Oregon voters' rejection of tax seen hitting mentally ill hardest

Published: 2004-02-18

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- Catholic officials in the state of Oregon say voters' rejection of an income tax surcharge designed to help prevent cuts in state services will probably hurt needy residents the most, especially those with mental illnesses. "Even with less severe cutbacks we are seeing an increase in (the number of) people who are chronically mentally ill needing assistance," said Dennis Keenan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Portland. "They can barely buy food. When it comes down to buying food or paying $10 or $15 for medications, they choose to eat, which is understandable," he told the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Portland Archdiocese. The tax surcharge was one way lawmakers hoped to balance the state's budget. A year ago voters had turned down a similar measure by a margin of 54 percent to 46 percent. The Legislature then on its own enacted an $800 million temporary income tax surcharge. But opponents of that move sprang into action to quickly have the issue of a tax increase brought again to the voters. Under Measure 30, which failed by a margin of 59 percent to 41 percent Feb. 3, workers making an average of $40,000 a year would have paid less than $100 in additional tax.

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