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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2017)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Wednesday, February 22, 2017 In theory, new biz taxes could cover state budget shortfall expected revenue for the upcoming two-year budget cycle and what is needed to fund state services at current levels, according to the Democratic chairs of the state legis- lative budget-writing committee. Prior to the start of the session Republicans said that they’d be willing to consider revenue reform in exchange for cutting the costs of state government. One target of their ire is the state’s public pension system. Legislators on the House Revenue Committee — the chamber where revenue-raising measures have to start — spent last week and Monday reviewing different types of taxes that could, if passed, replace or alter the current business tax structure. Some of those taxes were included in a Legislative Revenue Office analysis of estimated revenue from various types of taxes last By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — Certain types of state business taxes could raise enough additional revenue that match the state’s projected budget shortfall of nearly $1.8 billion, according to an analysis from Oregon’s nonpartisan Legislative Revenue Office. But those estimates come with serious caveats. They don’t take into account behavioral responses in the broader economy. They also don’t account for other adjustments to taxes that legislators could make in exchange for instituting a new or higher tax on business. Those catches encapsulate the challenge of crafting the state’s tax policy, a political battle that’s taking shape this session. The shortfall is the gap between week, which officials were quick to say was not a policy proposal. Revenue officers estimated that if the Legislature increased the corpo- rate income tax rate to 20 percent, they could raise more than $2.8 billion in the 2017-19 budget cycle. The state’s tax rate on corporate income is currently whichever is greater: a minimum tax on relative sales or 6.6 percent tax on taxable income, for companies making up to $1 million, or 7.6 percent tax for companies making more than that, according to Business Oregon. In the upcoming biennium, the corporate income tax, at its current rates, is projected to bring in about $1.03 billion. But, as Legislative Revenue Officer Paul Warner told legislators last week — in something of an understatement — a 20 percent The revenue office last week also presented figures last week to lawmakers on a business privilege tax and a value-added tax. A business privilege tax is consid- ered an excise tax and levied on the “privilege of doing business” in the state. Under the Legislative Revenue Office’s analysis, estimates of revenue that such a tax could bring in range from $744 million to $2.8 billion in the upcoming biennium, depending on the threshold for inclusion. Again, those estimates don’t acknowledge what consequences the institution of such a tax might have on the economy or other changes that legislators could make in combi- nation with those changes, such as eliminating the corporate income tax. corporate income tax would prob- ably result in “some feedback” from the business community. The state’s general fund is largely dependent on the income tax, which generally swings up and down with the economy. Some proponents of revenue reform claim the amount businesses contribute to the state’s revenue pool is too little and has shrunk in recent decades. Corporate income taxes are one subset of business taxes. There’s a “menu” of options available when it comes to business taxes, says Warner, and states from New Hampshire to Ohio have a different array. Each type of tax comes with varying consequences in terms of the state’s revenue volatility, administra- tive complexity and prices on goods and services. Bill prohibits employers from firing Lessons learned in first Malheur trial bear arms. a one-off victory. Central to the conspiracy “This is a case about employees who use marijuana charge is whether the what the defendants did with By CONRAD WILSON Oregon Public Broadcasting By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — Most Oregon employers would lose the right to fire employees or deny employment to a candi- date who uses marijuana during non-work hours, under a bill proposed by lawmakers on the legisla- tive marijuana regulation committee. The controversial legislation makes excep- tions for certain industries such as truck drivers, federal contractors and jobs covered by collective bargaining agreements. As a legal substance in the state, marijuana should be treated the same as tobacco, proponents told lawmakers during a public hearing in the Senate Judi- ciary Committee Tuesday. “The goal with Senate Bill 301 is to protect other substances that are legal under Oregon law from being a cause of termina- tion or not hiring people for a particular job,” said Beth Creighton, a Portland employment attorney, who has represented clients who were fired for their marijuana use. “Currently, tobacco is protected, so if you use tobacco offsite, employers are not permited to fire you because of that. With the onset of legalized marijuana, marijuana should not be treated any differently.” The bill still allows employers to fire employees who come to work impaired, she noted. “If you have somebody falling down drunk in the workplace, you don’t have to keep them on duty. You don’t have to keep them as an employee,” Creighton said. “You can still be prohibited from coming to the work impaired on any kind of