Salem-News.com Money articles

Coalition of Industry and Business Groups Protest Oregon Tax Changes

The measures are supported by Defend Oregon, which warns that the measures’ defeat could mean deep cuts in education. Proponents say the ballot measures are aimed at helping to stave off in future economic downturns the type of deep funding cuts lawmakers have had to make in the past.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Supreme Court has slightly changed ballot language for ballot measures to raise $733 million from businesses and wealthy Oregonians.

Measure 66 and Measure 67 will be on Oregon’s statewide ballot in a Jan. 26 special election.

House Health Care Reform Vote: Health Insurance Industry Contributions

MAPLight.org uses campaign contribution data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics’ OpenSecrets Open Data.

(BERKELEY, Calif.) - The U.S. House of Representatives voted Saturday on a historic health care reform bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

MAPLight.org’s website shows how each legislator voted and the campaign contributions they received from the health insurance industry, which opposed this bill:

Tax Policy: Measures 66 & 67

This is a companion piece to “Tax Policy: History & Ethics of Taxation.”

(EUGENE, Ore.) - In this piece I will look at the practical economic ramifications of the tax increases being put before the voters in the 2010 ballot measures 66 & 67. The vote is a long way off, but there is no reason to not begin considering these issues now.

As the vote approaches, you will increasingly be inundated with propaganda on one side or the other of this issue. It is worthwhile to prepare yourself with a solid understanding of the issue before you are subjected to the sales pitches of various self-interested parties.

Tax Policy: History & Ethics of Taxation

Taxation is a major part of the budget for any individual or business. Looking at this issue with clarity is essential to your financial well being.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Taxes are a source of perennial angst for most citizens. Most people believe that they are being taxed unfairly, and most of them are probably right. Historically, taxation has frequently been a source of injustice.

In European history, the landless population, who were treated as slaves, paid taxes in the form of produce from the land to lords, monarchs, and the church. This system was kept in place through brutal repression, enforced illiteracy and cultural destruction. Conscription of the male population for various wars, which was another form of taxation, was a convenient way of culling the population and eliminating any potential resistance before it could start.

The DST Caper

It was sometime in the 1950s that the American branch of the International Time Bank was established in a secret location somewhere in the continental United States. It’s there that the 300 million or so American hours are deposited every spring.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - November 1, 2009 So, you’ve got the hour back, the hour the government “borrowed” last spring. But, did you get any interest on that loan? Didn’t think so.

It’s the same every year.

Investing for Value

In my reporting at Salem News I will do my best to apply historically informed critical analysis to the most important issues in the areas of investment, economics, business and government that face the citizens of our State.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - I will be joining the Salem News team as a Business reporter. It is our hope that my contributions in this area will expand the scope of coverage at Salem News and increase the value of that coverage for its readers.

In order to introduce myself, I would like to share a little bit about my background, and how I will be approaching this job.

Merkley: GDP Growth a Good Sign for Economy but Focus Must Remain on Job Creation

"For millions of Americans, this recession won’t be over until new businesses can open their doors and existing businesses can expand and create new jobs" -Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has contributed between three and four percentage points to GDP growth. But Senator Jeff Merkley says the effort is far from being complete.

"I’m gratified that after a year of economic decline, the economy is finally growing again. However, GDP growth is not our measure of success, the creation of good jobs at good wages is..."

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Progress Encouraging

CEA Chair Christina Romer comments on the emerging GDP numbers.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - CEA Chair Christina Romer says data released today by the Commerce Department show that real GDP grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of the year.

"This is in stark contrast to the decline of 6.4 percent annual rate just two quarters ago. Indeed, the two-quarter swing in the rate of growth of 9.9 percentage points was the largest since 1980."

Eight Years of U.S. War in Afghanistan: The Dollars Add Up (PHOTOS)

With the passage of the FY 2010 Department of Defense budget, total U.S. spending for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars will exceed $1 trillion by March of next year.

(NORTHAMPTON, Mass.) - October 7, 2009 marks the eighth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

National Priorities Project (NPP) analysts find that, to date, U.S. military operations in Afghanistan have cost U.S. taxpayers $228 billion, $60.2 billion of which was spent in FY 2009 alone.

History Forgotten is History Repeated

Is there a great conspiracy that runs our government? Does anyone really believe otherwise?

(CINCINATTI, Ohio) - As in the 1930s, when the Great Depression swept through America, patriotic groups are springing up across the country like weeds.

The funding and message is much the same as then. Illegal aliens are destroying America. Communism is taking over. Under it all, of course, is the real belief, that African Americans and Jews are the real enemy. The money, same as then: Wall Street.