Oregon lawmakers will meet in February 2010 for a special session. Representative Phil Barnhart says the session could be business as usual if two tax measures on the ballot in January are approved by voters.

“If the measures fail, then we’ll be in cutting the budget mode and it will be very difficult. We’ll be laying off teachers and firemen, police officers and others who either work for the state government directly or whose agencies receive money from the state government to operate.” 

Measures 66 and 67 would raise taxes for corporations and for high income earners. The tax hikes were passed by the 2009 legislature to help balance the state budget. They were referred to voters after an initiative campaign. The special election is January 26^th.

Representative Barnhart kicks off a series of 8 public meetings this evening at the Dexter Fire Hall in Dexter at from 6 to 8. Barnhart will be holding two joint town hall meetings with other Lane County Legislators. The first is Monday November 9^th at the University of Oregon. The second is November 16th at Lane Community College.

http://www.leg.state.or.us/barnhart/homepage.htm