February 28, 2022 3:00 a.m.

A Republican effort to repeal taxes on what they consider “basic necessities” failed on Friday in Salem.

A release from the Oregon Senate Republicans said Senator Lynn Findley of Vale, made a motion to withdraw Senate Bill 1507 from the Finance & Revenue Committee, where the legislation has been blocked by majority Democrats this session. The bill would exempt prescription drugs, diapers, baby formula, and feminine hygiene products from the corporate activities tax.

The release said the effort was blocked by Democrats along a party line vote, 8-16. Democrats are moving forward on a more-narrow provision in SB 1524 that would reaffirm taxes on most Oregonian’s prescription drugs.

Senator Findley said, “Most Oregonians don’t realize we have a sales tax here in Oregon. They don’t think they are paying a sales tax when they buy their prescriptions, diapers or baby formula”. Findley said the hidden sales tax of 2019 is costing Oregonians more and putting pharmacies out of business.

Findley said “We need to make health care more affordable and accessible, and SB 1507 would have been a more comprehensive approach to accomplish that goal”.