COMMENTS

www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org

The national economy hadn't added new jobs between December, 2007 and October, 2009. November, 2009 finally saw 4,000 jobs on the plus side. Also, average hourly earnings increased in December, the private sector added jobs for the second month in a row and temporary jobs, which usually signal a new hiring phase, increased by 47,000. Don't forget that December's unusually lousy weather was responsible for at least some of the job losses in construction. "It took us two years to lose these jobs. It will take at least that long to get them back." Over 8 million jobs were shed in this recession.

Oregon had 88,300 fewer jobs in 11/09 versus 11/08, 3,900 of those were government jobs. (Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

What is the Oregon legislature doing about meeting future job needs? The fastest growing occupations for 2008-2010 period, by number of new jobs:

Job
New Jobs % Change Median wage

Registered nurse
582,000 22% $62,450

Home health aides
460,900 50% $20,460

Customer service reps
400,000 18% $29,860

Food service/prep (1)
394,000 15% $16,430

Personal and home care
375,800 46% $19,180

Retail sales
375,000 8% $20,510

Office clerks
359,000 12% $25,320

Accountants
279,000 22% $59,430

Nursing aides
276,000 19% $23,850

College teachers
257,000 15% $58,830

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 1-Includes fast food.

Here are 25 contemporary jobs and their current salaries *
compared with their monetary equivalent 50 years ago:

Job
Rank 2008 1958**

Accountants
8 $54,440 $7,313

Administrative assistants
16 $44,471 $5,973

Automotive mechanics
20 $34,565 $4,643

Chefs
9 $54,143 $7,273

Construction workers
18 $36,214 $4,864

Dry cleaners
23 $22,429 $3,013

Elementary school teachers
10 $53,020 $7,122

Emergency medical technicians
19 $35,609 $4,783

Fast food workers
25 $19,833 $2,664

Firefighters
12 $52,293 $7,024

Flight attendants
6 $63,913 $8,585

Grocery store managers
7 $55,629 $7,472

Commercial painters
17 $41,120 $5,523

Hospice workers
14 $46,191 $6,204

Janitors
22 $25,725 $3,455

Newspaper journalists
24 $21,963 $2,950

Personal trainers
15 $46,049 $6,185

Pianists
5 $64,348 $8,643

Plumbers
13 $48,591 $6,527

Police officers
11 $52,801 $7,092

Public relations representative
3 $72,575 $9,748

Registered nurses
4 $66,427 $8,923

Sales clerks
21 $26,844 $3,606

Surgeons
1 $322,281 $43,289

Veterinarians
2 $93,685 $12,584

*Salary figures based on data from CBsalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert.com
Past salary figures based on data from Marketing Worth's calculator for relative value of the U.S. dollar.

Source: jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/01/22/what-was-your-salary-worth-50-years-ago/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl4|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fjobs.aol.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F01%2F22%2Fwhat-was-your-salary-worth-50-years-ago%2F

Oregon budget shortfall 14.5%. State revenues plummeted 19% between the first quarter 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, a reflection of Oregon's heavy reliance on income taxes. Voters have rejected adding a sales tax nine times, thwarting attempts at creating a new source of state revenue.

Federal taxes have dropped considerably (-4.6%) in the past decade for everyone with taxable income over $33,950 while those making under $8,350 have seen a 10% increase and most likely aren't able to claim most deductions. And while the upper bracket pays 35% over $372,950, the way taxes are actually calculated, they are only paying 30.5% on the first half million of taxable income (this is after all of the deductions that the wealthy can find.) The higher the tax bracket, the larger the percent of disposable income that they have available to enjoy. (Tax Foundation, www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/24834.html, 7/09)

Taxable Income Range - Federal
2000 2002 2009** Change
2000 to 2009 Maximum
Tax Actual %
on Total

$0 to 8,350
0% 10% 10% +10% $835 10.0%

$8,350 to 33,950
15% 15% 15% No Change $4675 13.8%

$33,950 to 82,250
28% 27% 25% - 3% 16750 20.0%

$82,250 to 171,550
31% 30% 28% - 3% 41754 24.0%

$171,550 to 372,950
36% 35% 33% -3% 108216 29.0%

Over $372,950
39.6% 38.6% 35% -4.6% 152684* 30.5%

* 35% times the amount of taxable income over $372,950 Used a half-million total income for this example.
BTW: In 1944, the top income tax rate was 94% and the lowest tax rate was 23%.

