Wealthy Oregonians are dying.

And their demise benefits state government.

The recent increase in estate taxes is one reason why the state’s revenue projections continue to rise, according to the latest quarterly economic and revenue forecasts. State economists released the forecasts Wednesday to the few members of the Oregon House and Senate tax committees who showed up for the meeting.

Rep. Knute Buehler, who is running for governor, was not there. The Bend Republican was not alone. Whereas Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, made it from far Eastern Oregon and Democratic Rep. Pam Marsh came from Ashland, several Portland Democrats and other Willamette Valley lawmakers were not in attendance. There were last-minute scrambles to rearrange legislators’ nameplates on the dais.

The surge in taxes from a few very large estates might be an anomaly. State Economist Mark McMullen and senior economist Josh Lehner said the state has no way of knowing individuals’ wealth, let alone being able to estimate when very wealthy Oregonians will die and leave behind significant estates subject to taxes. Income is tracked but wealth is not.

My takeaways from the forecasts were:

• The Oregon economy is doing well, but it’s tied to whatever happens nationally.

• A recession is unlikely within the next two years, but economists are concerned about what happens starting in 2020.

• The state is collecting more tax revenue during 2017-19 than previously expected, but much of that increase will be returned to personal income taxpayers in 2020 through the “kicker” refund on their 2019 taxes.

• Oregon will have an estimated $1.2 billion in budget reserves and rainy day funds.

• Headwinds ahead: State officials are preparing Gov. Kate Brown‘s proposed budget for 2019-21. Oregon’s economic outlook remains more positive than negative; but there is uncertainty.

“So this is scary for us, particularly as we’re heading into this part of the cycle where our forecasts really matter for budget preparation,” McMullen said.

• Always wrong: Oregon is blessed to have state economists who largely avoid wonk-speak and who aren’t wrapped in egomania.

In a light-hearted comment, House Revenue Chair Phil Barnhart, D-Eugene, asked, “I think you just said that you’re almost always wrong. Did I get that right?”

McMullen responded: “Not ‘almost,’ Chair Barnhart, always wrong. Just a matter of degree.”

That’s true. Economic forecasts never are perfect.

• Legislative wit: The summer meetings of the Joint Interim Committee on Carbon Reduction produced memorable lines. Here are some, both humorous and serious, and presented without context.

House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland: “I see a new T-shirt … ‘Sequester or bust.'”

Dave Robertson, Portland General Electric: “It’s a little like speed dating for electrons.”

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem: “It’s also election time. We’re not in a good mood during election time.”

Courtney: “Do you know where Oregon even is?”

Bob Jenks, executive director, Citizens Utility Board: “I will try to not pause.”

Kevin Poloncarz, Covington & Burling LLP: “We have spent so many years working out those details. I have done so much brain damage trying to work out those details over the past decade in California about how to regulate imported power.”

Sen. Alan Olsen, R-Canby: “Are we wanting to reduce carbon or are we wanting to collect money for carbon?”

Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Portland: “However we move forward, we have to do everything we can to create regulatory simplicity in this process.”

Courtney: “We WILL create a public policy on greenhouse gas emissions for the state of Oregon.”

Kotek: “If we all still believe in perfection, we should not be legislators. It doesn’t happen in this building.”

• Be careful out there: Courtney ended this week’s committee meeting with a warning about the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

“I don’t like three-day weekends,” he said. “They’re dangerous – holiday weekends. Pay attention to me. Be safe.

• Senate Republicans: Paul Rainey has left the Oregon Senate Republicans, where he was caucus administrator (chief of staff) for a job at Gallatin Public Affairs. He’ll still be around the Oregon Capitol but in a new role.

Senate Republicans have posted the opening, with applications being accepted until Sept. 17. The job description includes: “The Chief of Staff works in a partisan, political environment. Lengthy hours, including possible evening and/or weekend work, may be required, especially during legislative sessions.”

• Big bucks: The $500,000 contribution from Emily’s List is the largest donation to Brown’s re-election campaign. Emily’s List has a page about Brown that describes her as “a champion for middle-class Oregonians, a fighter for women and families [and] a progressive leader with experience.”

Buehler backers would agree she is a progressive — the new term for “liberal” — and has been in government a long time, but they would dispute the first two statements.

The gubernatorial race is turning nasty with its campaign and interest-group claims. Don’t believe everything you see in commercials — from or about either candidate.

Dick Hughes, who writes the weekly Capital Chatter column, has been covering the Oregon political scene since 1976. Contact him at TheHughesisms@Gmail.com, Facebook.com/Hughesisms, YouTube.com/DickHughes or Twitter.com/DickHughes.