Oregon House Committee Hears Ineffective Reform Bill

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. He filed written testimony (attached) demonstrating that HB 3009 would be completely ineffective.

A Message From Ralph Nader

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

Oregon once led the nation in progressive reform. In the 1960s and 70s, Oregonians established the nation's first bottle bill, preserved the Oregon coastline by turning our beaches into state parks, and established land-use reforms that protected farm land and forests from development.

But that was before the Oregon Legislature repealed all limits on political expenditures in races for state and local offices. Then, after Oregon voters in 1994 overwhelmingly adopted strict limits on political contributions, the Oregon Supreme Court struck them down in 1997, leaving Oregon as one of only three states with a truly "Wild West" political system. Here, money rules.

Contributions to candidates for state or local office in Oregon have skyrocketed from $4.2 million in 1996 to over $49 million 10 years later. The big money boys are now in charge. For example, among all states Oregon continues to have the second lowest taxes on corporations and nearly the highest income taxes on families living near the poverty line. The corporations have cut their share of Oregon income taxes by 65% since 1975 and their share of Oregon property taxes by 24% since 1990.

Meanwhile, Oregon gives away hundreds of millions of dollars in video poker over-commissions and has allowed private electric utilities to charge ratepayers over $1.2 billion for "income taxes" that the utilities never paid.

The politicians and state bureaucrats have even gone so far as to refuse to enforce the limits on campaign contributions Oregonians voted into law in 2006 by statewide initiative. That leaves Oregon as one of only 3 states without such limits. Even the corrupt cesspool of Illinois politics is being cleaned up with limits on political contributions, effective this year. But not Oregon.

But you can help change this corrupt system
by putting a measure on the ballot to ensure that campaign contribution limits are enforced in Oregon. This can be done by (1) amending the Oregon Constitution to require enforcement of the voter-enacted limits and (2) preventing the Legislature from interfering. We need 1,000 petition signatures to get the ballot title process started.

If you agree, here are 6 easy steps for you to help:

Then mail the completed sheet (with text stapled to it) to:

FairElections Oregon
9220 SW Barbur Blvd
Suite 119-254
Portland, OR 97219

If you would like to get more involved with the campaign, or to make a contribution, please visit www.fairelections.net.


Thanks for your help.

Ralph Nader

Campaign Finance Reform Supporters File Suit to Require Enforcement of Measure 47

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.

What Should We Do Now to Achieve Campaign Finance Reform in Oregon?

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?

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