Kitzhaber breaks ranks, opposes Measure 97

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has broken ranks with his fellow Democrats to protest a proposed business tax.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (http://bit.ly/2egtJm3 ) that Kitzhaber on Sunday night posted an argument against the tax on his website and on Facebook.

Gov. Kate Brown, also a Democrat, backs the tax proposal called Measure 97. It would create a new gross receipts tax on specific kinds of Oregon businesses with $25 million or more in sales.

Kitzhaber says he agrees that corporations could afford to contribute more to close Oregon’s budget deficit and help support public services. But he argues that the revenue generated by Measure 97 would be too much and wouldn’t necessarily fix anything.

Kitzhaber resigned in February 2015 after an influence-peddling scandal.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com