Oregon Center for Public Policy

Charles Sherketoff founded OCPP in 1995 as its executive director, and in 1997 the Stern Family Foundation named him a public-interest pioneer and awarded him a $100,000 grant to support the center.{{Cite news|last=Green|first=Kristen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45138761/lawyer_to_lead_center_to_aid_poor/|title=Lawyer to lead center to aid poor|date=1997-10-06|work=Statesman Journal|access-date=2020-02-19|pages=3}} The Statesman Journal reported its goals to break government stereotypes about work habits of the poor, and expand the discussions of tax spending in Oregon. Jerry Bieberle was the first president of the OCPP board.

In 2017, OCCP's board named Jefferson Smith its new executive director, but acrimony during the hiring process led to resignations of former governor Ted Kulongoski from the board.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2017/08/18/former-gov-ted-kulongoski-thane-tiensen-quit-oregon-center-for-public-policy-board/|title=Former Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Thane Tienson Quit Oregon Center for Public Policy Board|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-19}} However, Smith resigned shortly after his appointment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2017/11/11/less-than-two-weeks-after-his-hire-jefferson-smith-resigns-from-oregon-center-for-public-policy/|title=Less Than Two Weeks After His Hire, Jefferson Smith Resigns From Oregon Center for Public Policy|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-19}} In August 2018, Alejandro Queral became executive director.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2018/08/07/oregon-center-for-public-policy-has-again-named-a-new-executive-director/|title=Oregon Center for Public Policy Has Again Named a New Executive Director|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-19}}

The Oregon Center for Public Policy has weighed in on how certain policies (such as welfare assistance programs, taxes,{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2009/11/post_3.html|title=Liberal Oregon activist says tax hikes are good|last=Oregonian/OregonLive|first=Jeff Mapes {{!}} The|date=2009-11-30|website=oregonlive|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}}{{cite news | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1219200915204700.xml&coll=7 | title=November tax initiative seen slicing $1 billion or more from Oregon budget | work=Oregonian | date=August 20, 2008 | first=Dave | last=Hogan}}{{cite news | url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2009/10/economists_weigh_into_oregon_t.html

| title=Economists weigh into Oregon tax fight | work=Oregonian | date=October 7, 2009}} minimum wages,{{cite news | url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/september162009/minimum_wage_freeze_9-16-09.php | title=Oregon's Minimum Wage Won't Rise in 2010 | work=Salem News | date=September 16, 2009}} and unemployment benefits{{cite news | url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100815/NEWS/8150356/Analysts-debate-merits-of-jobless-benefits | title=Analysts debate merits of jobless benefits | work=Statesman Journal | date=August 15, 2010}}{{cite news | url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/june152010/recovery-extensions.php | title=Oregon Jobs Data Show Why Recovery Act Extensions Are Needed | work=Salem News | date=June 15, 2010}}) would affect Oregonians. In 2007, The New York Times said OCPP "advocates for lower-income people".{{Cite news|last=Yardley|first=William|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/01/us/01stamps.html|title=A Governor Truly Tightens His Belt|date=2007-05-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-19|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

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).{{cite news | url=http://www.bendweekly.com/Statewide-News/11760.html | work=Bend Weekly | title=Rise in Oregon's minimum wage set to take effect | date=December 28, 2007}} 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){{cite news | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012948503_aporminimumwageoregon.html | work=Oregonian | title=Oregon's minimum wage to increase 10 cents in 2011 | date=September 20, 2010}} 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.{{cite news | url=http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/25316765-55/tax-gas-oregon-cents-hike.csp | work=Register Guard | title=Gasoline tax: The state will add 6 cents more per gallon | date=September 21, 2010}}

The OCPP has also contributed to debate about Oregon's state budget and suggested tax increases as a way to help plug budget deficits.{{cite news | url=http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=15209 | work=Stateline.org | title=Oregon Budget Woes Grow As Options Dwindle | date=April 4, 2003}} 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.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/us/28oregon.html?_r=1 | work=New York Times | title=Voters in Oregon Approve Tax Increases | date=January 27, 2010 | first=William | last=Yardley}}

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.{{cite news | url=http://salem-news.com/articles/october212010/oregon-priorities-cs.php | work=Salem News | title=It's a matter of priorities | first=Chuck | last=Sheketoff | date=October 22, 2010}}{{cite news | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/01/the_next_steps_on_the_path_to.html | work=Oregonian | title=The next steps on the path to Oregon's recovery | first=Chuck | last=Sheketoff | date=January 31, 2010}}{{Cite news|last=Yardley|first=William|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/us/28oregon.html|title=Voters in Oregon Approve Tax Increases|date=2010-01-27|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-19|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|last=Johnston|first=David Cay|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/13/us/3-more-states-stopped-taxing-poorest-families-in-97-study-says.html|title=3 More States Stopped Taxing Poorest Families in '97, Study Says|date=1998-04-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-19|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} It affiliates with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The Oregon Center for Public Policy has been described as "a liberal think tank" by the Oregonian. However, the Oregon Center for Public Policy describes itself as "a nonpartisan think tank."{{cite web|url=https://www.ocpp.org/2024/02/08/oppose-poorly-targeted-tax-breaks-for-military-pension/|title=Oppose poorly targeted tax breaks for military pension|accessdate=February 20, 2024}}

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{{Portal|Oregon}}

• {{Official website|http://ocpp.org}}
• [http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Oregon_Tax_Hike_Vote,_Ballot_Measures_66_and_67_%282010%29 Ballotpedia - Oregon Tax Hike Vote, Ballot Measures 66 and 67 (2010)]

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Category:Non-profit organizations based in Oregon

Category:Political and economic think tanks in the United States