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With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing and the public barred from the Capitol, a majority of Oregonians believe state legislators should focus on priorities, take care of critical business and leave broad legislative agendas for another time, according to a poll conducted early this month.
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The year 2020 has been unlike anything we have ever experienced, and we can reasonably assume that 2021 will be a continuing challenge. Your OBI board knows businesses are experiencing unprecedented stress, and to understand it better we did a survey of our 1,600+ members to hear what is on your minds – and what matters most as we climb out of this COVID-19 recession.
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Over the last 10 months, families, businesses, and nonprofits across our state have had to tighten their belts and prioritize spending as the economic fallout from the COVID pandemic and wildfires devastated household incomes and robbed businesses and nonprofits of critical operating revenues. We expect our state leaders to do the same.
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The Coronavirus Recovery Business Coalition, a large and diverse alliance of businesses and business associations, sent the attached letter to Governor Brown, urging her to pause on any future business closures or curtailed operations and instead engage in a series of actions the state can take to slow the spread of the virus.
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More than 2.16 million Oregonians cast ballots in the 2020 election, shattering turnout records from previous years. With Election Day 2020 is behind us, the new political landscape in Oregon has come into focus.
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If you only have time to read one item we publish this year, please make it the cumulative business tax analysis the OBI Foundation partnered with the State Tax Research Institute (STRI) to publish this month. And then share it far and wide.
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Due to recently-passed state tax changes, Oregon businesses will see a 41% increase in state taxes by 2022, according to a new report from the nonprofit State Tax Research Institute (STRI). The Portland-metro region is facing as much as a 42% increase in local taxes.
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About 300 members of Oregon Business & Industry (OBI) gathered virtually on Oct. 7 to salute retiring public servants state Rep. Caddy McKeown of Coos Bay and Congressman Greg Walden from Oregon’s 2nd District, both of whom received OBI’s highest honor, the 2020 Statesman of the Year award.
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