Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes October 22, 2009

Please join local Portland execs and entrepreneurs, such as Tim Boyle CEO of Columbia Sportswear, Bill Kelly CEO of Learning.com, Bob DeKonig CEO of Routeware, Bob Wiggins Managing Partner of Mt. Hood Equity and others this Thursday at NedSpace Old Town to talk about some critical tax issues coming to voters in January.

Oregon's 2009 legislature passed two tax increase measures that will have a serious negative impact on startups, both directly and by affecting their sources of capital. One of the measures added a new gross receipts tax on unprofitable corporations (like startups). The other measure raises Oregon's top personal income tax to 11 percent - the highest in the country - thereby adversely affecting the angel and venture investor community's ability to fund startups. This serves as a double-whammy to the Oregon entrepreneurial community. What we need is more reasons for companies, entrepreneurs and investors to come and stay here - this is just one more reason they will stay away, or if here now, relocate.

A wide coalition of businesses and individuals have banded together as Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes.This group collected enough signatures (over double, actually) that the voters will have the chance to stop these tax increases in a special election in January. Read about this in the Business Journal article this week: http://bit.ly/3qxDQk

Bob Wiggins, Josh Friedman and Bill Pierznik will be hosting a meeting at NedSpace Old Town at 4:30 pm on Thursday October 22 to hear from a representative from the campaign, and from local entrepreneurs and executives like Bill Kelly of Learning.com, Bob DeKoning, CEO of Routeware and board member of Tech America and OEN, and others on how these tax measures would particularly harm the startup community and new proactive investments.

Beer and snacks will be provided. Hope you can make it.