
the 50-shot killing of an unarmed groom-to-be on his wedding day, a case
that put the NYPD at the center of another dispute involving allegations
Florida and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Race
Relations. She is author of "Protecting Our Own: Race, Crime, and
African Americans."
She said today: "These cases -- Bell, [Amadou] Diallo -- explain
the African American community's reaction to the O.J. Simpson case and its
general disillusionment with the criminal justice system."
Rev. LENNOX YEARWOOD Jr., via Darryl Perkins, darryl@hiphopcaucus.org, http://www.hiphopcaucus.org
President of the Hip Hop Caucus, Yearwood said today: "This verdict exemplifies the inadequacy and shortcomings of local courts/criminal justice systems to adjudicate police shootings, especially those that result in death. We have not been witnesses to 'fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans' as is stated in the mission of the Department of Justice. If the mission of the Department of Justice and rule of law is being broken, then the integrity of the institution and system is lost, and there is no rule of law. When there is no rule of law, people will organize to work for justice as a means to protect themselves out of necessity."
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Story Assignment: Biofuels and Food Shortage
Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
___________________________________________________
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Food Crisis and Biofuels
Interviews Available
The Washington Post reports on its front page today: "More than 100
million people are being driven deeper into poverty by a 'silent
tsunami' of sharply rising food prices, which have sparked riots around the world and threaten U.N.-backed feeding programs for 20 million children, the top U.N. food official said Tuesday."
MARIA LUISA MENDONCA, marialuisa1@uol.com.br,
Maria Luisa Mendonca is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is director
of the Social Network for Justice and Human Rights. She co-wrote an
article titled "Agrofuels: Myths and Impacts." She said today: "In many regions of [Brazil], the increase in ethanol production has caused the expulsion of small farmers from their lands, and has generated a dependency on the so-called 'sugarcane economy,' where only precarious jobs exist in the sugarcane fields. Large landowners' monopoly on land blocks other economic sectors from developing, and generates
unemployment, stimulates migration, and submits workers to degrading conditions.
"This model has caused negative impacts on peasant and indigenous
communities, who have their territories threatened by the constant
expansion of large plantations. The lack of policies in support of food production leads peasants to substitute their crops for agrofuels, and, as a result, compromises our food sovereignty. In Brazil, small- and medium-sized farmers are responsible for 70 percent of the food production for the internal market.
"It is necessary to strengthen rural workers' organizations to
promote sustainable peasant agriculture, prioritizing diversified food
production for local consumption. It is crucial to advocate for policies that guarantee subsidies for food production through peasant agriculture. We cannot keep our tanks full while stomachs go empty."
RACHEL SMOLKER, rsmolker@globaljusticeecology.org, http://www.globaljusticeecology.org
Research biologist at the Global Justice Ecology Project, Smolker said today: "The massive diversion of crops and land to producing biofuel crops instead of food is a major factor in the very dramatic food price increases. Governments and industries have foolishly pursued biofuels in spite of this and in spite of a cascade of scientific studies and statements from all levels of society which clearly
demonstrate that biofuels are not only exacerbating hunger, but also rural displacement, climate change and deforestation. Last week the UK instated its Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation for the use of biofuels even as the European Environment Agency warned that the EU-wide mandate should be reconsidered. Even the World Bank recently stated that biofuels are contributing to rising food prices and hunger.
"Incentives and mandates for the use of biofuels are being promoted
by agribusiness giants like Monsanto, ADM and Cargill along with big
oil, biotechnology and automobile industries -- all of whom stand to
profit enormously. The price is being paid right now by those who can
no longer afford food or access to land. Civil society is pushing back:
this week the Round Table on Responsible Soy is meeting in Buenos Aires
and will be met with intense opposition as people denounce the entire
concept of 'sustainable industrial agriculture' of the sort that has
despoiled so much of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
"The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and
Technology for Development report took a strong position opposing industrial
agriculture and GE [genetically engineered] crops while a major new
report from University of Kansas makes it clear that GE crops have not
delivered on the promise of increased yields. We need new models for
food and energy production that do not leave people hungry and
displaced, do not contaminate our crop biodiversity and pollute our
water and soils, and do not leave food and energy production in the
hands of profit-seeking multinational corporations. People are beginning to wake up to this fact.