Oregon would be tied with Hawaii for the highest tax (11%) for the wealthiest group for two years. After that time, Oregon would drop to 9.9% while Hawaii would remain at 11%, New Jersey at 10.75, California at 10.55, and Rhode Island at 9.9%. (Tax Foundation, 7/09)

Taxable Income Range - Oregon
2008 Proposed
2009-2010 Change
2008 to 2009 Proposed
after 2011 Maximum2009
Tax Actual %
on Total

$0 to 3,050
5% 5% No Change 5% 152.50 5%

$3,050 to 7,600
7% 7% No Change 7% 471.00 6.2%

$7,600 to 125,000
9% 9% No Change 9% 11,037.00 8.8%

$125,000 to 250,000
9% 10.8% +1.8% 9.9% 24,537,00 9.8%

Over $250,000
9% 11% +2% 9.9% 52,037.00* 10.4%

*Take 11% times the amount of taxable income over $250,000. Used a half-million total income for this example.
Cuts in chemical dependency programs increase medical, inpatient health care and emergency room costs. With an outpatient chemical dependency recovery program in place, it has been shown that total medical costs declined 26%, inpatient health care costs decline 35% and emergency room costs decline 39%. (Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento.)

Underage drinking in Curry County was above the Oregon average for 8th and 11th graders (past month alcohol use and past month binge drinking.) (DHS 2006)

The early onset of alcohol abuse among young people is inextricably linked to significantly higher rates of drug abuse. (SAMHSA, 2004)

"Growing the government" without really "Growing" the Government. Example: When you cut 15% out of a program and reinstate the program later at its original budget, it requires a 17.65% increase in spending. And, that's not adjusted for inflation, which would be even more. It appears that the thinking on the other side of the aisle is - meet inflation with a matching reduction in staff and/or programs.

As giving to non-profits drops drastically, they aren't able to provided many of the services they had been providing for years. The outcome is either ending those services like helping run-a-way youth, helping get the homeless back on their feet, helping drug or alcohol dependent people get clean and sober, etc. Another alternative is for the city, county, state or federal government to step in. I would hope that we as the human race still have a place in our hearts to support the government agencies to do what we as individuals are un-willing or un-able to do.

If 66 fails, Oregonians who received the first $2,400 in unemployment payments would be taxed almost as much as corporations are being asked to pay in prop 67. I'm sure most people in this situation could use that $120 a lot more than most corporations affected by the change.

To quote Senator Kruse: "Call their bluff. Oregon can't afford not to." But, I say a vote for 66 and 67 will call "their" bluff. Cutting programs adds costs to many areas of the government down the road and negatively impacts the lives of many Oregonians in the process. Let's not let that happen.

I'm thinking that our two representative might have a vested personal interest in the failure of both of these proposition and might consider recusing themselves from further action on these measures.

You've seen this sign. They're all over the state. They probably each cost more than the $140 increase some corporations are being askied to pay. It's interesting the spin they did. "Job-killing taxes" are a scare tactic that holds very little water when looked at realistically. While, failure of the passage of 66 and 67 will almost surely require more personnel cuts. The other graphic I find interesting is in the bottom left-hand corner showing a hand pulling a bill out of a wallet. In actuality, for those making less than $125M, that's your wallet that the wealthy want to pick.

Part of the thinking about voting against 66 and 67, the shortfall can be made by requiring government employees to pick up part of their health coverage. See how it works. The rich individuals and corporations get richer while the middle and lower class take the hit. I'm sure most government employees aren't making anywhere near $125M. Again, their asking the workers to take the hit and reduce their disposable income ever more.

What if... Phil Knight came out in favor of Oregon and in favor of 66 and 67. What an incredible act of corporate responsibility. Especially when it appears some legislators have been using Nike as a scare tactic saying "they are thinking of moving to Washington and take their 40,000 employees with them." Nike told me that that was absolutely not true and they only have around 5,300 employees in Oregon to begin with. A true investment in sustainability, something I haven't heard much about from either side of the aisle.

What if... the next time budget cuts need to be made, the legislature starts making them in the counties that vote against tax increases to support those programs. Those counties are, in effect, saying they don't need all of the government services they have. Why should counties that want progress suffer because of the countries that prefer regressive policies?

