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Arts Tax Flaw Found
TlWeek in
The Review
Mayor schedules
council vote to
make changes
a news release from the mayor’s office.
To address the problem, the City Coun­
cil will consider an emergency ordi­
nance March 27 that will create an
income threshold of $1,000. The change
would take effect immediately and would
The Portland City Council has de­ affect Portland residents paying this
cided to take action this month to ad­ year’s arts tax.
dress what they call a significant flaw in
Those who have already paid the tax,
the Arts Tax, but that may not be enough and whose income is less than $1,000,
for a man who has filed a lawsuit to ban will be refunded, official said.
the tax altogether.
Lewis and Clark Law School profes­
Voters approved the $35 income tax sor and blogger Jack Bogdanski is the
in November with payments due by first person to file a lawsuit in Oregon
April. 15.
Tax Court against the tax.
Mayor Charlie Hales wants to repeal
Filed on March 7, his suit alleges the
the tax for teenagers who live in a city’s $35 arts tax violates the state
household above the poverty line, but constitutional ban on a head tax or poll
may have only “made $ 10 last year dog­ tax.
sitting.”
Bogdanski also asks the state to bar
“No one crafting this tax intended this the city from ever collecting the arts tax
to be the rule. This is just silly. And we from him personally, and to provide him
need to move right now to address the with “additional relief as the court may
Law of Unintended Consequences,” said deem appropriate.”
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No Assault Weapon Ban
Democrats on Tuesday confirmed that a
proposed ban on assault weapons will
not be included in a package of gun
reform legislation yet to be introduced in
the Senate, suggesting the measure does
not have broad support in Congress.
Show Cancelled for Anti-Gay Rant
Michelle Shocked, a folk singer who
went on an anti-gay rant Sunday night at
a concert in San Francisco, will not be
headlining a show in Portland. The
Alberta Rose Theatre canceled her April
25 concert in northeast Portland and will
instead plan a show to benefit gay and
lesbian equality.
Pope Francis Elected
Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was
elected a surprise choice to be the new
leader of the troubled Roman Catholic
Church last week, taking the name Francis
and becoming the first non-European pon­
tiff in nearly 1,300 years. "Pray for me,"
the new pope said, in his first public
address.
Wrong Way Driver Drunk
A semi-truck driver was arrested for
driving under the influence of alcohol
and reckless driving after going the
wrong way on Interstate 84 and 1-205,
from Wood Village to Vancouver, early
Monday morning. One person was hurt
when the truck crashed into her vehicle
on the Glenn Jackson Bridge.
Postal workers and their community allies
rallied to save the postal service at Pioneer
Courthouse Square in downtown Port­
land Sunday. Organizers called on Presi­
dent Obama to oppose all closures, cuts
and the delay of mail.
Tuition Help Suspended
No Change for Jobless
In response to a call for cuts due to
federal sequestration, the Department of
Defense has suspended its federal Tu­
ition Assistance program for all military
members. The move also affects the
Oregon National Guard.
A state report says Oregon's unemploy­
ment rate hasn't changed. The monthly
report released Tuesday by the state Em­
ployment Department said the jobless rate
was at 8.4 percent in February, the same
as in January.
Rally for Postal Service
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