"Meanwhile, the food crisis is pushing biofuel proponents to argue
that the next generation of technologies based on cellulose will avert
problems with food competition and deliver greater climate benefits. In fact they could worsen the problems: There is limited space available
and we are losing land to desertification and deforestation at an
alarming rate. A few weeks ago, [the journal] Science published a pair
of articles showing that the greenhouse gas emissions that result from
indirect land use changes far outweigh any gains from substituting
fossil fuel use. Wood is considered to be one of the most promising
feedstocks. But demand for wood is skyrocketing as countries attempting
to meet Kyoto commitments are shifting to wood and other biomass for
heat and electricity production, as well as chemicals and manufacturing
processes.
"On top of that, the pulp and paper industry is undergoing a planned fivefold expansion and China has a very rapidly expanding wood products industry. The scale of demand for wood to satisfy all of these demands can only be met by further deforestation and by enormous industrial monocultures of fast-growing trees. The biotechnology industries are racing to genetically engineer both trees and microorganisms for these uses. Next month at the Convention on Biological Diversity, civil society organizations will be asking for a moratorium on the commercialization of GE trees because of the potential risks of contaminating native forests."
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
___________________________________________________
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Food Crisis and Biofuels
Interviews Available
The Washington Post reports on its front page today: "More than 100
million people are being driven deeper into poverty by a 'silent
tsunami' of sharply rising food prices, which have sparked riots around the world and threaten U.N.-backed feeding programs for 20 million children, the top U.N. food official said Tuesday."
MARIA LUISA MENDONCA, marialuisa1@uol.com.br,
Maria Luisa Mendonca is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is director
of the Social Network for Justice and Human Rights. She co-wrote an
article titled "Agrofuels: Myths and Impacts." She said today: "In many regions of [Brazil], the increase in ethanol production has caused the expulsion of small farmers from their lands, and has generated a dependency on the so-called 'sugarcane economy,' where only precarious jobs exist in the sugarcane fields. Large landowners' monopoly on land blocks other economic sectors from developing, and generates
unemployment, stimulates migration, and submits workers to degrading conditions.
"This model has caused negative impacts on peasant and indigenous
communities, who have their territories threatened by the constant
expansion of large plantations. The lack of policies in support of food production leads peasants to substitute their crops for agrofuels, and, as a result, compromises our food sovereignty. In Brazil, small- and medium-sized farmers are responsible for 70 percent of the food production for the internal market.
"It is necessary to strengthen rural workers' organizations to
promote sustainable peasant agriculture, prioritizing diversified food
production for local consumption. It is crucial to advocate for policies that guarantee subsidies for food production through peasant agriculture. We cannot keep our tanks full while stomachs go empty."
RACHEL SMOLKER, rsmolker@globaljusticeecology.org, http://www.globaljusticeecology.org
Research biologist at the Global Justice Ecology Project, Smolker said today: "The massive diversion of crops and land to producing biofuel crops instead of food is a major factor in the very dramatic food price increases. Governments and industries have foolishly pursued biofuels in spite of this and in spite of a cascade of scientific studies and statements from all levels of society which clearly
demonstrate that biofuels are not only exacerbating hunger, but also rural displacement, climate change and deforestation. Last week the UK instated its Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation for the use of biofuels even as the European Environment Agency warned that the EU-wide mandate should be reconsidered. Even the World Bank recently stated that biofuels are contributing to rising food prices and hunger.
