whenever and wherever possible, but join me
in voting NO on 30.
Pete Raiteri
Eugene
YES ON 30
People against Measure 30 speak of the
sky not falling. When Measure 28 failed, for
some the sky did fall. The impact was most
keenly felt by those on whom the sky did fall;
people receiving benefits due to disability,
those working in public schools, in law en-
forcement, those providing services to the
disabled and the elderly. People not em-
ployed in sectors that provide these services
didn’t notice that sky falling, for it didn’t fall
on them. I’ve heard the tax increase is coer-
cion, that the mess should be repaired by
those in the Oregon State Legislature that
caused it, without increasing our taxes.
Perhaps that’s true, but if I pay more taxes to
save programs that benefit our children, our
elderly, and our disabled, then make it so, for
I will vote yes on 30.
This increase is minute, averaging $3 per
month per household (based on $40,000
household income). Without this increase
more sky will fall. People who receive mental
health benefits (already greatly reduced) will
have fewer benefits and will more likely be
hospitalized. Who will pay for this? The tax-
payers, and the amount paid out will certainly
exceed that of the tax increase.
Regardless of how much one pays out in
increased taxes, it’s the right thing to do to
provide care for those less fortunate, for those
that need our help. People on welfare, those
with disabilities (physical and psychiatric),
are not throwaways of society, they are
human beings and deserve our respect.
Bob Kennedy and 13 co-signers
Eugene
SMALL PRICE TO PAY
I’ve seen many letters recently about how
people can’t possibly afford the huge new tax
increases of Measure 30. A close look at the
measure shows that for people with modest
incomes, the tax increase would be very
small. For a single person with a $20,000 in-
come, the increase would be about $1 a
month. For a couple with a $40,000 income,
it would be about $2 a month. Surely, this is
manageable even in these uncertain times.
There will be real consequences for all
Oregonians if we fail to pass Measure 30.
These include loss of health coverage for
thousands of residents, larger classes in the
public schools, loss of drug and alcohol serv-
ices, etc. A person who loses prescription
drug coverage will end up costing the state
far more if he has a stroke and requires per-
manent nursing home care. Crime rates go up
when people can’t get drug and alcohol or
anger management counseling.
There’s an angry belief that seems wide-
spread that somebody is robbing taxpayers
blind. All the states are going through budget
R iverpark
IN
•
•
•
•
•
HOME
CARE
Bath Visits
Meal Prep & Shopping
Personal Care Assistants
Housekeeping/Laundry
Exercise
Excellence . . . with a personal touch
For information about our complete
In Home Care Services, call 345-2853
www.touchmark.com
Licensed Tax Consultants
L. B URDICK & A SSOCIATES
T AX P REPARATION & C ONSULTING
•
•
•
•
•
Individual Returns
Business Returns
Stock Transactions
Rental Real Estate
Out of State Returns
Ask about changes
in EIC, child tax,
retirement & education
credits, depreciation,
capital gains and
dividends.
47 W. 29th
(29th & Willamette)
New Client
25%
Discount
(Save $12 to $125)
• Call for FREE estimate
• FREE Electronic Filing
• Rapid Refund Loans
in as little as 24 hrs.
• Fees paid through refund
• We accept Visa/MC
• Eves. & Sat. by Appt.
541-345-1680
JANUARY 29, 2004 5