This Associated Press article on potential gains for the Democrats in the Oregon legislature.  The article's central argument is this:  If the Democrats gain a few seats in the Oregon House, they will have a big enough majority to raise taxes.

(I am not quoting anything from the article because the Associated Press is getting tough on bloggers.  They really don't want us to post excerpts from their articles, considering how much they charge for that privilege.  I'll be linking to the AP a lot less in the future if they continue this policy.   I am not a lawyer, so I won't try to guess whether their policy violates "fair use" principles.)

Some observations:

• Oregon Democrats will raise taxes if they can.  (And in that they are like Democrats in most of the country.)
• The anonymous reporter who wrote this story thinks that raising taxes is a good idea.  (I infer that from the tone, and the fact that he or she does not give any reasons against raising taxes.   Nor, interestingly enough, any reasons for raising taxes.  It is as if the reporter thinks that raising taxes is good in itself.)
• The surge in support for Obama in some areas may result in higher state and local taxes.   (The reporter attributes gains in Democratic registration to enthusiasm for Obama.)
• Unlike the reporter, Democratic candidates are not being open about their desires to raise taxes.  But they are keeping the option open.

Oregon and Washington are similar states in many ways.  Both are — compared to the rest of the country — socially liberal and prone to tax revolts.  It is no accident that in this state Governor Gregoire, who raised taxes, is talking so much about social issues — and so little about what those extra taxes bought — if anything.

Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.