To: Governor Kate Brown
Governor Kitzhaber: End Secret Money in Salem
OSPIRG
Since 2009, Oregon taxpayers have spent more than a billion dollars on corporate tax subsidies that are intended to create jobs and promote economic growth. Unfortunately, the public has no way of knowing if that is happening because state agencies have not provided enough information to track how this money is spent.
Please require your state agencies to reveal where this money is going and ensure that these subsidies are more transparent and accountable to the people of Oregon.
Please require your state agencies to reveal where this money is going and ensure that these subsidies are more transparent and accountable to the people of Oregon.
Why is this important?
$665 million. That’s how much Oregon taxpayers will fork over in the next two years for corporate tax subsidies intended for economic development. And what are we getting in return? Jobs? More revenue? Investments in communities? We don’t know because state officials won’t tell us.
With the stroke of a pen, Governor Kitzhaber could bring Oregonians the transparency they deserve. Powerful interests want to keep these deals a secret, but we can get the Governor to act if we keep up the pressure. That’s why he needs to hear from you.
With the stroke of a pen, Governor Kitzhaber could bring Oregonians the transparency they deserve. Powerful interests want to keep these deals a secret, but we can get the Governor to act if we keep up the pressure. That’s why he needs to hear from you.