Xander, NOT Jeff Cogen, for Multnomah County Commission

Well, at least it wasn't a non-endorsement. 

But for the Oregonian to dismiss Xander Patterson's candidacy for Multnomah County Commission by calling his proposal for a progressive income tax a "nonstarter" is both puzzling and and short-sighted.  The biggest problem facing local and state government is not enough tax revenue to fund vital public programs - schools, health, roads, public safety. 

A progressive income tax is precisely what we need!

Here's Xander's tax proposal from his website:

"We should extend the Multnomah County Income Tax, but make it very progressive by exempting the first $35,000 in income from the tax. The tax should start at 1% for income over $45,000, the level that saw federal tax cuts of 3%, and scaling gradually up to 3.25% for those making over $500,000, who received a 4.6% federal tax cut. In 2002, at the depth of the recession, this would have generated approximately $150 million. In 2003, the Itax raised about $130 million. Under Xander’s plan, half of all taxpayers, those making less than $45,000, would pay nothing, and nearly 85% of taxpayers, those with incomes under $75,000, would pay less than they do under the current flat Itax. Everyone would pay less in combined federal, state, and county income taxes than they did before Bush’s irresponsible tax cuts. Tax fairly, invest wisely in education, health care, and public safety."

Sounds like what I've proposed for state tax reform-- "that we should levy higher income taxes on those who have benefited from the Bush tax cuts."  With Oregon languishing near the bottom of state per capita tax revenue, what better solution than a truly progressive graduated income tax.  It beats the hell out of a sales tax, the most regressive of all taxes.

Xander Patterson posted this response to the Oregonian's editorial, caliing Cogen "just the kind of insider The O would like."  I would call Cogen the kind of tepid moderate favored by the O:

"He is a pragmatist with a passion for cost-effectiveness and excellent problem-solving abilities."

Certainly not a bold progressive with big ideas like Xander Patterson, which is why I endorsed Patterson back in August. 

Hmmm.  I notice that he commented on that post asking me, in so many words, to put my money where my mouth is.  Better get the checkbook out.

Comments

[Kari Chisholm]

I've met Xander, like his progressive tax idea, but otherwise don't know much about his campaign. That said, let me just insert a note about Jeff Cogen.

Jeff Cogen is exactly the kind of guy we want running for office. He's damn smart, deeply progressive, and has used his talents to actually create positive change. He's got private sector experience, public sector experience, and nonprofit sector experience.

He started the Portland Pretzel Company and grew that business to employ dozens of people. (He later sold it, and that guy bankrupted it.) He was the board chair of Hands On Portland when that critical nonprofit was about to go under and engineered its merger with another volunteerism nonprofit. Today, HOP is thriving. At the city, it was Jeff that pushed the city's wind-energy program -- a project that will save the city money, make its energy bills stable (not Enron-unstable), employ hundreds of rural Oregonians (healing the urban/rural divide), and oh yeah -- reduce Portland's production of greenhouse gases.

Personally, I think all four candidates for that seat - Jeff, Xander, Gary, and Lew - are great folks. The four of them would make for a heckuva County Commission. But Jeff Cogen is a rare find for our community. Exactly the kind of guy that oughta be running for office.

[Disclaimer: I have absolutely nothing to do with Jeff Cogen's website. Actually, he turned me down when I pitched him for the work.]

[Kari Chisholm]

p.s. Just because the Oregonian doesn't call Jeff a "bold progressive with big ideas" (and instead gives him the weak "pragmatist with a passion for cost-effectiveness") doesn't mean that they're right.

Jeff is definitely a bold progressive with big ideas. I'd argue that he's the leading non-incumbent candidate for any office anywhere in Oregon when it comes to big, bold progressive ideas that he's actually made happen.

[Terry]

Good info, Kari. But I'm still knda partial to Green Party candidates, especially smart ones like Xander.