New Oregon health care tax will to go to voters in January 2018 special election

The Register Guard: SALEM — A special election will be held to determine the fate of a multimillion-dollar health care tax that was approved by the Legislature this year.

The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office said Monday there were enough valid signatures to qualify Referendum 301 for a special election to be held Jan. 23, 2018.

Election officials say that of the 84,367 signatures submitted, 70,320 were deemed valid. The required number of signatures to qualify for a ballot measure is slightly fewer than 59,000.

Three Republican lawmakers are pushing the referendum on House Bill 2391 — which imposes a new 1.5 percent tax on certain health plans.

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