Measure 118 is on the November ballot. Here's what the 'Oregon Rebate' would do

In November, Oregon voters will decide on Measure 118. If passed, it would tax the sales made by big businesses over $25 million at 3% and send it to residents as tax credit or check, what proponents are calling the "Oregon Rebate."
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[@bunk57]

It would be one thing if the tax came from profits rather than sales. The corperations are just gonna offset the expense to the consumer and everything will get more expensive

[@ULTRAOutdoorsman]

It sounds more like the people voting (or at least a large number of commenters on KGW) have no idea that what they think are "profits" are actually "revenues" and that "sales" are "revenues." If the businesses offset the expense to the consumer it would be by keeping sales, i.e. revenues, constant, and padding profit by reducing costs, probably in the form of some yet untold manmade horror like pollution or yet more employee abuse. If they just sold the same goods at the same price then "sales" would go up, and their tax would increase, a lose-lose-lose.

[@JacksCurrentHyperfixarion]

Keep in mind KGW is owned by Tegna. A corporation that would be affected by this measure.

[@thepolishedwook]

When both Republicans and Democrats agree it's bad, that means it must be absolutely abysmal.

[@HFTYKCK]

Plz pin this comment 🙏

[@shoegurl8849]

This comment is underrated

[@sassyd7286]

I’m poor & it’s tempting but looked into it further. Its terrible all around!! Even for the ones getting the checks will end up paying far more for food , supplies, etc. Also we me longer qualify for the current programs, we have that save us. They’re not thinking this one thru at all & not looking at things from every angle & the financial effects that cit could have, on the ones they think their helping. Plus it seems he’s got no real concept of basic economics. I’m glad most of our leadership at least has a little common sense still. It’s a hell no for me.

[@drewbryant5171]

Portland, just like San Francisco, used to be incredible city.

[@tm95lifeanddogs24]

If this passes those big corporations might just decide to up and move out of Oregon and as soon as the Oregon budget starts going into a deficit, what’s gonna happen? They’re gonna raise taxes on everybody again.

[@3254steveo]

Valid point, but Very few of the 4% of businesses being taxed are based here in oregon to begin with. And i doubt they would walk away from a statewide market for a slight profit loss. Their costs involved in moving would make the move financially unviable. Even if they did leave; in their void smaller companies would come in and fill their places. Wells fargo for instance profited 19.1 billion last year, yet the pay their oregon tellers much less than other states, while also paying less tax.

[@suprensa4393]

I agree that corporations don't pay their fair share in taxes, but when you say that and "greedflation" in the same sentence, it makes me wonder, why not just tax corporate profits?

[@bobkillion9681]

I’ll vote no. Dumb idea.

[@xltek1]

You’re not dumb, but dumb people will vote yes.

[@shoegurl8849]

I can't wait to vote No. This measure is pure trash!!!

[@perkygrubb]

How is it trash?

[@shoegurl8849]

@@perkygrubb Did you watch the video?

[@perkygrubb]

@@shoegurl8849 yep. Just because I watched it doesn’t mean I came away with the same conclusion you did. So how about answering my question now.

[@shoegurl8849]

​@@perkygrubbOkay. This tax is TRASH because it will increase inflation, blow a hole in the state budget, threaten essential government services, cause vulnerable people to lose federal benefits, cost jobs, cause corporations to leave Oregon (and take their high paying jobs with them), make it harder for the government to raise future taxes, won't help as many people as you think because the rebate itself will be subject to both Federal and State income taxes, the rebate will be sent to people who don't need it like Phil Knight and won't generate the economic activity you think it will because most people are just going to save this money and not spend it like they did with the pandemic stimulus money. Now, is that enough word salad for you to digest why this measure is total and complete trash?

[@macazootie]

There is no free lunch, people. This will drive businesses away from Oregon, reducing overall business revenue collected, just like a lot of bad policy does here already. We want to attract business to Oregon, not drive it away. Reducing taxes actually increases revenues collected. You want businesses here operating for less, it makes your life more affordable.

[@Azazel2024]

The left already has

[@macazootie]

@@Azazel2024 like I said "just like a lot of bad policy does here already." we know full well who's been calling the shots in Oregon for the last 35 years & it ain't the conservatives

[@macazootie]

@@crushedorchids It has happened & does happen all the time. Have you heard of Ikea, Walmart, or Amazon? They lower prices all the time. The government doesn't create market competition, it impedes it. You're under the naive assumption that "trickle-down economics" ever existed (not one person who advocated for lower business taxes ever uttered that phrase), and that we bring in greater revenues under higher progressive tax schemes, which is the opposite of reality (when the price of doing business rises, business activity declines or moves to areas with better tax codes, including offshore.) Plus, you're just plain dumb if you think this is a good idea in any way, when even the most progressive idiots here are advocating against it. Do you even understand the difference between total revenue & profit, or how much volume grocery & restaurant chains move with razor-thin margins? This is suicidal.