"Incentives and mandates for the use of biofuels are being promoted
by agribusiness giants like Monsanto, ADM and Cargill along with big
oil, biotechnology and automobile industries -- all of whom stand to
profit enormously. The price is being paid right now by those who can
no longer afford food or access to land. Civil society is pushing back:
this week the Round Table on Responsible Soy is meeting in Buenos Aires
and will be met with intense opposition as people denounce the entire
concept of 'sustainable industrial agriculture' of the sort that has
despoiled so much of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
"The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and
Technology for Development report took a strong position opposing industrial
agriculture and GE [genetically engineered] crops while a major new
report from University of Kansas makes it clear that GE crops have not
delivered on the promise of increased yields. We need new models for
food and energy production that do not leave people hungry and
displaced, do not contaminate our crop biodiversity and pollute our
water and soils, and do not leave food and energy production in the
hands of profit-seeking multinational corporations. People are beginning to wake up to this fact.
"Meanwhile, the food crisis is pushing biofuel proponents to argue
that the next generation of technologies based on cellulose will avert
problems with food competition and deliver greater climate benefits. In fact they could worsen the problems: There is limited space available
and we are losing land to desertification and deforestation at an
alarming rate. A few weeks ago, [the journal] Science published a pair
of articles showing that the greenhouse gas emissions that result from
indirect land use changes far outweigh any gains from substituting
fossil fuel use. Wood is considered to be one of the most promising
feedstocks. But demand for wood is skyrocketing as countries attempting
to meet Kyoto commitments are shifting to wood and other biomass for
heat and electricity production, as well as chemicals and manufacturing
processes.
"On top of that, the pulp and paper industry is undergoing a planned fivefold expansion and China has a very rapidly expanding wood products industry. The scale of demand for wood to satisfy all of these demands can only be met by further deforestation and by enormous industrial monocultures of fast-growing trees. The biotechnology industries are racing to genetically engineer both trees and microorganisms for these uses. Next month at the Convention on Biological Diversity, civil society organizations will be asking for a moratorium on the commercialization of GE trees because of the potential risks of contaminating native forests."
Saturday, April 19, 2008
KBOO Seeks Animal Rights Show Producer/Host
Our sister Kathleen Stephenson is looking for someone to take on KBOO's animal rights show. Read on:
Hi All,
Laurie Sonnenfeld has given up hosting Speaking of Animals, our current animal and animal rights show, which airs once a month. I am looking for a replacement host for that program.
I am posting the program opening on my office door, along with applications for hosting the show. I am also attaching the application to this email. To use it, you will probably need to print it and fill it out.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
The Speaking of Animals program is pre-empted this month, so the first show that is open is the May program, which would be Wednesday, May 28th, from 9:30-10AM.
Best,
Kathleen
(Go ahead and contact KBOO or Kathleen for that program application -- she is at amnews@kboo.org, or 503-231-8032.)
Hi All,
Laurie Sonnenfeld has given up hosting Speaking of Animals, our current animal and animal rights show, which airs once a month. I am looking for a replacement host for that program.
I am posting the program opening on my office door, along with applications for hosting the show. I am also attaching the application to this email. To use it, you will probably need to print it and fill it out.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
The Speaking of Animals program is pre-empted this month, so the first show that is open is the May program, which would be Wednesday, May 28th, from 9:30-10AM.
Best,
Kathleen
(Go ahead and contact KBOO or Kathleen for that program application -- she is at amnews@kboo.org, or 503-231-8032.)
Our Sister Ariel is Looking for Portland Queer Experience Anthology Submissions....
Greetings--
I'm writing because I know that if you're not demographically inclined
to contribute a story to the book I'm working on, then you probably
know someone who is.
It's a PORTLAND QUEER collection -- true tales and fictions of queer
life in Portland, Oregon.
Please submit or spread the word!
This is going to be a delicious book that includes stories by Marc
Acito, Tom Spanbauer, Sarah Dougher, Nicole J. Georges, Dexter Flowers and
many others.
And I'm looking for more first-person literary narratives showcasing
the diversity, hilarity, and talent of emerging and established Portland
writers. Stories can be fiction or nonfiction, but should have a clear
Portland connection.
