Take action for economic justice here at home by calling, writing or e-mailing your state legislators as well as Senate President Peter Courtney, Senate Revenue Chair Ginny Burdick, House Speaker Dave Hunt and House Revenue Chair Phil Barnhart and urging them to support an increase in the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) which benefits low income families in Oregon.
Here are suggested messages:
- Increasing the EITC will help counter regressive tax and fee increases being considered this session, such as hikes in the gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees.
- Oregon is one of a minority of states still taxing the wages of families in poverty. If the legislature raises gas taxes and vehicle registration fees without increasing the EITC, it will be making life even more difficult for working poor families with children.
- The political appeal of a revenue package would be increased if it created some "winners" by lowering taxes for low- and moderate-income working families. Including an EITC boost would make "winners" out of one in seven Oregon taxpayers.