[@keithg3070]

No more taxes in Oregon! Vote Red

[@RJGould]

No way, those who brought this are idiots!

[@a.ielimba78]

We already feel the strain on our wallets, they want us to be even more broke, like wtf. Vote no on measure 118. Signatures to put things on ballot should be verified, those could be foreign or illegal aliens Signatures.

[@jej2371]

It would seem better to raise business taxes and lower other taxes. As a Washinton resident i follow Oregon politics very closely as the tax free shopping is a huge advantage to me and my fellow residents. It's more affordable to see shows in Eugene at the McDonald theater, spend three days weekends in Astoria, and even something as mundane as picking up a new outfit on the way home from Utah as we drive through Pendleton. Yes, a tax free total of an few bucks here and there will draw me and my friends down to Oregon. Something to consider when voting.

[@a.ielimba78]

Vote red and prevent more taxes, trump said he will lower taxes to 15 percent right now its higher than that.

[@MsReasonableperson]

Trumps lies a lot and he ran up the national deficit bigly with his last tax cut that mostly benefited the wealthy just like a future one would do.

[@redbeard2527]

Corporations will leave, or pass on that tax to consumers. Not one person has ever been taxed into prosperity.

[@perkygrubb]

You might want to research UBI and see how it has contributed to significantly increasing people prosperity and their ability to create it.

[@redbeard2527]

@@perkygrubb You might want to research how poor Oregon schools are doing first. If future generations can barely read, I doubt they’ll have financial literacy to prosper with corporate handouts.

[@perkygrubb]

@@redbeard2527 UBI initiatives in countries in Africa (where literacy is not as high as the US) still showed people increasing their prosperity. It doesn’t take book smarts for people to know what they need to do to improve themselves. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have better schools or a literate population. I’m am saying you’re throwing out a red herring.

[@SkullsMom]

​@@perkygrubband talking about a UBI isn't a red herring? This has nothing to do with a UBI.

[@perkygrubb]

@@SkullsMom actually, if you look at the intent of the group initiating this, their intent is this is an early-stage UBI play. It’s a long term strategy designed to have people warm up to UBI.

[@drewtramp1577]

Nope.

[@avatarcowboy2435]

1. Businesses either return a reasonable return to their investors and owners or they go out of business. 2. Taxes are a cost which businesses must pass on to their customers. If they can't, see 1 above. 3. Governments always seeks to grow, are overly influenced by government employee unions, and are generally inefficient compared to the private sector. 4. Real solutions that benefit the middle class: reduce government spending and jobs, eliminate gov't employee unions that even Pres. Roosevelt and George Meany, 1st head of AFL-CIO said are a bad idea.

[@MyHellaKitty]

On top of causing the cost of living to go up. Many Oregonians have a drug problem. I'd rather the money go to mental health care, getting people off the drugs and off the streets.

[@CBECK73]

It will make inflation even worse.

[@michaelcain2737]

Are intel and Nike on this list that would pay more. They get huge tax cuts.

[@Grimx0000]

Yes

[@MsReasonableperson]

And they provide a lot of jobs. Would you like them to move elsewhere? Do you know specifically what tax "cuts" they are getting, please explain.

[@michaelcain2737]

@@MsReasonableperson except for the huge lay off that’s happening right now. Thanks Biden! Property and county taxes mostly because they threaten to take there business elsewhere. Lived in Washington county most off my life and wish intel and Nike and the like would have never moved in, it was a much quieter place.

[@Grimx0000]

@@michaelcain2737 I didn't realize Biden was CEO of Intel

[@MA-ie6hl]

The smart money left Oregon a long time ago.

[@MsReasonableperson]

This seems like a nightmare to implement and how much of the revenue would be wasted with administration and tracking down fraud? It would be quite a chunk of wasted money.

[@EM-re5xq]

Less money to state government bloat sounds good to me. Giving that money as basic income to every Oregonian is extremely stupid.

[@perkygrubb]

I’m curious to see how it would “put services at risk”.

[@Azazel2024]

Because you're dumb and a communist therefore ignore reality

[@ULTRAOutdoorsman]

Because councilpeople and state legislature would wet themselves over the increasing debt, probably

[@MsReasonableperson]

Taking a billion dollars out of state revenue will require a cut in services.

[@brentw9612]

That's 16000 cans in local terms. That buys a lot of pills.

[@marmac7619]

So, what happens when your income is soooooooooo low, that you don't even have to file a tax return- do they just magically know who you are & send you a check? or if you are on one or more safety net Programs, eg: SNAP? do we have to jump thru hoops to either not lose benefits in the 1st place? or how about losing some, until you verify some of your income was due to this Program? or would it cost you, regardless? Is any of this explained for us on the Measure when we see our Pamphlets or what?

