Summary
Allows taxpayers to use a deduction method for state income taxes, likely reducing their tax burden.
Biblical Reasoning
In 1 Samuel 8, God warns us not to look to big government to solve all our problems. He tells us that when we do this, two negative results follow. First, government grows in its control of our lives. Second, it finances this growth through taxes, making it harder to prosper financially.
Election Results
Voters rejected the income tax deduction change (63% No).
Full PEAPAC Analysis
PEAPAC Explanation: Measure 41 gives taxpayers a choice in figuring their taxes – the current method of tax credits or a new option of income deductions. The tax credit currently is $154 per personal exemption, whereas the federal income deduction is $3200 per exemption. Most who use the new deduction method would get a tax cut.
PEAPAC Comment: In 1 Samuel 8, God warns us not to look to big government to solve all our problems. He tells us that when we do this, two negative results follow. First, government grows in its control of our lives. Second, it finances this growth through taxes, making it harder to prosper financially. We have these two problems today. Most Oregonians saw small or no income increases in the past few years, But the State’s “income” went up about 7% per year for each of the past 15 years! You probably don’t get an annual 7% pay raise, right? But the state does, and it comes out of your pocket! The result is increasing and unnecessary state bureaucracy, and more state control of our lives. That 7% came out of the taxpayers’ pockets, of course. The end result is that most families find it harder and harder to make ends meet.
Measure 41 addresses both of these problems. First, it gives most citizens a tax cut, helping them to pay their other bills. Second, it reduces the amount of money the state gets, thus restricting the growth of state bureaucracy. We urge a Yes vote on Measure 41.
Dennis Tuuri 
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