By Brad Cain
Associated Press Writer
 
July 2, 2009
 
SALEM, Ore. -- Republicans are accusing Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski of using a delaying tactic to try to keep Oregon voters from having their say on income tax hikes just passed by the Legislature.
 
Anti-tax activists, business groups and other opponents are ready to mount a referral campaign to force a statewide vote on the $733 million tax package.
 
Oregon GOP Chairman Bob Tiernan says Kulongoski is not immediately signing the bills because that will shorten the amount of time opponents will have to gather signatures needed to put the tax hikes to a vote in January.
 
By law, the governor has until Aug. 7 to act on bills passed by the Legislature. A spokeswoman for Kulongoski says the tax measures are among 300 bills that still need legal review before the governor can act on them.