Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 2011)
5 Street roots Nov. 25, 2011 Working poor Oregonians pay more in income taxes than poor in other states A s poverty continues to rise in Oregon, a new report published this month X JLsaid that Oregon remains among a minority of states that tax the income of working poor families and that its tax is among the highest. In 2010, Oregon income taxes kicked in at $19,900 for a married couple with two children, about $2,414 below the poverty line for a family that size, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Of the 41 states plus the District of Columbia that levy an income tax, only nirie states taxed four- person families earning less. The vast majority — 27 of the 42 with income taxes — do not tax the working poor. “Taxing the work effort of poor families makes it that much harder for them to escape poverty,” said Jason Gettel, policy analyst with the Oregon Center for Public Policy, who reviewed the re p o rt “Those families and our state as a whole would be better off if poor, working families could devote all of their income to putting food on the table, paying for transportation, housing and health care costs and covering other basic needs.” The report also showed that some working poor Oregon families pay among the highest amounts of income taxes of families anywhere in the country. A two- parent family of four living at the poverty Brie ($22,314 in income) had to pay $234 in Oregon income taxes in 2010. Only three other states — Alabama, Hawaii and Georgia — would give this family a higher income tax bill. Near-poor Oregon families fared even worse, according to the re p o rt It noted that an Oregon two-parent family of four with income of 125 percent of the-poverty line, or $27,893, faced a tax bill of $799 in 2010 - the third highest in the nation, with Alabama and Kentucky being the only states that levied higher income taxes. The CBPP’s analysis arrives at a time when poverty is on the rise both at the national level and in Oregon. U.S, Census Bureari data released in late September showed that 120,000 more Oregonians lived below the poverty line in 2010, compared to 2007, before the start of the recession. According to Gettel, the most effective way for Oregon to eliminate the income tax on poor, working families with children is through an increase in Oregon’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is patterned after the federal EITC. Oregon has an EITC, but it is “too small for the task at hand,” noted Gettel. Oregon’s EITC is 6 percent of the federal tax credit Source: The Oregon Center fo r Public Policy. The Oregon Center fo r Public Policy is a non p a rtisa n research institute that does in-depth research a n d analysis on budget, tax a n d economic issues. Wolves at the zoo By Jason Wolf P H O T O B Y ISR A EL B A Y E R Vendor Darren Alexander (N E 15th Avenue an d Alberta Street) poses with M ike Rice, the Portland Trail Blazers T V commentator, a t the Portland Trail Blazers ann u a l H arvest D inner on Nov. 1. The day long event serves a hot meal an d offers a range o f services to people experiencing homelessness a n d poverty in the region. Keep on bidding! Sold! On Sisters runs g o o d , lo c a l, f o o d . • 7 nights at Eagle Crest Resort near Redmond gj • Computer, Knitting & Bike Advocacy lessons 111 • Romantic night at the Heathman Hotel ■ I shosoxsa@gmail.com through 9pm December 1st A few fantastic donations: a iB S As I approach, my heart pounds for J am near I am going to see something I love and hold very dear Through the excitement, I feel my blood coarse through every vein I’m getting impatient and it’s driving me insane But the wait is over and I can feel my breath leave When my eyes make contact, I cannot believe Three majestic wolves in a place they call home Unfortunately they are limited to where they roam I can’t help but stare at this magnificent creature Its ability to survive is an amazing feature I wish these wolves could tell me their story Of all their hardships and all their glory One wolf was black and the other two were gray and white I only wish I could have stuck around long enough to hear them howl at night There was one wolf pacing, seemingly on alert Were there pups involved that it didn’t want anyone to hurt? I wasn’t there long before I had to take myself away Because if I hadn’t I would’ve been there all day I felt something strong deep down inside As I was leaving it felt like a part of me had died •H andm ade holiday Man Cards ALBERTA COOPERATIVE GROCERY • Beautiful shell jewelry from Bali http://bitly.com/soldonsisters?r=qr Handcrafted localfewelry,. See it all at b it.ly/so ld o n sisters . like this M aple necklace by Sabrina Leaf. SISTERS OF THE ROAD & your money is matched! © Through Dec.3 1 , all donations matched S0( on the $1, & new donors also matched $1 for $1 by the Collins Foundation & Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust. A new donor’s $100 bid becomes $250! w w w .sisterso fth ero a d .o rg 1500 NE A lb e rta St. P ortland, OR 97211 5 0 3 .2 8 7 .4 3 3 3 w w w .a lb e rta g ro c e ry .c o o p o pe n to e v e ry o n e 9 - 1 0 daily 1)3 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209 503-222-5694 Missed an issue? Check out our blog at\ www.streetroots.wordpress.com, or join us on Facebook a n d stay up on w hat’s happening. coffee bean I N T E R N A T I O N A L® Vfe tip our m ugs to Coffee B ean International fo r donating coffee to Street Roots a n d keeping our vendors warm in the m orning! T h ank you!
