Private Property
The right to own property is not just part of the American dream, but one of the cornerstones of liberty. Scripture affirms this right in Micah 4:4, " ...they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid." Anyone who has been a victim of theft understands the pain and violation that accompanies the unfair loss of property. The eighth commandment (Exodus 20:15) "You shall not steal," is a universal principle, and should be followed not just by individuals, but by governments as well. For this reason, the Fifth Amendment requires the government to compensate property owners for taking land for public use. It is a logical continuation of this principle to require governments to compensate owners whose land value is reduced by new regulations. If new zoning or land use rules that reduce property values are passed by a government organization, it is appropriate for the property owner to be compensated, or given a waiver of non-critical land use changes.
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Tax Kicker
In 1979 the Legislature passed the "Kicker Law," and Oregonians placed it in the state constitution in 2000. When income tax collections exceed the state´s estimates by two percent or more, the excess must be returned, or "kicked" back to taxpayers. Giving back over–collected funds allows Oregonians to spend the money as they choose, whether buying shoes for their kids or making an extra donation to a favorite charity. The kicker also has the added advantage of limiting the growth of government. Oregon´s tax kicker puts capital back into the hands of the people who earned the money in the first place — working Oregonians.
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Taxes
The state needs revenue to fulfill its duties of providing for the peace, safety, and happiness of all Oregonians. As governments are created among men for protection and representation, so they must also be sustained. The principle of taxation is just, for Jesus instructed in Matthew 22:21 to, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar´s." If you live under the protection of a government, then paying taxes to support it is not only justified, but the right thing to do. In 2007, nearly one third of every working Oregonian´s salary was sent to state, local or federal governments. We believe that one third of every Oregonian´s income is more than enough to provide basic, efficient government services.
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