BY SARAH ROSS

PORTLAND- The Oregon Business Association made their decisions Tuesday to endorse gubernatorial candidates Chris Dudley and John Kitzhaber in their respective primary races.

The chair of the OBA’s political action committee, Scott Bolton, spoke on each of the candidates’ qualities for the position of governor.

“Governor Kitzhaber earned the OBA endorsement by honestly addressing the difficult issues we are facing as a state and by committing to address the challenges ahead in partnership with Oregon’s businesses,” remarked Bolton on the Democratic candidate, former Governor John Kitzhaber.

Referring to GOP candidate Chris Dudley, Bolton said, “Chris came to OBA with a clear understanding of the challenges facing Oregon and specifics about his plans to address those issues. He has fresh ideas and a sincere willingness to listen to the business community.”

The Oregonian reports that it is unclear if the OBA will endorse a candidate in the general election.

BY SARAH ROSS

PORTLAND- With the passage of tax Measures 66 and 67 on Tuesday, a concern for business migration and job loss has begun brewing.

One study headed by Oregon Politico’s parent organization, Cascade Policy Institute, found that with the passage of both measures, 8,000 additional taxpayers per year are expected to migrate out-of-state due to increases in the state’s marginal tax rates.

Steve Buckstein, Senior Policy Analyst at Cascade, says, “It will clearly influence business migration. Many of them have already left Oregon for more tax-friendly states like the state of Washington, and this will only make it worse.”

Ryan Deckert, President of the Oregon Business Association, presents Washington’s proximity as a particular challenge for Oregon. With Oregon now having the highest capital gains tax in the nation, and Washington having no capital gains tax, businesses may be drawn more to Oregon’s neighbor to the north.

“I think in Washington, especially the border towns like Vancouver, we’re going to see positive repercussions from it,” says Kris Greene, Director of Government Affairs for the East Vancouver Business Association. “I think people will do business over here. I think companies will relocate here a little more easily or will be motivated to move here because of taxation. ”

Yet, not all say the tax increases will bring devastation to the state’s job market.

“What I’m hopeful of is that our policymakers…are as concerned about job loss and migration as we are. And I think they are,” stated Deckert. “The legislature meets Monday, [and] there are things that we can do to start getting back on a path that will draw jobs to our state and not push them out.”

Governor Ted Kulongoski said that even with the passage of the tax increases, Oregon and the entire country is in a slow growth recovery. “We must continue working together if we want to position Oregon for economic success in the long term.”

A representative from Yes for Oregon was unavailable for question but that input will be in updated version of the article.