The next time you hear phrase 'shared sacrifice' or 'austerity cuts', keep in mind that the recent fiscal cliff deal missed a large source of much-needed revenue -- closing corporate tax loopholes. With the upcoming budget and sequestration matters coming before Congress, here's a chance for them to begin making changes. Large, multinational U.S. corporations and wealthy individuals have avoided paying taxes in the U.S. by taking advantage of tax haven schemes such as the Dutch or Double Irish Sandwich that costs the U.S. Treasury an estimate $150 billion dollars yearly. This, in turn, places the burden on the middle class and small businesses who cannot take the same advantage of the tax code and enacts a very real cost for regular taxpayers who are told austerity cuts to state and local budgets are necessary, increases the national debt and leaves taxpayers, such as you or I, on the hook to pay for the tax subsidies corporations and the top 2% enjoy. Chances are you will have paid more in taxes last year than companies such as Google, Exxon, GE, Wells Fargo or Verizon. It's time to put the 'share' in 'shared sacrifice' and for these companies and wealthy individuals to pay their fair share.

Governor Brownback proposed even more tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations.

My job is laying off 5 housekeepers due to the fact that we have no funds to pay. We only make 7.25 as it is. I hope you sign the petition Ms. Christy.

Help bring a reasonable balance to the budget-making process in Olympia! Sign our petition!

Are you unemployed or underemployed? If so, you are in good company. This can be easily fixed with the stroke of a pen, much like it was fixed during the Great Depression.

WHile incomes in Oregon are going down, and many are out of work, and retirees are having less money to live on...property taxes are going up. We need to rectify this situation. I do not think government should be increasing revenue in the form of propert tax increases, when the rest of us are suffering. I built my home in 2004. It has taken all I can muster to pay the payment. The property taxes have increased over 24% since I built . The economy has not increased by 24% since 2004. Where is the fairness?

right to work agenda of the political right means right to work for lower wages to the working class.

One bill being proposed by a N.C. Senate leader is to replace the state income tax with a sales tax. This would proportionately hurt poor and middle-class people, who spend practically every dime they make every month, and it would give a huge break to rich people, who are the only ones who can afford to sock away a substantial portion of their income every month. And seniors living off their savings and social security, who have already paid all their taxes over their lifetimes, would be taxed, yet again, on those monies. Vote no on this proposal.

My family, friends and co-workers quality of life has been effected.

A small percentage of the California population receive free or subsidized health benefits as part of their employment compensation. Currently, this portion of pay is tax free. Citizens that purchase their own health benefits must do so AFTER having paid taxes on their income. This petition proposes that compensation in the form of health benefits be taxed.

All PERS jobs with salaries at $250,000 and over should not be part of this pension system. If the taxpayers are paying you that can of income, you can surely save for your own retirement and help save PERS for the underpaid employees, such as police, firefighters and teachers.

The Governor has proposed a budget that would increase the income tax by 1%, and decrease the sales tax by 1.75%. It would also increase the tax on cigarettes by $1 per pack, remove the sales tax exemption for soda and junk food, and add to the gas tax. The net result would be an expanded budget to improve transportation and education in the state, and a tax burden that is far more progressive than the high sales tax we currently have. A lower sales tax would also help businesses that border New Hampshire, which has no sales tax.