
What can Congress do?
We’re monitoring federal action and reporting back on whether our elected officials are acting for or against the public interest.
Together we can make sure tax and budget decisions reflect our shared priorities and balance competing values.
We’re monitoring federal action and reporting back on whether our elected officials are acting for or against the public interest.
Rep. Blumenauer (OR) unveiled a new blueprint for the federal Farm Bill today. His bill, the Food & Farm Act, cuts wasteful agriculture subsidies that steer farmers toward harmful and unhealthy farming practices. Additionally, it deepens U.S. investments in proven conservation programs that help farmers switch to sustainable farming practices.
Oregon received an “A-” and ranked 2nd in the country for government spending transparency, according to “Following the Money 2014: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” the fifth annual report of its kind by the OSPIRG Foundation.
Due to Congressional inaction, the interest rates on federally subsidized student loans doubled on July 1 from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. The change will affect 121,570 students in Oregon, and in total the rate increase will hike the cost of Oregon students’ loans by over $110 million. That translates into a $906 increase in debt per student, per loan.
With Tax Day approaching, it’s a good time to be reminded of where our tax dollars are going. The average taxpayer in Oregon in 2012 would have to shoulder an extra $816 in taxes to make up for the revenue lost due to the use of offshore tax havens by corporations and wealthy individuals, according to a new study released today by OSPIRG.
With Oregon facing tough budget choices, OSPIRG Foundation, joined by Main Street Alliance, released a new study revealing that the State of Oregon lost an estimated $506 million due to offshore tax dodging in 2012. Many of America’s wealthiest individuals and largest corporations use tax loopholes to shift profits made in America to offshore tax havens, where they pay little to no taxes.