Page IO
Fortiani» (Obstruer
New Prices
September 14, 2011
Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the
Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and
story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com.
Effective
May 1 ,2 0 1 0
Martin
I
T ís
fór a c ^ o to
a tax iwen t w för . a
tö go
T hrough "rue &Y& of= A K e p p i ä
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG
$45.00
A small distance/travel charge
may he applied
CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: ! sm all H allw ay)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
O ther Services)-. $25.00
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00Minimum
Area/OrientaJ Rugs (Wooly.
$40.00 Minimum
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
(Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $109-$139
Chair or Recliner:
$25 - $49
tit9
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services)’. $5.00
%
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Area & Oriental Rug
Cleaning
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949
Corporations Not Paying their Fair Share
Revenue needed
for social
programs
by J udge
G reg M athis
No matter how you
look at it, the economy is
stalled, and has been for
some time. National un
employment rates hover
at just over 9-percent - and spike
even higher in hard hit cities.
The federal government is un
able to balance its budget because
it isn’t bringing in enough revenue,
putting much-needed social pro
grams at risk.
Everyone - from corporate lead
ers to local politicians to the Presi
dent is urging us to sacrifice and
make the hard choices needed to
ride this recession out. It doesn’t
appear as if the nation’s
major corporations are
being told the sam e
things.
A cco rd in g to the
study released by the
Institute for Policy Stud
ies, 25 of the nation’s top
US companies received
an average of more than
$300 million each in tax benefits.
Most of these corporate refunds are
the result of write-offs obtained
through offshore income tax income
shelters that corporations use.
Additionally, the corporations get
tax breaks for a variety of corporate
initiatives that may or may not ben
efit local communities or the federal
government. Each of these top 25
Letter to the Editor:
Go Fix the Problem
Lately, I have seen TV news clips o f starving and sick children in
east Africa, where a drought and a famine are occurring. It makes your
heart want to cry.
Then, I recall that the international oil com panies were reporting
profits in the $200 to $300-billion neighborhood. Isn ’t it our govern-
• » »*• • • • • • • •
«
«
a
com panies- which include Verizon,
eBay and General Electric - brought
in profits of nearly $2 billion each
and paid more to their chief execu
tives than they did in federal taxes.
This practice of multi-billion dollar
companies not paying their fair share
and it must be addressed. Any rea
sonable person would agree that, if a
company performs well, its leaders
should be paid accordingly. How
ever, it is unthinkable that a company
bringing in billions of dollars would
receive a tax refund, especially at a
time when the federal government is
frantically searching for revenue.
Sm all b u sin esses d riv e the
nation’s economy - they make up
the majority of the country’s em
ployers and employ more people
than large corporations. Yet, they
are not afforded the same generous
tax breaks as large companies.
If our economy is going to re
bound, the government has to re
think who and what it supports. The
focus must be placed on those en
tities that invest in their communi
ties and spur job growth.
There is no overwhelming evi
dence that the monies our nation’s
top companies saved in federal taxes
have trickled down to the common
man. That is a travesty. If these
corporate refunds are not being
granted for programs that help boost
the economy or create jobs, this
practice should be reviewed and
eliminated immediately.
Judge Mathis is a longtime ad
vocate fo r equal justice. His inspi
rational life story o f a street youth
who rose from ja il to judge has
provided hope to millions.
ment that created this environm ent that spins o ff these fantastic
profits?
Isn’t it our governm ent that keeps this war m achine in gear produc
ing never ending profits? W ell, d o n ’t you think the good people we
elect to represent us should say som ething to these corporations?
Som ething like— Hey! You have the money. Go fix the problem .
And, if you d o n ’t, we will invade and occupy your corporation until
you do! How do you like that?
Bruce Badrick
Northeast Portland