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PUBLIC HEARING: HB 2671 A, HB 2298 A, HB 3072 A |
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WORK SESSION: HB 2625 |
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TAPES 114-115,
A-B |
May 6,
2003 1:00 PM STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
Members Present: Senator Ryan Deckert, Chair
Senator Ted
Ferrioli, Vice Chair
Senator
Tony Corcoran
Senator
Lenn Hannon
Senator
Charlie Ringo
Senator
Bruce Starr
Witnesses Present: Senator Rick Metsger, District 26
Gary
Bower, Northwest Natural
Roy
Hemmingway, Public Utility Commission
Gary
Conklin, Industrial Customers of NW Utilites
Jeff
Bissonnette, Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon
Debra
Buchanan, Department of Revenue
Rob
Douglas, Columbia River Steamship Operators
Keith
Leavitt, Port of Portland
Representative
Tom Butler, District 60
Staff Present: Paul
Warner, Legislative Revenue Office
Mazen
Malik, Legislative Revenue Office
Lizbeth
Martin-Mahar, Legislative Revenue Office
Tara
Lantz, Committee Assistant
TAPE
114, SIDE A
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004 |
Chair Deckert |
Calls meeting to order at 1:08pm. |
OPENS PUBLIC HEARING ON HB
2671 A
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018 |
Sen. Metsger |
Explains the proposed –A2 amendments
which requires that public utilities file a non-consolidated income tax
statement and discusses the reasoning behind it. Exhibit 1. |
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082 |
Sen. Ferrioli |
States that he estimates that the
bill only applies to three utilities in the state and that they do a thorough
analysis of how they will fit into a more global network. Asks how potential
purchasers would look at the disintegration of this tax structure. |
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099 |
Sen. Metsger |
Responds that it is impossible to
know whether it would have a positive or negative impact and asks if the
state wants to encourage out of state ownership. |
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108 |
Sen. Ferrioli |
Responds that it is irrelevant to
the tax treatment of this issue. Discussion follows. |
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124 |
Sen. Metsger |
States that the issue is that
taxpayers are paying taxes that are figure into the rates and then the
utility companies aren’t paying taxes themselves. |
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132 |
Sen. Ferrioli |
Expresses concern with making a
change in the tax treatment when they are actively marketing themselves. |
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164 |
Sen. Deckert |
Asks if he spoke to the sponsors
about the amendment. |
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167 |
Sen. Metsger |
Responds positively. |
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178 |
Gary Bower |
Testifies that the bill would affect
his company but he doesn’t know if it would be positive or negative. |
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186 |
Roy Hemingway |
Testifies that he cannot take a position
on the bill. Discusses problems with
utility taxes and other possible solutions. Questions and answers interspersed. |
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316 |
Gary Conklin |
States that he is not able to take a
position at this time, but expresses concern that it would raise the rates. |
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362 |
Jeff Bissonnette |
States that he hasn’t been able to
look at the amendment yet but points out that this amendment doesn’t harm
rate payers. |
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395 |
Debra Buchanan |
Expresses concern that the amendment
isn’t getting at the intention. Questions and answers interspersed. |
TAPE 115, SIDE A
CLOSES PUBLIC HEARING ON HB
2671 A
OPENS PUBLIC HEARING ON HB
2625
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028 |
Mazen Malik |
Explains HB 2625 which reactivates
property tax exemption for cargo containers and establishes sunset at the
year 2010. Exhibit 9. Discusses revenue impact. Exhibit 10. |
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058 |
Rob Douglas |
Testifies in support of HB 2625
because it would continue the property tax exemption that has never been
taxed and is not taxed in neighboring states. Discussion follows. |
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074 |
Sen. Ringo |
Asks if they are taxed anywhere in
the Country. |
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075 |
Douglas |
Responds negatively. |
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080 |
Keith Leavitt |
Testifies in support of HB 2625
because it would allow Oregon to remain competitive. |
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089 |
Sen. Starr |
Asks why they need a sunset at all. |
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092 |
Douglas |
Responds that he doesn’t believe
there needs to be one. |
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100 |
Malik |
Responds that exemptions given in
the state that affect counties have to have a sunset date. |
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108 |
Sen. Ferrioli |
States that this is a good piece of
legislation and should be passed. |
CLOSES PUBLIC HEARING ON HB
2625
OPENS WORK SESSION ON HB
2625
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115 |
Sen. Ferrioli |
MOTION: MOVES HB 2625 TO THE SENATE
FLOOR WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION. |
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118 |
Sen. Deckert |
ORDER: HEARING NO OBJECTION: MOTION
PASSES: 5-0-1. SENATORS EXCUSED: CORCORAN. Sen. Ferrioli will carry the bill on
the Senate Floor. |
CLOSES WORK SESSION ON HB
2625
OPENS PUBLIC HEARING ON HB
2298 A
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130 |
Malik |
Explains HB 2298 A which modifies
requirements business firms need to meet in order to qualify for small city
business development income tax exemption. Exhibit 11. Discusses revenue
impact. Exhibit 12. |
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183 |
Sen. Deckert |
Asks if small businesses have taken
advantage of this program. |
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194 |
Rep. Butler |
Responds that nobody has taken
advantage of the exemption and that this bill fixes the program to allow
communities to qualify. Explains why the program is important and what HB
2298 does to change it. Questions and answers interspersed. |
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338 |
Sen. Deckert |
Asks if he thinks there are too many
incentive programs. |
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343 |
Rep. Butler |
Responds that they are getting
closer to having enough and that this bill would provide jobs for rural
communities. |
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391 |
Sen. Starr |
Asks what’s in it for rural towns in
Washington county. |
TAPE 114, SIDE B
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006 |
Rep. Butler |
Recognizes that there are small
communities in high population communities, but points out that they are within
commuting range of large cities that have lower unemployment rates. |
CLOSES PUBLIC HEARING ON HB
2298 A
OPENS PUBLIC HEARING ON HB
3072 A
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039 |
Paul Warner |
Explains HB 3072 A which authorizes
state agencies, boards and commissions that issue occupational or
professional licenses to require licensees to attest to and maintain tax
compliance as a condition of issuance or renewal of said license. Exhibit 14. |
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054 |
Rep. Butler |
Explains the goal of the bill to
make certain that people licensed by the state of Oregon are paying their income
taxes and bring in revenue. Discusses instances where this would be
beneficial. |
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118 |
Sen. Hannon |
States that the bill has nothing to
do with what licenses are for and disagrees with using the licensure
organizations as tax collecting agencies. |
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141 |
Rep. Butler |
Responds that this bill is about
making sure that people comply with the Oregon tax code and bringing in more
revenue to the state. Discussion follows. |
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169 |
Sen. Ferrioli |
Expresses concern that the bill
would be retroactive and hurt people that have made a minor mistake in the
past. |
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177 |
Rep. Butler |
Responds that a person would only be
flagged if they had been charged with a felony of falsely and willingly not
paying taxes. Discussion follows. |
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233 |
Sen. Deckert |
Adjourns meeting at 2:19 pm. |
Tape Log Submitted by,
Tara Lantz, Committee
Assistant
Exhibit Summary: