Ballot Measure Endorsements
Oregon Action's endosement committee reviewed all the ballot measures on the statewide ballot this year.  The following positions were supportied by the Electoral Committee and the Board of Directors.

No on 39: Limits Economic Development & Affordable Housing

Oregon Action opposes this measure.  Proponents are taking advantage of a Supreme Court decision in a CT case to make the case for restricting Oregon governments ability to use eminent domain to foster development and affordable housing. A City Club investigation found no Oregon examples similar to the CT case. Eminent domain objections can be waged in public hearings and through litigation -- there is no need for this measure.

No on 40: Limits Who You Can Vote For for Judge

We've defeated this one before, but it's back. This measure will force Oregonians to vote for judges by district. We believe that Supreme Court justices are interpreting laws for the entire state, not for specific districts, and should be statewide positions. This politicizes judicial elections and empowers special interests to target judges who rule against them on the law.  For more info, see the No on 40 Committee

No on 41: Cutting Taxes Cuts Schools and Services

When our state government already cannot meet its obligations, it is completely irresponsible to cut taxes even more. The reason Oregon taxpayers are paying so much is because corporations are paying so little. This does nothing to address that. Under this measure, we may face a retroactive cut of $151 million from the current budget cycle. In budget year 2007-2009, the cuts would be much deeper: almost $800 million in education, public safety and health care. No on 41 web site.

No Position on 42: Credit Reports & Insurance

Oregon Action took no position on this measure. On its face, Measure 42 will help people of color and people who are low-income. It's a simple measure and addresses a gross inequity. Low-income people are victimized by higher prices for many services, but insurance is one of the worst examples since insurance is supposed to be based on experience. However, in the long run, we fear than any win on a ballot line will empower more of Bill Sizemore's reactionary agenda and do more damage to people in Oregon than what this one salutory measure could justify.

No on 43: Parental Notification

As much as we wish it otherwise, many children do not have safe and trusting relationships with their parents. Despite proponents suggestion that the measure has protections for victims of famiial abuse, experience in other states demonstrate that this process is often arbitrary and young women are usually not informed that they have this option.  Should the government really involve itself this way, we don't think so.  No on 43.

Yes on 44

A year ago, the hope of expanding the state's prescription drug purchasing pool was frustrated by Speaker Karen Minnis' highhanded decision to not allow it to come to a vote. It passed the Senate easily and had the votes to pass in the House. The only reason this is not already available to Oregonians is Speaker Minnis' decision to serve pharmaceutical companies instead of the people of her state. Now we can redress this wrong by voting yes on November 7th. Here's the Yes on 44 web site.

No on 45 - Term Limits Empower Lobbyists

We don't need term limits to get rid of bad legislators -- we already have the tool to do that. It's called an election. This measure prevents us from benefitting from the experience and wisdom of good legislators and ensures a running stream of novices who are easy pickings for corporate lobbyists. Institutional memory is valuable in every workplace and yet the 45 supporters want to strip our governmetn of experience and institutional memory -- there is no good reason to vote this unless you are a corporate lobbyist. No on 45 website.

No on 46

Real campaign finance reform should come from all of us working together to reduce the influence of big money in Oregon politics. Measures 46 and 47 are the wrong solution. Unfortunately, they will hurt the voice of non-profits and membership organizations like Oregon Action, and make the problem of wealthy individuals who seek to influence our politics even worse. Measures 46 and 47 will limit Oregon Action's members  free speech right.  See Our Oregon site here.

No on 47

Non-profit advocacy organizations like Oregon Actionhave a lot at stake in legislative elections. We have to be able to effectively support candidates that are committed to economic, social and racial justice and we must be able to hold legislators publicly accountable for their actions. Measures 46 and 47 would dramatically limit our ability to support candidates that share our values. And, even more importantly, it would limit our ability to inform voters about what elected officials do once they are elected. See Our Oregon site here.

No on 48

Colorado already went through the TABOR experiment and voted it out last year after witnessing the incredible damage it does.  Government does not buy the goods that are measured in the consumer price index -- food, clothing, etc. Government pays for health care and prisons -- both of which have costs that outstript the CPI by multiples of 5 and 6. This is a notoriously deceptive and misleading legislation promoted by people who want to persuade you that all problems have easy answers. Only demogogues believe that. No on 48 - Defend Oregon website.

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Updated February 25, 2007