Rep. Vicki Berger’s latest newsletter gives a personal kicker update.

March’s rosy economic forecast confirmed that Oregonians will receive their first kicker check in six years. State economists estimate that $1.1 billion in personal income tax rebates will be returned to Oregonians this fall. The median kicker check is projected to be $271, meaning half will be higher and half will be lower. The average check would be $633.00. You can get a more precise estimate of your kicker once you have completed preparing your 2006 tax returns.

The calculation is simple. On the Oregon Form 40, multiply the amount listed on line 42 by 21.7%. If you use the short form multiply the amount listed on line 18 by 21.7%.

Final kicker amounts won’t be known until September, after the books are closed on the 2005-’07 budget.

Oregon is addicted to the lottery.  It funds schools, salmon recovery, economic development, you name it.  When I hear lottery funds are being used for a project I think “oh good, they don’t have to raise taxes.”  

Lottery money isn’t free.  As several House committees heard last week, Oregonians lost $1.27 billion dollars gambling in 2004.  That equals $457 for every Oregon adult.  1 in 25 Oregon teenagers (who can’t gamble legally) are either problem or pathological gamblers.  That means at least one addicted teen in most high school classrooms across the state.

Sure, not all of people with gambling addictions are playing video poker, or buying Sports Action tickets.  They might be at Spirit Mountain, or Chinook Winds, or other places that gaming is legal.  The state can do little to change federal policy on Indian casinos.  But, is it right for the state to ignore the human cost of gambling, just to fund state parks?

Those least able to afford gambling are most likely to become addicted.  Is the $449 million in socio-economic costs – child neglect, domestic violence, bankruptcy, even suicide – worth it?

Oregonians voted for the lottery, and now we’re addicted to the funds.  I, for one, would be willing to kick in an extra $457, and get rid of state sponsored gaming, and the human cost that comes with it.

House Republicans today released a Jan. 23 Moore Information poll showing a strong majority of Oregonians remain strongly opposed to raising taxes. The poll was released as the Oregon Legislature considers tax increases, mostly on small businesses.

In the statewide survey of 500 Oregonians, 68 percent of respondents said they believed “state government has the money it needs, it just needs to spend it more wisely,” while only 28 percent believed state government “needs to raise taxes to fund additional programs.”

“The Moore poll should send a strong message to those at the Capitol who think it’s OK to raise taxes and spend money at unsustainable levels,” said House Republican Leader Wayne Scott (R-Canby). “Oregonians are not convinced that state government is spending its money wisely, and pursuing tax increases will not restore the Legislature’s credibility. Oregonians will remember those who stood their ground for responsible government, and those who supported tax increases out of political expediency.”

Too bad 68% of the legislature doesn’t seem opposed to new taxes this year.