Oregon is extremely lucky to have Intel's largest base of operation in Hillsboro (a suburb of Portland). Intel's high-paying jobs have truly enriched the community. That having been said, there is some troubling news out of the Beaver state these days as its counties and cities are forced to effectively bribe companies like Intel to stay. The Oregonian's Mike Rogoway has the story:

Washington County and the city of Hillsboro gave the state's largest private employer what it wanted in a 15-year package of tax breaks unveiled Thursday.

Intel would save almost $580 million in property taxes under terms of the tentative deal, as long as the computer chip maker continues to spend billions upgrading its Oregon factories.

The company employs about 15,500 at its seven Oregon campuses, more than at any other cluster of Intel facilities. The deal aims to keep the state in that leading position. It would extend until 2025 an agreement that exempts nearly all of Intel's high-tech equipment from property taxes that most businesses pay.

I certainly don't advocate Hillsboro letting Intel leave. This would only hurt the city, the county and the state. Nevertheless, the perceived requirement for localities to allow companies to pay little or no taxes is extremely troubling. The downward spiral hurts all areas of the country.

To be frank, I'm not sure what the answer is. Whatever is done must be national, otherwise there will be losers throughout the country. There is a problem, though, and if nothing is done to abate it, more of America's tax burden will fall on working and middle class families.