Small businesses would be forced to lay off their workers, reduce wages and benefits or close their doors if voters approve the legislature’s permanent tax increases.

Economists have estimated these permanent tax increases will cost 79,000 Oregonians their jobs.

This proposal taxes the very people who create jobs in Oregon. Permanent tax increases will close businesses and take even more jobs out of our state.

In the midst of the worst economic crisis in more than 70 years, the legislature voted to permanently increase income taxes on businesses and high-income Oregonians.

Despite Oregon’s 12.2% unemployment rate, the legislature voted to raise taxes and fees by nearly $2 billion.

Businesses would be taxed up to $100,000 per year – even if they didn’t make a profit.

Income taxes for individuals earning over $125,000 would increase 20%, giving Oregon the second highest income tax rate in the nation – higher than both New York and California.

The proposed tax increases would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009, and no money to cover this tax increase has been withheld from Oregonians’ paychecks during all of 2009.