EDITORIAL: Benefit costs are key to budget puzzle
On Wednesday, legislative leaders announced the creation of a bipartisan tax reform committee to propose changes in taxing corporate income. The goal is a business tax plan that could go to voters as early as this fall.
That's not a promising development, because of the resounding defeat of Ballot Measure 97 last fall, which would have increased taxes on the largest corporations doing business in
Public employee unions, which backed Measure 97 and want corporations to pay more taxes, also support the majority
The Oregon Business Plan coalition, a group of businesses and organizations working on public policy issues, points out that
Teachers and classified school employees, for instance, receive salaries that rank 22nd nationwide -- a little above the middle of the pack -- but their benefits are the fifth highest in the country.
State agency employees have the sixth highest total health insurance premiums among all states -- and the state pays far more of it on their behalf.
These costs continue to rise as premiums climb.
Limiting the state's contribution to public employees' health insurance to the national average would go a long way toward controlling the rise in state spending.
That won't sit well with public employees or their unions, but private sector employees have faced that situation for years. When costs go up for everyone, it's only fair that everyone shares the burden.
No one is suggesting that public employees' salaries should be cut. But continuing to provide some of the richest benefit packages in the country is simply not sustainable.
The
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