Tax, ESL initiatives qualify for November ballot

Vote - A deduction proposal would shrink the state budget by more than $1.7 billion

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 EDWARD WALSH The Oregonian Staff

Two more initiatives sponsored by conservative activists have qualified for the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

One would allow bigger deductions on state income taxes, shrinking the state budget by more than $1.7 billion. The other initiative, part of a broader battle over immigration policy, would limit the amount of time non-English-speaking students can be taught in their native language.

The state Elections Division said the initiatives had a few hundred more valid voter signatures than the 82,769 necessary to qualify for the ballot.

Both initiatives are sponsored by Bill Sizemore, a veteran anti-tax activist, and Russ Walker, vice chairman of the Oregon Republican Party and state director of a Washington, D.C-based conservative advocacy group.

The tax initiative would reduce state revenues by removing a limit on the amount of federal income taxes that can be claimed as a deduction on Oregon income tax returns. Currently, that limit is about $5,500.

According to a preliminary estimate by the Legislative Revenue Office, allowing full deductibility for federal taxes would mean $550 million less for the state budget in 2009-11 and almost $1.75 billion less in 2011-13, when the initiative would take full effect.

The English language initiative states that its goal is "to insure the cessation of the long-term English as a Second Language programs currently in use in many" Oregon public schools. The limits on teaching in a language other than English would range up to two years for students entering high school, with lesser amounts of time allowed for younger students.

Three other initiatives, including two sponsored by Sizemore, have also qualified for the November ballot.

Edward Walsh: 503-294-4153; edwardwalsh@news.oregonian.com

©2008 Oregonian