SALEM, OR — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a stern holiday warning this week, announcing that residents who oppose her latest tax bill should not expect to find Christmas presents under the tree this year, calling the measure “a necessary sacrifice for the greater good and also for leverage.”
“Look, no one wants to cancel Christmas,” Kotek said at a press conference held beside a visibly wilted Douglas fir. “But if Oregonians insist on resisting responsible revenue solutions, then yes, Santa will be reallocating his resources. That’s just math.”
According to the governor’s office, the new tax proposal is essential to maintaining basic state services, including road maintenance, public transit, and apparently holiday joy. Officials clarified that Christmas presents fall under a newly defined infrastructure category labeled Seasonal Morale Assets.
“If the bill fails,” explained one aide, “we simply won’t have the funding to support gift distribution, stockings, wreaths, or emotional warmth.”
Kotek reassured supporters that those who back the tax bill will still enjoy a “robust and equitable Christmas experience,” complete with presents, paved driveways, and roads that may or may not still be under construction.
Opponents, however, were warned they could wake up Christmas morning to an empty tree, a crumbling street, and a personalized note reading, ‘You chose this.’
When asked whether withholding Christmas might seem punitive, Kotek rejected the premise.
“This isn’t punishment,” she said. “It’s accountability. Also, consequences.”
The governor confirmed that Santa Claus has already been briefed on the situation and is “fully aligned with state priorities.”
“Santa understands that tough decisions have to be made,” Kotek said. “He runs a complex logistics operation. Frankly, he gets it.”
Sources say a preliminary Naughty List has already been drafted, consisting primarily of taxpayers, small business owners, and anyone who asked follow-up questions during public hearings.
At press time, Kotek reiterated that Christmas could still be saved if Oregonians “come together, open their hearts, and approve the bill immediately.”
“Otherwise,” she added, “I hope everyone enjoys staring at an empty tree on an unplowed road. Happy holidays.”