[@Azazel2024]

Stop defrauding people , you loser leftist douche

[@akahina]

Kroger deserves to be taxed more.

[@terriwinkle9366]

"Oregon's Corporate Income and Excise taxes have a two-tiered structure, applying a 6.6% rate to taxable income up to $1 million, and a 7.6% rate to taxable income above $1 million." AND "If your income is over $20,400, but not over $250,000, your tax is $1,215 + 8.75% of the excess over $20,400." ~ I do not support 118; I also do not support the lower tax rates on those raking in more money. Is there a "fair" compromise?

[@MsReasonableperson]

I'm confused. There is a higher tax rate on higher earners, not lower. What are you talking about??

[@joetrue9821]

Funny how trump supporters want trump to do tariffs but no this is crazy, we love tariffs but not making our own billionaires pay for what we all built for them on money we paid taxes on

[@KEW1945]

Repub's has always been against raising taxes for the reasons this video gives. The extra taxes will always get passed down to us. What's even funnier is, Dems has always complained the rich needs to pay their fair share, and now that they have their chance, Dem legislators are now against it.🙄

[@padraigtakahashi7498]

Terrible idea. Vote no

[@suroot]

Giving someone sixteen hundred dollars is like giving them a fish, rather than teaching them how to fish. A handout. A payday loan of staggering stupidity. An exponential failure funded by the very people it claims to benefit. I vote no on this ridiculous idea that I’ll be paying for with every transaction. Five seconds into listening to the petitioner, it’s evident that there is no objective reason or logic-only a childlike perspective, emotions, subjective opinions, misguided entitlement, and a flawed understanding of economics. It is incredibly misguided to think that corporations will absorb these costs without passing them on to consumers. What isn’t being said is that the cost of funding this measure will inevitably lead to increased prices and layoffs, especially at a time when the Oregon BOLI is facing hurdles in enforcing worker protections. Sixteen hundred dollars every year for anyone claiming residency in Oregon is outrageously stupid and a self-inflicted scam. Furthermore, there will be a flood of new residents and scammers coming to Oregon for free money. If you thought unemployment fraud was bad, this will lead to an epic waste exploited by those with no genuine investment in the state. Residency can be established with just a rented private mailbox. This illustrates just how easy and absurd this fraud will be. Individuals will falsely claim residency to access free checks, creating yet another incentive for those struggling with addiction to come here and harm themselves. Each time this happens, the cost of doing business will be passed on to the working people of Oregon, resulting in an economy so strained that businesses will relocate out of state. Rent increases will be astronomical, far exceeding what people are currently complaining about. A dumb idea is a dumb idea, especially when emotions and the desire for 'free' money (which will not actually be free) are the only driving forces behind it. What would have been a smarter notion-the thing that workers need now-is a well-funded Oregon BOLI. The most practical approach to financial hardship is not to seek a handout or wait for help when no one is coming, but to take accountability, pick yourself up, and take action. Cultivate your intellectual capital and the value you can offer by focusing on training and education. Learn about personal finance, explore new opportunities, and consider starting a business. Seek mentors and understand the methods corporations use to make a profit-these opportunities are available to anyone with ambition. Find a niche, be of service, or provide a service for which you can be paid. The only limits to your potential are ignorance and self-doubt The smartest thing a sensible couple said to me on a street corner was, 'Look around us; every one of those buildings and businesses represents an ordinary person just like you.

[@ULTRAOutdoorsman]

no

[@jamesbrown8873]

Money that could go to the I-5 bridge

[@Conservbro]

Hell the can’t repair our roads or put enough cops out there so let’s get our money back!

[@margul]

1600/12=133...Thats what your rents going up by if this bill passes. UBI is a payday for landlords.

[@clee3720]

It is a sales tax so would not raise rent but will increase cost on everything you buy including cars

[@perkygrubb]

It’s illegal for landlords to raise rents that way

[@Will-zd2lj]

What corporation do you own?

[@perkygrubb]

@@Will-zd2ljI own three actually. All registered in this state.

[@Will-zd2lj]

@@perkygrubb Wasn't referring to you but ok...

[@espor9297]

My family needs this money right now get something done at our house

[@Azazel2024]

Help them by moving

[@NeverPullOutInMexico]

Get a job

[@HFTYKCK]

Wtf... trade the future for what's expedient.. ??? That's literally the definition of unintelligent..

