Kate Brown announces support for controversial corporate tax measure on November ballot

Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday morning that she supports every measure on the November ballot, including a controversial plan that could raise $3 billion annually by taxing companies based on their sales in Oregon.

"I support Measure 97 because there is a basic unfairness in our tax system that makes working families pay an increasing share for state and local services, including public schools, senior services, and health care," Brown said in a written statement.

The measure, currently known as Initiative Petition 28 but expected to appear on the ballot as Measure 97, would charge certain C corporations a 2.5 percent tax on their gross annual sales in Oregon above $25 million. The group behind the measure, Our Oregon, has the backing of the state's public employee unions.

The governor's announcement followed months of speculation about whether she would take a position on the corporate tax measure or help negotiate an alternative tax plan and call lawmakers back to Salem for a special session to pass it.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/08/kate_brown_announces_support_f.html