Beer Luvvas,
This morning I found an OpEd piece in 'The Stump' from the Oregonian online. In this piece, 2 citizens in favor of the measure for the 1900% increase in our state's beer tax is needed to ensure that these substance abuse programs obtain the funding that they need to treat those with substance abuse issues...
Recently the Legislature held its first hearing on the proposed beer tax increase, and we were there. Our legislators need to know that, beyond all the news stories and competing statistics in this debate, there are real people engaged in the fight against the disease of addiction who support a reasonable tax on beer.
Specifically, we think it's time to listen to the experts when it comes to funding addictions programs -- the direct service professionals who dedicate themselves to helping individuals, families and communities cope with substance abuse and dependence. These providers know better than anyone how underfunding and budget cuts can impact services.
If you ask someone who works in the field, they'll tell you that substance abuse and addiction programs are already woefully underfunded. These front-line workers know all too well about the waiting lists for individuals trying to get into programs and often have their hearts broken when they see people turned away from services with no place else to go.
I'm drawn to the statement where we are asked to listen to the experts when it comes to funding addiction programs.... It's not that I don't agree that these programs are woefully underfunded - so is our education system where we've been listening to the experts on how to fund that as well. Why are we still the only state that is seriously contemplating reducing the school year due to the shortfall in funding here??
My point is, that maybe our so called funding experts in Salem need to be recycled - it is what we do in this state. Although that does assume that for a minimal amount of cost we can find different productive activities for these people to spend their time and efforts focusing on instead of just increasing another taxable item to hid the woeful ineptitude in how we fund these programs.
Prost to differing opinions!
1 comments:
There is no money for substance abuse programs because Oregon's state government revenue is broken.
Why is it broken? Is it because the beer tax is too low?
No. It is broken because:
1. 31 companies with more than $1M in profits paid the minimum corporate tax of $10. Read about it here.
2. The tax kicker guarantees that the state bank account is always empty.
3. The property tax initiatives destroyed school funding. The state ends up picking up school expenses it shouldn't have to.
The Portland Democrats in the state legislature need to be brave and fix those problems first. Then maybe consider a point-of-sale tax on all alcohol, instead of a point-of-production tax that could kill our wonderful mom-and-pop breweries.
I'm off to my primal scream therapy now, see ya.
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