Oregon voters have a chance to decide who they think deserves a break - and who can pay a little bit more.

Learn to speak Tea Bag because other languages are just too hard.

HOW OREGON RANKS IN THE U.S.
1st - tied with Alabama, Montana and New Hampshire for having no sales tax. Washington has 8.5% and California 8.25% (Highest) (7/09 State Revenue Departments)

1st - Smallest growth in State Police compared with the population growth 1995-2008 (-31%). Only 10 states had a decline. Next closest was South Carolina -19% (FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Census Bureau)

1st - tied with Hawaii for the highest personal tax (11%) for the wealthiest group for two years. After that time, Oregon would drop to 9.9% while Hawaii would remain at 11%, New Jersey at 10.75, California at 10.55, and Rhode Island at 9.9%. (Tax Foundation, 7/09)

2nd highest minimum wage ($8.40). Washington is highest at 8.55 and California is 4th with 8.00.

3rd - highest retailer violation rates on tobacco sales to minors. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

4th for illicit drug dependence among 18-25 year olds. (NSDUH, 2002)

4th with most students (3,142) per school nurse. Washington is 25th with 1,060 and California 40th with 2,240. Hawaii has no RNs, Utah 4,893 students per and Michigan 4,204 students per. (Low number is better.) (National Association of School Nurses)

7th lowest state beer tax (.0839 per gallon.) California is 29th at .20, Washington is 34th lowest at .261 and Alaska is the highest at $1.07/gallon. (As of 1/04 CSPI and the Federation of Tax Administrators.)

7th for illicit drug abuse in persons 12 and older. (NSDUH, 2002)

8th lowest job loss 4th Quarter 2008 to 4th Qtr 2009 at -1.0% or 17,737 jobs. Washington was 2nd with -0.2% and California at -1.9%. (Moody's economy.com)

8th highest level of foreclosures in 2009 vs. 2008. Washington17th and California 24th. In regard to total disclusures, Oregon ranked 21st with 34,121 closures, Washington 19th with 35,268 and California 1st 632,573 closures. (Ideal is largest ranking number.) (Source:RealtyTrac. in UST Today 1/14/10.)

9th highest shortfall of the 50 states - 14.5%

10th. Oregon is tied with Illinois with the largest percentage of workers who were members of a union in 2008. (16.6%) California had 18.4% and Washington had 19.8%. Yet Oregon has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

12th smallest decrease (-8%) in traffic fatalities 2008 vs 2007. Washington down 11%, California no data.

13th lowest obesity rate at 24.2% of Oregonians. Washington tied at 24th with 25.4% obese and california ranked 10th with 23.7% obese. (CDC 2008)

14th highest percent (76.6%) of foreclosure 3rd Quarter 2009 vs. 3rd Quarter 2008. Washington at 33% and California at 18.6%. (Low percent better.)

15th largest population growth from 2008 to 2009 adding 42,666 new people. California was 18th and Washington was 7th. Percent change 2000-2009 was up 11.8% or 404,220 people representing the 13th best growth during that period. (Census Bureau)

18th in percentage with fewer than two inspections of school cafeterias during 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years. Federal law requires two inspections a year. Washington was 28th with 24.4% not in compliance and California was 45th with 57.2% not complying. Average in the U.S. was 29.5%. (USA Today analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture data.)

20th highest % of low-income children (41% of the children in the state.) (Annie V. Casey Foundation)

22nd state with "America's Best High Schools" Of 299 high schools, 31 or 10.4% achieved a Bronze or better award and 7, or 2.3% received a Silver or Gold, Washington was 21st and California 4th. Low number is better. US News and World Report

23rd most obese state with 26.3% of our people rated obese. We are tied with Maryland. California has 23.3% obesity and Washington at 25.9%. (CDC 2007)

29th lowest gas tax at .25. California is .399 and Washington is .375.(American Petroleum Institute

38th of 42 States Tap Water Quality Base. High number is good.

44th highest unemployment (11/09) at 11.1%. California 47th at 12.3% and Washington is 32 at 9.2%. Oregon had the 39th highest unemployment for 2007 and 2008. (www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htmat)

45th for access to Addiction Treatment. (OMHAS, 2004)

49th for access to Addiction Treatment among 18-25 year olds. (OMHAS, 2004)
Read More Here

©2010, www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org/comments.html