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GOP Says 'I Told You So' After Oregon Democrats Introduce Kicker Bill

Shaundd
/
Wikimedia

Democratic Representative Tobias Read introduced a bill Thursday that would divert a potential kicker tax rebate.

It comes as the state is preparing to possibly send up to $473 million back to taxpayers. Republicans in Salem are saying "I told you so.”

In March, GOP House leader Mike McLane made a prediction during a floor speech. "The majority party wants your kicker,” he said. “Hear it clear, Oregonians. Hear it clear."

Oregon's unique kicker law refunds money to taxpayers when revenues exceed projections by more than two percent. McLane was warning taxpayers that Democrats might want to spend their tax rebates on something else.

Some lawmakers are eyeing the money as a potential source of funds for schools and state reserves.

Read's measure to hold the kicker back would require approval by two-thirds of lawmakers in each chamber.

Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network

Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.