[@5000NATE]

You're not very smart you're not very smart

[@Grimx0000]

It's time these massive corporations pay their fare share

[@shoegurl8849]

They are already paying a shit ton of taxes

[@perkygrubb]

Yeah, businesses are going to hate UBI initiatives funded by taxes on big corporations. I don’t think the people the businesses claim will be harmed will be. Out of, what was it? 100+ businesses was it? Only 2K would be affected. I seriously doubt that includes logging companies and small businesses.

[@shoegurl8849]

@@perkygrubb Those 100 businesses sell products and services to business that don't make $25 million a year. And since these 100 corporations ARE going to pass the cost of this tax to their customers, the smaller businesses are going to have to pay more for the products and services they get from these businesses. This is simply Economics 101 that high schoolers are learning in school today. It's not hard to understand.

[@macazootie]

@@shoegurl8849 or they just won't even stay in Oregon & some other state will benefit from the revenue they produce

[@perkygrubb]

@@shoegurl8849 I understand what you’re saying here and it often happens, but not always. But even if it does, something must be done to move humanity into the future. I for one would prefer an economic system that supports even those who struggle, one that doesn’t cause humans to make binary choices wrt their well being, the environment, human lives generally and prosperity. UBI initiatives around the world are showing signs that it can be an off ramp to what we’re doing through capitalism. While this initiative may be problematic, it’s a start towards trying a version of a UBI and I think that’s good. While Oregon has been known to embrace progressive policies and ideas, and therefore is a good place to attempt ideas like this, I’m also not surprised businesses and people like you resist them. Have your opinion, vote your opinion. I am for a future where people are supported. Not one where they must earn their living. So I’m voting yes.

[@shoegurl8849]

​​@@perkygrubbThat's a whole lot of word salad. Your heart seems to be in the right place. But I don't know where your brain is. If you really cared about people, you wouldn't support a tax that ultimately is going to cause more harm than any good, especially to our most vulnerable citizens on federal aid.

[@ULTRAOutdoorsman]

@@shoegurl8849 His brain is probably in the place where it can remember that increased prices would mean increased tax for sellers, which is the point of it being funded by a tax on sales. That's "economics 101," assuming you actually graduated high school, much less got a degree in economics like some people in this thread.

[@Brad_Jenkins]

I vote yes

[@shoegurl8849]

Vote No.

[@nbooky]

There is possibility this might pass. Lobbyists collected enough signatures in downtown parades over the summer to get this on the ballot. Given Portland’s voting demographics, this is likely going to pass. Portland has a lobbyist problem.

[@Azazel2024]

People here are super stupid and poorly educated i could see it

[@shoegurl8849]

Don't be so sure. Just because enough signatures were gathered doesn't mean it is going to pass. That's faulty logic. Measure 97, a similar tax that was on the ballot in 2016, also gathered a lot of signatures and it went down in flames! Every county in Oregon voted "NO" except Multnomah and Benton.

[@ULTRAOutdoorsman]

Oh no, not the proletariat streetwalker lobby

[@therichestyoutubechannel6754]

All money is printed pice of paper 🤣I know my self worth 💯pay up no tax

[@Azazel2024]

You ain't worth shit son

[@ULTRAOutdoorsman]

I don't think you have to worry about paying

[@BamBusinessman]

You need the money Oregon vote yes.

[@sandradvergsdal3383]

I bet you are another out of stater telling Oregonians what to do.

[@Will-zd2lj]

Lower cost of living and pass a price gouging bill or yes for 118

[@dannyp.6424]

Yeah, so those corporations can rise the prices even more to adjust for the higher tax. That will fix it 🤡

[@dannyp.6424]

@@crushedorchids Yes. I have. I am saying it will be worse than it is now if this measure passes. They will just increase prices even more than they are now to ‘make up’ the added cost they now pay in tax

[@nethrinox]

I think you can safely say that if most of the government and corporations want you to vote no you can be sure that it will actually benefit the citizens.

[@shoegurl8849]

That makes absolutely no sense

[@nethrinox]

@@shoegurl8849 I know right? Why would we want to make the largest corporations pay additional taxes that would directly benefit Oregonians. That's crazy!

[@pigletshut]

Multiply by 12 ($1600/month instead of year), and you have what looks like universal basic income. Surprised?

[@nethrinox]

@@pigletshut That would be great. I'm confused if you're for or against with this statement?

[@NeverPullOutInMexico]

@@nethrinoxyou actually believe corporations won’t pass on the cost to their consumers is laughable

[@208jdog]

Almost like corporations and bought politicians hatr this. Lets see it happen

[@shoegurl8849]

Almost like people who know nothing about Economics and how businesses operate like this.

[@shoegurl8849]

Almost like people who know nothing about how taxes influence human behavior like this. 🙄🙄🙄

[@208jdog]

@@shoegurl8849 no one knows economics and anyone that says they know economics doesn't know economics

[@shoegurl8849]

​@@208jdogYou make absolutely no sense!