I'm looking for:
Experimental and traditional short stories / short memoirs featuring
queer characters
Character-driven literary narratives
Stories that mention specific Portland neighborhoods, landmarks,
haunts, or nearby destinations
Some comics/ fine arts/ illustrations/ graphic stories
Up to 5,000 words (shorter pieces welcome)
I'm not looking for:
Opinion essays on what it's like to be queer in Portland
How-to or travel pieces
And I'm not looking for trouble! Please be prepared to change the names
of the guilty.
Send submissions / questions to
Ariel Gore
arielfiona@gmail.com
Subject: Pdx Queer
I'm writing because I know that if you're not demographically inclined
to contribute a story to the book I'm working on, then you probably
know someone who is.
It's a PORTLAND QUEER collection -- true tales and fictions of queer
life in Portland, Oregon.
Please submit or spread the word!
This is going to be a delicious book that includes stories by Marc
Acito, Tom Spanbauer, Sarah Dougher, Nicole J. Georges, Dexter Flowers and
many others.
And I'm looking for more first-person literary narratives showcasing
the diversity, hilarity, and talent of emerging and established Portland
writers. Stories can be fiction or nonfiction, but should have a clear
Portland connection.
I'm looking for:
Experimental and traditional short stories / short memoirs featuring
queer characters
Character-driven literary narratives
Stories that mention specific Portland neighborhoods, landmarks,
haunts, or nearby destinations
Some comics/ fine arts/ illustrations/ graphic stories
Up to 5,000 words (shorter pieces welcome)
I'm not looking for:
Opinion essays on what it's like to be queer in Portland
How-to or travel pieces
And I'm not looking for trouble! Please be prepared to change the names
of the guilty.
Send submissions / questions to
Ariel Gore
arielfiona@gmail.com
Subject: Pdx Queer
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Story Assignment: Climate Change Proposals Will Harm Low-Income Households
Oregon Center for Public Policy
Media Advisory
April 17, 2008
For More Information Contact: (503) 873-1201
* Michael Leachman, Policy Analyst
* Chuck Sheketoff, Executive Director
Climate Change Proposals Will Harm Low-Income Households Unless Regional Effort Acts to Protect Vulnerable Households
OCPP submitted comments to the Western Climate Initiative urging the states participating in the regional effort to commit to fully shielding lower-income households from the impact of energy price increases resulting from climate change policies.
"Climate change policies should not push households deeper into poverty," said the public comment memo submitted by OCPP in collaboration with colleagues from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington.
OCPP's comments drew on research showing that price increases resulting from capping carbon emissions would hit lower-income households the hardest, and offered overarching principles for developing effective and efficient policies for protecting these households from facing additional hardship as a result of carbon emissions caps.
Read Public comment on the Western Climate Initiative's April 2, 2008 "Draft Allocations Design Recommendations," (PDF) jointly submitted by OCPP and the California Budget Project, the Children's Action Alliance of Arizona, New Mexico Voices for Children, Voices for Utah Children, and the Washington State Budget & Policy Center.
Visit OCPP's new Climate Change Resource Center for additional information.
Media Advisory
April 17, 2008
For More Information Contact: (503) 873-1201
* Michael Leachman, Policy Analyst
* Chuck Sheketoff, Executive Director
Climate Change Proposals Will Harm Low-Income Households Unless Regional Effort Acts to Protect Vulnerable Households
OCPP submitted comments to the Western Climate Initiative urging the states participating in the regional effort to commit to fully shielding lower-income households from the impact of energy price increases resulting from climate change policies.
"Climate change policies should not push households deeper into poverty," said the public comment memo submitted by OCPP in collaboration with colleagues from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington.
OCPP's comments drew on research showing that price increases resulting from capping carbon emissions would hit lower-income households the hardest, and offered overarching principles for developing effective and efficient policies for protecting these households from facing additional hardship as a result of carbon emissions caps.
