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The Oregon Supreme Court today issued its opinion in State of Oregon v. Thomas Paul Moyer, in which a person accused of making political contributions in a false name challenged the the constitutionality of Oregon's statute that prohibits any political contribution from being made "in any name other than that of the person who in truth provides the contribution to." ORS 260.402. This law was enacted by voter initiative over 100 years ago and has never before been challenged. Local businessman Tom Moyer was accused by the Multnomah County District Attorney of contributing to a campaign for Mayor of Portland in the names of his relatives and employees.

The opinion is at: http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/supreme.htm#apr10

The brief of Amicus Curiae and other briefs are here: http://fairelections.net/court/moyer

Only a few ballot initiatives look to qualify for Oregon ballot this November
Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian
April 03, 2010

For once, it doesn't look as if Oregon's tax structure will be decided by a ballot measure.

Despite Oregon's long history of turning to direct Democracy to settle political fights, the state's ballot looks to be the most uncrowded in years. With the exception of a measure to expand medical marijuana, the handful of petitions being circulated are mostly minor measures unlikely to set off expensive, multimillion-dollar campaigns.

Oregon's expensive legislative campaigns
By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian
April 06, 2010

The National Institute on Money in State Politics has a new report confirming what I've heard several times before: Oregon has among the most expensive legislative races in the country.

The non-partisan group issued a new report on the 2008 elections around the country, where fundraising for the first time topped $1 billion for legislative races. Oregon legislative candidates raised an average of nearly $250,000 - almost three times the national average of about $87,000.

Even that figure is deceptively low. Oregon didn't have any real competitive Senate races in 2008, so races in that chamber were unusually inexpensive that year.

If you just look at the House races, candidates in Oregon overall raised more than their counterparts in all but six much larger states: California, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Virginia.

When you figure the cost of a House campaign per resident, Oregon is second in the nation. Here's my back-of-the-envelope calculations based on the report:

1. New Jersey.....$4.41 per resident
2. Oregon...........$4.16 per resident
3. Virginia...........$4.00 per resident
4. Illinois.............$3.06 per resident
5. Nevada...........$2.97 per resident
6. Ohio...............$2.88 per resident

It's no mystery why Oregon legislative campaigns are so much more expensive than most states. Oregon is one of just six states with no limits on contributions - and no limits on direct corporate and union giving to campaigns.

© 2010 OregonLive.com. All rights reserved.

You can put an Oregon constitutional amendment on the 2010 ballot to ensure that the political contribution limits we Oregon voters passed in 2006 will get enforced. [Learn More]

The Committee on Rules of the Oregon House of Representatives on April 17, 2009, conducted a short hearing on HB 3009, a bill to establish some limits on political campaign contributions in Oregon candidate races.

Dan Meek, representing FairElections Oregon, testified against the bill, noting that it would repeal the much stronger limits adopted by Oregon voters in Measure 47 (2006). He also filed charts (attached) illustrating the differences among the the “current system,” the Measure 47 system, and the proposed HB 3009 system.

GET BIG MONEY OUT OF OREGON POLITICS

By downloading and signing this Petition, you can help put a Constitutional Amendment to reform political campaign finance in Oregon on the 2010 ballot.

Already a supporter? Scroll down to help.
To help get signatures in Portland this weekend (April 18), contact

Philip Kauffman at 503-250-0327 or pmkauffman@gmail.com or check at www.fairelections.net/now

The full press release is attached

Attached below is the full text of the complaint filed yesterday in Marion County Circuit Court. Also attached is the letter from the Secretary of State’s office stating an intent not to enforce Measure 47. Also attached is the full text of Measure 47 from the 2006 Oregon General Election Voters’ Pamphlet.

Below are comments contributed by the plaintiffs in the case.

Contribute your thoughts here on where we go from here. In addition to the lawsuit for enforcement of Measure 47, should we ask the Legislature to refer to voters a CFR constitutional amendment? Should we be surprised if the Legislature repeals all of Measure 47, despite its enactment by voters?