Both states are split east and west by the same cultural/political divide and both states are ruled by the liberals who dominate the west side. They’ve got big deficits in WA for much the same reason we do. Spending is out of control in good times and not enough kept in reserves.

I find WA a more complicated business environment with it’s multiple state jurisdictions and it’s excise taxes on business, but it’s less openly hostile to free enterprise.

The sales tax environment in WA makes it easy for pols to incrementally increase taxes bit by bit (it’s only a tenth of a percent, what’s the big deal?) but unlike Oregon the many visitors get to pay too so the tax base is broader than just residents as it is in Oregon.

Of course, if you live/work is SW WA you have no income tax and a short river crossing for no sales tax. That’s attractive in it’s own right and long before measure 67 many high-earning Oregonians made the move.

I prefer Oregon, which is why I moved back but every time I visit WA I see roads and infrastructure being built that I don’t see in Oregon and that to me, represents a big problem in Oregon in that we simply seem unable to build adequate infrastructure for business. MAX is nice, but it’s window dressing. Anyone been on 99W lately, what a joke! There are nicer roads in our high mountains than in one of Oregon’s busiest commercial and tourism corridors.

That said, you really can’t beat either state for our overall NW quality of life.

The two examples presented of businesses that actually relocated are extremely weak. Only two were mentioned – one being NW Pipe which is under investigation for accounting practices and currently being warned of potential delisting from Nasdaq. And Farwest Steel, the other example, expressly stated that the tax measures did NOT influence their move to Vancouver. What kind of writing are you doing here?

Anyhow, the current economic climate is so volitle and uncertain that any business making a rash move due to M66 & M67 is not thinking clearly. Oregon’s budget short fall pales in comparison to Washington’s. Have you looked at the ballot for November? Tax increase are everywhere. The entire tax structure everywhere, in nearly every state, has been substantially restructured. Oregon was just one of the first. Right now, the best thing a business can do is wait it out and stay put until we are through the storm, before making long term strategic decisions. So far, it looks like MOST business are staying put, because there is just too much uncertainty or a move doesn’t make “cents” when looking at all costs. I am not for higher taxes, but it is true the impact from M66 & 67 is minimal. The anti-tax folks are just trying to stir the pot again.

Right now, it looks like we might be headed into round 2 (double-dipper), because the private sector has yet perform, so who knows what the future holds. As for Kalama, however, if a business want to move to Kalama, go ahead and let ’em. If I worked for a company that wanted to move to Kalama, I wouldn’t go. A company that cared little for its employees, its sense of place, its indentity, is not a company that I would give my time to. I am more than happy to pay higher taxes in order to take transit, drive less, not dine at chain restaurants, and live in a great old community oriented neighborhood than some Levittown in Kalama. Quality of life, culture, diversity, simplicity, beat out the old greenback anyday.

Your comment is misguided. I was merely looking at ways the tax increases could be affecting our readership, which happens to be made up in part by real estate brokers. Being frustrated by a tax in no way speaks to my, Mr. Carlson’s or anyone else’s political orientation. And frankly, using terms like poor little rich kids, right wing agenda and a team of frantic republican elephants, severely take away from your central thesis: that you are happy running a business in Oregon. Making everything political is a major problem in this city and in this country. It’s an excuse to not look at issues from both sides.

With that said, I work hard for every dollar I make, and the ones that are taken away from me I want to be reassured are being spent well. That has nothing to do with politics.

My new tech manufacturing company is very happy to be in Hillsboro. I’m very happy to live in Portland. Been all around the US and much of the world, and I know the quality of life here is better than anyplace else in the same affordability range.

Chicago? Let me tell you about the consulting work I did in March and April in Rockford, Illinois. Pay was good. But you couldn’t drag me and my family to live there with a team of frantic Republican elephants.

Poor little rich kids, taxes a fraction more on your excessive wealth turns you into crybabies. Corporations that can’t afford an additional $ 135/yr for educated workers and a clean environment are’t likely to last till the weekend anyhow.

I hope the majority of 91ÊÓƵ readers see through the smoke.