Portland, Ore. – April 14 – Children and family advocacy groups today pledged their support for Initiative Petition 28 (A Better Oregon), which would raise the corporate minimum tax on corporations with over $25 million of sales in Oregon. In an op-ed published in the Statesman Journal, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Causa Oregon, Children First for Oregon, Family Forward Oregon, and Oregon Latino Health Coalition expressed the urgent need for increased revenue to improve the economic security, education and health and safety of Oregon’s children.
Statistics presented by the advocacy organizations are startling and warrant attention:
- 390,000 kids, or 1 in 5, live in or near poverty.
- Oregon is ranked 47th in high school graduation.
- Nearly 11,500 children are in foster care.
- Burgeoning class sizes continue when studies prove that children do better in smaller classes.
- 17,600 children are without access to health insurance.
- Over 20,000 students in Oregon school districts are homeless.
- Abuse rates remain stubbornly stagnant.
“Oregon has the lowest effective corporate tax rate in the country, which is a key reason we have been unable to bring much-needed services to our most vulnerable women and the families who depend on them. It's about time that we take steps to ensure that large corporations pay their fair share of taxes," said Andrea Paluso, Executive Director of Family Forward Oregon.
Advocates presented that investing in children and their families boosts the capacity to thrive as a state.
“When children’s access to health care is increased, those investments are returned in income taxes, lower health costs and greater wealth and spending as adults,” said Alberto Moreno, Executive Director of Oregon Latino Health Coalition. In addition, improved graduation rates and academic outcomes “create a more educated workforce, which help ignite the economy and keep family-wage jobs at home,” said Reverend Joseph Santos-Lyons, Executive Director of APANO.
For more information, contact [email protected] (971)340-4861
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Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) is a statewide, grassroots organization, uniting Asians and Pacific Islanders to achieve social justice. APANO uses its collective strengths to advance equity through empowering, organizing and advocating with our communities.
Causa Oregon is Oregon’s Latino immigrant rights organization. Causa works to improve the lives of Latino immigrants and their families in Oregon through advocacy, coalition building, leadership development, and civic engagement. Latino immigrants and their families are the heart of Causa and inspire, implement, and champion our work. Causa envisions a world where all people have the opportunities and resources needed to thrive. We envision a community that welcomes and values the contributions, strengths, and assets of Latino immigrants and their families.www.causaoregon.org
