Poll:
What's your reaction to the passage of M66/67?
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The mood was celebratory for hundreds who gathered in NE Portland Tuesday evening hoping for the passage of Measures 66 and 67.
The tax increases were approved handily by voters after a hard-fought campaign in which both sides combined to spend more than $10 million in advertising.
"Tonight, the voters of the great state of Oregon decided to protect education," said Yes on 66/67 spokesman Steve Novick to those who gathered at the campaign's headquarters on election night.
"Tonight we proved to Oregon and the country that the cause of progress is alive and well," said House Speaker Dave Hunt.
The outcome was "a total relief", said Gubernatorial candidate Bill Bradbury. "If Measures 66/67 had failed, the budget next time was totally ugly!"
"A victory on both these measures sends a strong message on how we value services in this state," said Tom Chamberlain, President of the Oregon AFL-CIO.
Opponents of the tax increases expressed fears about how the measures would affect local businesses and the state.
"We think that's pretty egregious to charge someone to balance the state budget on the backs of folks that aren't making a profit." said Barry Bushue of the Oregon Farm Bureau. "If they are making a profit, they already pay taxes."
Bob Wiggins, a venture capitalist expressed concern that the measures would make it harder to lure new businesses to Oregon.
The state Republican party released a statement saying the outcome "does not reflect the views of all Oregonians and voters want their legislators to tighten their belts along with the rest of us."
