AFL-CIO endorses Measure 28 in January special election

The Oregon AFL-CIO's Committee on Political Education (COPE) voted to endorse Measure 28 in the Jan. 28 special election and to keep its Labor 2002 campaign structure in place to support the measure.

Measure 28 was referred to voters by the Legislature following a record fifth special session. It proposes a temporary income tax surcharge of one-half percent for individuals and business that will cost the typical working family between $5 and $10 per month.

With state revenues continuing to decline and school districts struggling to keep classrooms open for what is already the shortest school year in the nation, Measure 28 offers the only option for forestalling further cuts in schools, human services, courts, corrections and other state-funded services, the AFL-CIO said.

Still, supporters expect an uphill battle - primarily because the measure has been characterized as a tax increase with no connection to the impending cuts it was meant to prevent. Those cuts, already approved by the Legislature, include:

* $95 million to be cut from the state's support for local schools, which could force Portland and other hard-hit school districts to cut another nine days from their school year;

* $41 million to be cut from community colleges and state universities,which will mean tuition increases and fewer classes;

* $45 million to be cut from public safety, which assumes the elimination of 322 Oregon State Police positions, the loss of 250 beds at four Oregon Youth Authority facilities and the closure of eight prisons (if the Legislature authorizes the early release of prisoners) and conversion to four-day workweeks in all appellate, tax and circuit courts statewide;

* $88 million in cuts to services for seniors and disabled citizens, which would force the elimination of services from the Oregon Health Plan, the termination of mental health services for 10,500 adults and the shutdown of Project Independence, which provides in-home care for low-income seniors.

"This is not about taxes," said Oregon AFL-CIO President Tim Nesbitt, "It's about taxes and services. No one likes to pay taxes. But taxes pay for the services that keep our communities safe, educate our children and provide a helping hand for the elderly and disabled. And that's what this campaign is all about."

The Committee on Political Education approved the establishment of a special campaign committee, to be chaired by Ken Allen, executive director of Oregon Council 75 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Allen will coordinate campaign efforts within the labor movement and assist with outreach to key allies and constituencies.The committee held its first meeting Nov. 26.

For more information on the Measure 28 campaign, call AFL-CIO campaign director Patrick Green at 503-585-6320.

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