Oregon Activists Hope Fair Tax On The Rich Movement Will Spread

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/13073

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on March 8, 2010 - 3:54pm
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By Doug Cunningham

When the Oregon legislature began looking at tax hikes for corporations, individuals making more than $125,000 a year, and couples earning more than $250,000 corporations thought they could beat it by forcing a statewide vote on it. The people of Oregon instead voted for these more progressive taxes. Jordana Sardo is Portland organizer for the Freedom Socialist Party.

: “What is good for big business is not necessarily good for workers. And we really need to be askin’ for more – demanding more. Not allowing the legislature or corporations to force us to foot more of their bills.”

Sardo says workers and their unions were key to passing the more progressive taxes in Oregon. She says labor movement grassroots mobilization can be a powerful force.

: “The role of the labor movement really can’t be under-estimated. If it hadn’t been for organized labor, I don’t know if we would have won those measures. They really kicked into high gear. And it was really a reflection of what organized labor , when they really put their mind it, can really do.”

[aquart]

1. Funny how this vote wasn't a headline in New York.