Lawmakers reject kicker reform
Democratic leaders have told Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski they won’t craft legislation that would change Oregon’s kicker laws.
Kulongoski said in a release late Thursday that leaders “do not intend to refer kicker reform and an emergency reserve fund to the November ballot during this special session, or anytime this year.”
The decision means residents will continue to collect refunds when money collected in Oregon’s general fund exceeds projections the state makes every two years.
It also means a major effort to restructure the state’s revenue system, a primary Kulongoski goal, won’t happen during the governor’s term. Kulongoski leaves office Jan. 1.
Kulongoski and several lawmakers from both sides of the aisle sought to change the kicker rules in order to build state reserves, then use that money to help defray effects from recessions and economic downturns.
Critics of the kicker say that because money is returned to state residents instead schools and public safety programs face peril when Oregon’s economy goes south no fax payday loans.
Kulongoski broached kicker reform as an olive branch to opponents of two tax measures that Oregon voters passed on Jan. 26.
“This decision by legislative leadership is disappointing and a missed opportunity for the people of Oregon who strongly support using a portion of the kicker revenues to build an adequate reserve for critical services,” Kulongoski said in his statement.
Kulongoski went as far to say that kicker reform is the Legislature’s most important issue during the short session, which will end around March 1.
“Oregonians deserve the opportunity to establish an emergency reserve fund in our state constitution that will help provide fiscal stability and certainty in the state’s budgeting process,” he said. “The people of Oregon deserve better.”