Read Public comment on the Western Climate Initiative's April 2, 2008 "Draft Allocations Design Recommendations," (PDF) jointly submitted by OCPP and the California Budget Project, the Children's Action Alliance of Arizona, New Mexico Voices for Children, Voices for Utah Children, and the Washington State Budget & Policy Center.
Visit OCPP's new Climate Change Resource Center for additional information.
Story Assignment: Political Analysis on Nepalese Elections
Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Maoist Victory in Nepal
Interviews Available
AFP is reporting: "Nepal's Maoists, on track for victory in landmark elections, on Wednesday called on the country's embattled king to step down 'gracefully' or else face a humiliating eviction from his palace. "The call came as the former rebels maintained a strong lead in the count from last Thursday's vote on the impoverished country's political future.
"The Maoists so far look set to dominate a 601-seat assembly that will rewrite Nepal's constitution, and have said their first act will be to sack King Gyanendra and abolish his 240-year-old monarchy."
MARY DES CHENE, [in Nepal, nearly 10 hours ahead of U.S. ET] mdeschen@artsci.wustl.edu
Mary Des Chene is an anthropologist and editor of the journal Studies in Nepali History and Society. She is fluent in Nepali and has been conducting research in Nepal for more than two decades. She was interviewed Wednesday on Democracy Now! www.democracynow.org
PRAMOD PARAJULI, pramodp@pdx.edu,
http://www.piiecl.pdx.edu/community_partners/pramod_bio.htm
Professor at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon,
Parajuli was born and raised in Nepal. He is founding executive director of the
Portland International Initiative for Leadership in Ecology, Culture
and Learning.
Parajuli said today: "I was last in Nepal at the end of 2006 and
met with those who will be in the new leadership. The U.S. government
should immediately withdraw its designation of the Maoists as 'terrorists' and
graciously welcome the people's verdict. ... It is natural that the
elites of Nepal are completely shocked and aghast at the new developments; the political class and the media expected the Maoists to come in third. ...
"This victory is partly a vote for the Maoists -- many think they
will do something good -- but it's largely a vote away from the other
parties, for they failed to meet raising expectations of the masses or
make any dent on the very entrenched unequal and unjust structure of
the Nepalese state. ..."
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Maoist Victory in Nepal
Interviews Available
AFP is reporting: "Nepal's Maoists, on track for victory in landmark elections, on Wednesday called on the country's embattled king to step down 'gracefully' or else face a humiliating eviction from his palace. "The call came as the former rebels maintained a strong lead in the count from last Thursday's vote on the impoverished country's political future.
"The Maoists so far look set to dominate a 601-seat assembly that will rewrite Nepal's constitution, and have said their first act will be to sack King Gyanendra and abolish his 240-year-old monarchy."
MARY DES CHENE, [in Nepal, nearly 10 hours ahead of U.S. ET] mdeschen@artsci.wustl.edu
Mary Des Chene is an anthropologist and editor of the journal Studies in Nepali History and Society. She is fluent in Nepali and has been conducting research in Nepal for more than two decades. She was interviewed Wednesday on Democracy Now! www.democracynow.org
PRAMOD PARAJULI, pramodp@pdx.edu,
http://www.piiecl.pdx.edu/community_partners/pramod_bio.htm
Professor at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon,
Parajuli was born and raised in Nepal. He is founding executive director of the
Portland International Initiative for Leadership in Ecology, Culture
and Learning.
Parajuli said today: "I was last in Nepal at the end of 2006 and
met with those who will be in the new leadership. The U.S. government
should immediately withdraw its designation of the Maoists as 'terrorists' and
graciously welcome the people's verdict. ... It is natural that the
elites of Nepal are completely shocked and aghast at the new developments; the political class and the media expected the Maoists to come in third. ...
"This victory is partly a vote for the Maoists -- many think they
will do something good -- but it's largely a vote away from the other
parties, for they failed to meet raising expectations of the masses or
make any dent on the very entrenched unequal and unjust structure of
the Nepalese state. ..."
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