I've heard of various ways of limiting tax increases, ranging from Prop 13 to Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights. But Portland, Oregon has one I haven't heard of before--one that Steve Buckstein thinks is worth keeping.

Under the "double majority" rule, it's not enough that a majority of people voting approve certain tax increases. A majority of voters must show up to vote.

Does that sound draconian? A threat to the preferences of the majority? Not exactly. First, Buckstein says, we put limits on the majority all the time in our political system. Second, the "double majority" rule does not apply in November elections held in even-numbered years.

Voters will decide this coming November on whether or not to scrap the double majority rule. Buckstein says "If anything, the double majority rule isn’t flawed because it places the bar too high, but because it places the bar too low."

UPDATE: Corrected. See comments.