In case you missed it, last week the IRS published income tax data for 2009.

This isn’t a good week for the Oregon Business Council (OBC), their hired guns at ECONorthwest and others who fight tooth-and-nail to prevent even modest tax increases on the wealthy and, worse, seek special tax breaks for the rich.

Using Oregon as one of its case studies, a report published today by a national think tank finds that higher state taxes don’t drive wealthy residents to move, but do raise much-needed revenue to invest in states’ economic future.

The recently concluded Oregon legislative session demonstrated that there is an effective tool for reining in out-of-control tax subsidies and loopholes — the sunset provision.

Now that the gavel has come down on the 2011 Oregon legislative session, Oregonians striving to revive the American Dream must now turn their focus to Washington, D.C. Congress is mulling policies that will have a decisive impact on whether our nation will rebuild and expand the middle class — or whether insecurity and poverty will deepen and widen.

In deciding how best to address the nation’s deficit, Oregon’s congressional delegation should follow the responsible, independent trail blazed by Senator Mark Hatfield in 1995.

The Oregon House has approved a subsidy for Wall Street and wealthy investors that will take $78 million away from schools, health care and other vital services in the years ahead.

Will the Oregon legislature really make lining the pockets of Wall Street and wealthy investors a priority before adjournment sine die?