The Attorney General's office has submitted a draft ballot title. The period for commenting on the title, a requirement for legal standing to challenge the title on January 9th.

The Oregon Education Association filed a comment in favor of the title, as did Sal Peralta, one of the initiative's chief petitioners.

We anticipate that the Attorney General will now certify that petition and that it will be approved for circulation in July.

The corporate kicker was intended to help stimulate Oregon's economy by allowing businesses to re-invest profits in Oregon. Unfortunately, most of the corporate kicker leaves the state. Projections of the 2006-2007 kicker* estimated that:

• Less than 14 percent of the corporate kicker would go to local businesses.
• Fewer than 30 companies would receive 40 percent of the kicker. Most of that money leaves Oregon.
• 86 percent of corporate kicker money would go to less than 1 percent of businesses operating in Oregon.
• Multinational and multi-state corporations operating in Oregon used to pay approximately 20 percent of our state’s income tax, today they pay less than 5 percent.
• Oregon has one of the lowest corporate taxes in America, but some of the highest payroll taxes.

Corporate Kicker money could go towards...

• A full year of tuition and fees for thousands of students at an Oregon University.
• Health care for uninsured children in Oregon.
• A rainy day fund.

On December 14, 2007, the principals of KicktheKicker.com will file a ballot initiative with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office to begin the process of eliminating the corporate kicker.

Over the next 2 years, we intend to collect 125,000 signatures and hope that you will consider supporting us in the effort.

_{* The corporate kicker was suspended for 1 budget cycle, and the money went to Oregon's raimy day fund.}