substance.” Opponents argued such a law would violate federal law on controlled substances and would be defeated in court. Employers, including cities and counties, argued the bill also could put employers at risk of litiga- tion. “I am not generally averse to symbolic laws that can’t be enforced. Sometimes you want to make a policy statement even if it’s unenforceable,” said Rob Bovett, legal counsel for the Association of Oregon Counties. However, the bill “would cost our members … significant dollars to Opening statements got underway Tuesday for the trial of the second group of defendants charged in connection with the 2016 armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Speaking at the U.S. District Courthouse in Port- land, Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoff Barrow told jurors the case they were hearing was simple. He said it was “simple” because for 41 days the employees who worked at the refuge near Burns, Oregon, weren’t able to do their jobs. Four defendants are on trial this time: Duane Ehmer, Jason Patrick, Darryl Thorn and Jake Ryan. They’ve been charged with felony conspiracy. Three also face felony weapons charges, and all of the defendants are accused of trespassing and other misdemeanors. Last year, a jury acquitted Ammon Bundy and other leaders of the occupation on all federal felony charges they faced. This second trial matters because it’s the final oppor- tunity for the government to prove their claims that laws were broken during the occu- pation. For the defense, it’s the chance to show last fall’s surprising acquittals weren’t litigate and defend, and ultimately, it is my strong opinion, would all be preempted (by federal law),” Bovett said. “In this case, we don’t want to see a symbolic law put on the books that would not be enforceable but would cost taxpayers money.” Opponents said the bill also needs to allow busi- nesses that involve public safety, including airline pilots, railroad engineers and schoolteachers, to prohibit employees from using marijuana on or off work. Portland resident Heather Kell, who has a bachelor’s degree in finance, said she lost a job offer after she disclosed that she was a medical marijuana patient and tested positive for THC, the psychotic element of marijuana. “I feel that even though it’s legal in the state of Oregon, it’s awkward that I have to share private medical information,” Kell told lawmakers during the hearing. “I could no longer work with the recruiting agency, and I did not know I would be precluded from all future employment through the recruiting agency.” Didn’t receive your paper? Call 1-800-522-0255 before noon Tuesday through Friday or before 10 a.m. Saturday for same-day redelivery — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. 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Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday Copyright © 2017, EO Media Group REGIONAL CITIES Forecast TODAY FRIDAY THURSDAY Mostly cloudy An afternoon snow shower 41° 24° 38° 23° SATURDAY Mostly cloudy and cold Cold with clouds and sun PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 39° 21° 39° 23° 38° 23° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 41° 22° 45° 24° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 41° 48° 69° (1988) 35° 30° 2° (1894) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.40" 1.81" 0.86" 3.46" 2.33" 2.24" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 42° 50° 75° (1995) 39° 30° 9° (1957) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.56" 1.55" 0.72" 3.24" 1.44" 2.00" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today New First Feb 26 Mar 5 43° 22° 41° 27° Seattle 47/32 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 43° 22° Full 6:46 a.m. 5:32 p.m. 4:09 a.m. 1:47 p.m. Last Mar 12 Mar 20 Today SUNDAY Sun followed by clouds and cold Spokane Wenatchee 38/20 39/21 Tacoma Moses 47/27 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 41/21 38/23 47/31 47/28 44/22 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 48/31 44/26 Lewiston 47/25 Astoria 45/27 46/32 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 45/32 Pendleton 35/17 The Dalles 45/24 41/24 46/28 La Grande Salem 40/21 47/31 Albany Corvallis 45/31 47/30 John Day 34/19 Ontario Eugene Bend 41/25 45/30 36/19 Caldwell Burns 44/24 34/14 Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Enterprise Eugene Heppner Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Meacham Medford Newport North Bend Ontario Pasco Pendleton Portland Redmond Salem Spokane Ukiah Vancouver Walla Walla Yakima Hi 46 39 36 46 34 35 45 38 45 34 35 40 33 45 45 48 41 46 41 45 39 47 38 35 48 44 44 Lo 32 18 19 34 14 17 30 22 24 19 17 21 17 28 33 35 25 24 24 32 23 31 20 18 29 26 22 W r c sf r sf c sh c c c sf c c r r r c pc c sh sf sh sf c sh c c Hi 46 35 34 45 29 31 45 36 41 30 33 35 29 46 45 48 39 43 38 43 37 45 35 32 43 39 43 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 24 63 41 49 47 14 45 48 25 69 49 W s t pc sh s sn c pc sn s pc Lo 32 11 16 35 7 9 31 18 22 13 15 16 13 28 35 36 20 23 23 28 19 30 18 13 31 25 20 W c pc sf c pc pc c sf s sn sf c pc pc sh c pc s sf sh sf c pc sf sh sf s Thu. Hi 48 68 57 51 78 33 53 59 35 84 63 (in mph) Klamath Falls 35/17 Boardman Pendleton Lo 26 54 41 38 43 30 38 49 20 69 39 W s c s sh s sf sh pc pc s r REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Periods of rain today; chilly. Mostly cloudy tonight with spotty showers; chilly. Eastern and Central Oregon: Cloudy today; a rain or snow shower in spots in the south and near the Cascades. Western Washington: Mostly cloudy today with a brief shower or two. Eastern Washington: Mostly cloudy today; a snow shower near the Idaho border and in the mountains. Cascades: Snow today, accumulating 1-2 inches in the south and central parts and up to an inch across the north. Northern California: A shower in spots to- day; however, snow showers in the interior mountains. Today Thursday WSW 4-8 W 6-12 W 4-8 W 4-8 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. 