POLITICAL LEADERS RESPOND TO REVENUE FORECAST

February 25, 2021 9:50 a.m.

Oregon’s political leaders responded to the new revenue forecast for the State of Oregon, on Wednesday.

OPB reported that the new forecast suggests that the state will take in hundreds of millions of dollars more in the current budget cycle than expected months ago.

Governor Kate Brown said “Today’s revenue forecast brings some welcome news, as we see that state revenues are on the rise, making it clearer that the impact of the latest recession on income tax revenue is significantly smaller that we had expected it to be last spring”.

Senate President Peter Courtney said he was surprised. He said this will allow lawmakers to “…really starting dealing with the pain and suffering of Oregonians”.

House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner said the revenue news is “…the result of the Oregon Legislature’s smart and prudent budgeting decisions”.

House Republican Leader Christine Drazan said, “Given the state’s fragile economy, we must exercise fiscal discipline, not increase taxes or grow government programs and bureaucracy”.

Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod said he preferred to focus on the revenue coming into Oregonians’ bank accounts. Girod said, “The reality is that 150,000 Oregonians have been put out of work because of the pandemic and economic lockdowns. Tens of thousands are struggling to make rent, afford child care and put food on the table”.

A link to the revenue forecast is posted: https://www.oregon.gov/das/OEA/Pages/forecastecorev.aspx.