Oregon Center for Public Policy

The Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP) is an American economic research organization that conducts research on budget, tax, and economics issues. The organization says its goal is "to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians." The group has lobbied the government of Oregon since about 1990.

The Oregon Center for Public Policy has weighed in on how certain policies (such as welfare assistance programs, taxes, minimum wages, and unemployment benefits) would affect Oregonians.

The organization's policy analysts have advocated increases to the state minimum wage, as well as yearly wage increases that are based on the cost of living (which is measured by the Consumer Price Index). The OCPP typically weighs in each year on indexing increases to the state's minimum wage. When an early estimate for the 2011 indexed minimum wage increase (approximately 10-cents) was announced by state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian in September 2010, the OCPP advocated the increase as a needed boost for the state's poor. The group also pointed out that the wage hike would act as a counterbalance to the coming state tax increase for gas and diesel.

The OCPP has also contributed to debate about Oregon's state budget and suggested tax increases as a way to help plug budget deficits. In January 2010, state voters in Oregon approved two ballot proposals, Measure 66 and Measure 67, that raised taxes on businesses (that make at least $250,000 per year) and households (that make at least $125,000 per year). The OCPP had pushed for these tax increases and said the campaign in Oregon was "a template" for other states that were also considering a number of tax increases.

The group has urged the Oregon state legislature to improve the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to help provide tax relief to the state's low-income workers, families, and children.

External links

• OCPP Website
• Ballotpedia - Oregon Tax Hike Vote, Ballot Measures 66 and 67 (2010)