0 1 2 1 0 NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: • call 541-966-0818 • fax 541-276-8314 • email news@eastoregonian.com • To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email community@eastoregonian.com or call Tammy Malgesini at 541-564-4539 or Renee Struthers in at 541-966-0818. • To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit www.eastoregonian. com/community/announcements • To submit a Letter to the Editor: mail to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com. • To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Mike Jensen 541-215-0824 • mjensen@eastoregonian.com Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. WORLD CITIES Hi 49 75 55 56 77 32 53 60 38 82 53 Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Thu. WINDS Medford 45/28 Corrections The Feb. 18 article “Cascadia Day One” misspelled Alan Polan’s name. The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. Advertising Director: Marissa Williams 541-278-2669 • addirector@eastoregonian.com Advertising Services: Laura Jensen 541-966-0806 • ljensen@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Terri Briggs 541-278-2678 • tbriggs@eastoregonian.com • Danni Halladay 541-278-2683 • dhalladay@eastoregonian.com • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Chris McClellan 541-966-0827 • cmcclellan@eastoregonian.com • Stephanie Newsom 541-278-2687 • snewsom@eastoregonian.com • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 those firearms,” Barrow said, adding that they kept employees from doing their jobs. “We will ask you to find the defendants guilty as charged,” he said. Andrew Kohlmetz, the standby counsel for defen- dant Patrick, said during his opening statements there was no conspiracy. Kohlmetz told a circuitous story about the lead up to the occupation and how his client, a roofer who lost his business during the Great Recession, got involved. “You’ll hear evidence that they didn’t want another Ruby Ridge, they didn’t want another Waco,” he said. Kohlmetz said the case is, at least in part, about “who should decide what happens in our remote and rural coun- ties.” “There’s no conspiracy to impede these federal workers,” he said. Other defense lawyers will likely make similar comments during their opening statements before the jury Tuesday afternoon. defendants taking over the refuge intended to prevent employees from doing their jobs. It is that component of the charge the government must prove if they’re to prevail. Barrow told jurors they would hear about people who aren’t in the courtroom or on trial, but all the same were linked to the armed occupation. “Your focus must remain on the men in this room and the evidence we bring against them,” he said. Barrow said the defen- dants “demonstrated their determination and resolve to keep the [refuge] employees from returning to work.” In his remarks, Barrow seemed to directly address issues jurors in the first trial raised about the government’s failure to prove the intent of the alleged conspiracy. Barrow told jurors the defendants haven’t been charged because of their beliefs, but rather, he said, because of what they’ve done. He also stressed the case isn’t about a constitutional right to 0 8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 0-2, Low 3-5, Moderate 6-7, High; 8-10, Very High; 11+, Extreme The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num- ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017 -10s -0s showers t-storms 0s 10s rain 20s flurries 30s 40s snow ice 50s 60s cold front 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high low National Summary: Locally heavy showers and thunderstorms will occur from Florida to the Carolinas today. Areas of rain and mountain snow will be scattered over the West. Most other areas will be sunny and unusually warm. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 94° in McAllen, Texas Low -10° in Clayton Lake, Maine NATIONAL CITIES Today Albuquerque Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit El Paso Fairbanks Fargo Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Hi 68 72 64 66 45 73 44 52 76 64 70 65 82 63 65 80 11 41 80 80 70 75 76 64 74 64 Lo 43 59 51 48 26 57 25 40 58 53 48 56 55 25 52 53 -6 24 69 56 55 61 45 42 52 46 W pc c pc pc pc c c pc c pc s pc s s pc s sf sn pc s pc sh s pc pc pc Thur. Hi 59 76 65 73 33 76 38 65 78 73 54 67 86 44 65 73 13 34 79 80 71 77 69 56 80 63 Lo 29 58 51 52 21 59 22 46 58 55 42 52 53 16 48 43 7 22 67 59 58 59 43 38 56 45 W pc pc s pc sn pc pc pc pc c r c s sn pc s sn c sh s r r c s pc s Today Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, ME Providence Raleigh Rapid City Reno Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tucson Washington, DC Wichita Hi 70 75 74 66 58 73 74 58 78 71 63 78 45 53 72 54 40 58 77 43 62 56 47 81 66 76 Lo 58 56 61 45 36 56 56 48 50 37 50 49 31 39 53 26 22 34 53 30 51 44 32 46 52 46 W pc pc r s pc pc pc pc s s pc s pc pc c c sf c pc r pc c sh s pc s Thur. Hi 73 79 79 49 45 75 77 68 82 51 72 65 48 65 79 29 35 54 74 36 61 55 44 67 74 75 Lo 61 60 63 40 28 60 59 52 39 32 55 42 36 44 53 18 19 32 60 23 48 41 32 36 56 34 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W c pc c r c c pc pc s r pc s c pc pc sn sf pc c sn s pc pc s pc pc
