Is a carbon tax in Oregon’s future?
Oregon could significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions without impacting the state’s overall economy by imposing a fee on carbon emissions, Portland State University researchers told four legislative committees today.
That’s because those tax revenues would go back into the economy, perhaps in the form of business and individual income tax breaks…
While the overall impact would be neutral, some geographic areas, including Portland, would be harder hit. And some sectors of the economy, such as retail, would feel the effects more than others.
The tax also would be regressive, hitting low-income residents the hardest. That’s why income tax rebates or other methods of redistributing the revenue are important, the researchers said…
We Respond & Your Comments
Get it? Our Beaver State Legislators may add $1.50 per gallon to our gas bills, tax the daylights out of manufacturing and retail, redistribute 100% back into the economy and it won’t cost a dollar. Right!
They won’t add one department, administrator, enforcer or accountant to the payroll. They won’t rent one office floor in Salem or commission any analysts, economists or committees to study the results of their handywork. They’ll just give it all back in tax breaks.
Not one dollar will be tossed to donors. No money will be wasted on harebrained “green” energy projects. No “Special Favors” for “Special People”.
Remember the Oregon Dept. of Energy’s Small Scale Energy Program? You should, because even if the scale was small, the losses weren’t. They’ll eventually total an estimated $20 million of your dollars.
But it will all be different this time because our pals in Salem “promise”, on a stack of failed green energy loans, that it won’t cost us a thing. Sure.