PolitiFact.com
Statements about Taxes
Oregon Republican Party

Oregon Republican Party

Mostly False

Much of the costs are for U.S. citizens

Says a group "estimates that the annual cost to Oregon taxpayers for government services to illegal aliens, after any income tax revenue from them, is $1 billion."

Earl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer

False

1913 Revenue Act is silent on the issue

Says "Having organizations parading as being social welfare organizations and then being involved in the political combat harkens back to why the statute a hundred years ago said that they were prohibited."

Metro

Metro

Full Flop

Like a dying fish

Metro on whether it could use bond money for restoration.

Nancy Nathanson

Nancy Nathanson

True

Depending on where you shop you might save more

Says "a pack-a-day smoker who quits because of the tax increase will save about $1,650 a year."

Caddy McKeown

Caddy McKeown

True

At 23.4 percent , it's more than double the statewide rate of 10.7 percent

Says "A baby in Coos County is two times as likely to be born to a mother who is someone who used tobacco during her pregnancy as is the average baby born in Oregon or the U.S."

Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden

Mostly True

Weighty tax reform bills are rare

Says "I've authored the first bipartisan tax reform bill in a quarter-century."  

Bruce Hanna

Bruce Hanna

False

Taxes, PERS savings about even

Says, "The Democrats' proposed budget is also balanced by using more in new tax revenue than in total PERS reform or savings."

John Kitzhaber

John Kitzhaber

Mostly True

The single sales factor means a better bottom line for Nike

Says the Nike bill "is not a tax break ... this does not lower the taxes that Nike will pay nor does it prevent the Legislature from raising those taxes in the future."

Our Oregon

Our Oregon

Mostly True

The numbers add up - but taxes are complicated

Says that "the state spends more money on tax giveaways than it receives in tax collection."

Libraries Yes! Committee

Libraries Yes! Committee

True

Most recent numbers say "yes."

Says the Multnomah County Library system "is the second busiest in the nation."

Taxpayer Association of Oregon

Taxpayer Association of Oregon

Half-True

We dealt with this claim once before

Says Mark Hass "raised your taxes by $1 billion in a single day."

Libraries Yes! Committee

Libraries Yes! Committee

True

Fewest hours on average and by main branch.

Says Multnomah County libraries "are open 44 hours per week … the lowest of any library in the four-county region."

Libraries Yes! Committee

Libraries Yes! Committee

True

The math bears them out

Says "the typical homeowner will pay $4 more per month" if library district passes.

Promote Oregon Leadership PAC (Oregon House Republicans)

Promote Oregon Leadership PAC (Oregon House Republicans)

Mostly False

It was another councilor's baby

Says, "Carl proposed a 'windfall' tax on real estate development when he was a Metro Councilor."

Creative Advocacy Network

Creative Advocacy Network

Half-True

Some districts have to chip in.

Says an arts tax would provide "funding for certified arts and music teachers for every elementary school serving Portland residents."

Future PAC (Oregon House Democrats)

Future PAC (Oregon House Democrats)

Mostly False

Owed taxes, doesn't own a fat cat pad

"Newgard owed more than $13,000 for unpaid taxes on his $1 million Milwaukie apartment complex."

Kurt Schrader

Kurt Schrader

Half-True

Yes, but that's about to change.

Says "tax revenues are the lowest they have been since World War II."

Promote Oregon Leadership PAC (Oregon House Republicans)

Promote Oregon Leadership PAC (Oregon House Republicans)

Half-True

Portland Public Schools wanted property owners, including seniors, to pay

Ben Unger supported a 15 percent property tax increase on Oregon seniors.

Yes on 79

Yes on 79

Pants on Fire!

No move to charge a tax this year

Says "One of the state’s largest governments made charging this tax one of their top priorities just this year."

Yes on 84

Yes on 84

False

Bush tax cut forced their hand

The reason 29 states no longer have a death tax "is that the tax damaged their economic competitiveness."

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