House Republicans have introduced a bill by Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls) to return $300 million to Oregonians they are owed by the state.

When the federal government issued stimulus checks it was promised that people would not owe any additional taxes for them. However, a quirk in Oregon tax code resulted in many people paying more in taxes if they received these relief checks. At a time when many people and businesses are recovering from the economic chaos of COVID-19 -- while the state is awash in revenue -- many people think that this is not the time for the state to be extracting more money from citizens.

HB 3411 will make it easy for the Oregon Department of Revenue to set up a process to return this money to people when they file for taxes next year.

“This money doesn’t belong to the state, it’s as simple as that,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “We’re sitting on $300 million that belongs to the people of Oregon. This fix will give it back to them.”

“We have no excuse,” added Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls). “If returning money that belongs to Oregonians is a priority for the majority party, then we can make it happen. If it’s not a priority, then people should know that.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-06-22 16:34:43