Download the Undermining Democracy Report
This is a 36 page report and is merely summarized below
Executive Summary
Across the nation, at the state and federal level, a vast array of individuals
and communities are demanding the dissolution of big money's stranglehold
on politics. Undermining Democracy strengthens Oregon's voice in this
demand by exposing the destructive impact of big private contributions on
public policy decisions that affect the lives of Oregonians.
The fight for democracy has a long history - women, people of color and poor
people have organized to claim our right to participate and be represented
in all levels of government. With all this hard won progress toward inclusion,
why aren't more people voting? Why this lack of participation? People are
smart enough to understand that their votes count less and less as campaign
contributors wield more and more influence. Money in politics is a barrier
to the participation of Oregonians in the democratic system. The influence
of money in politics is an even more oppressive barrier to disenfranchised
groups including women, people of color, and the poor. The political system
is losing meaning for many Oregonians as indicated by record low voter turnout.
But the system has never worked well for women, people of color, and the poor.
The ability to participate in politics, to run for office, and to influence
legislation is too restricted to the monied few.
All people have the right to power in our political system but money in Oregon
politics undermines this right. Currently, wealthy individuals, political
committees (more popularly known as political action committees or PACs),
and major business interests have unfair influence on who wins elections and
on public policy decisions by lawmakers. Democracy means that all people have
equal access to our political system through voting, running for office and
representation of community interests. Undermining Democracy illustrates
how money in Oregon politics is a barrier to achieving meaningful democratic
participation through examining the impact of legislative fundraising on people,
policy and participation.
Undermining Democracy substantiates what most of us already intuitively
know - that our current campaign finance system keeps power in the hands of
a very few people and works for their interests. Our current system works
against a democracy that encourages participation and fair representation.
In order to investigate these assumptions this report examines the following
questions:
- Who gave money to Oregon's legislative campaigns in 1998?
- What are the affiliation and interests of these donors?
- How did the 1999 legislative session address these interests?
- Who is most adversely affected by the 1999 legislative sessions?
- How are barriers to participation reflected in the contribution patterns
and legislative mandates of 1998-1999?
The answers to the above questions do, in fact, substantiate our intuition
that our current campaign finance system does not promote participation and
representation.
The Web of Power
If you want to understand what happens in a legislative session and how, it
is necessary to find out who is behind Oregon policy and how they are connected.
In fact, the big contributors, the lobbyists and the Political Action Committees
who advocated for the policy decisions examined in Undermining Democracy are
all part of a web. Their connections to one another serve to increase their
power.
The complex relationships between these individuals and groups does not mean
there is a big conspiracy in Oregon to undermine the democratic process. It's
doubtful that these individuals and groups have clandestine meetings or a
secret agenda. Rather, they all share a vested interest in increasing profits
for business and industry.
The connections in this web are not based on working together on a specific
legislative proposals. Each strand of the web is a connection based on shared
leadership by an individual and/or financial contributions. With shared business
interests and a lot of money, this web of access and power is a barrier to
participation by grassroots people. See the appendix for more detail.
Spiders on the WEB
John DiLorenzo
- Lobbyist for Associated Builders and Contractors, PGE/ENRON, Shilo Inns,
Columbia Helicopters, Inc., Harsch Investment Corp.
- Treasurer of Impact Oregon
Harsch Investment Corp. 
- Harold Schnitzer, President
- Contributor to Leadership Fund
PGE/ENRON
- Contributor to Leadership Fund
Gordon Smith
- U.S. Senator from Oregon
- Founder of Impact Oregon
Mark Hemstreet
Owner of Shilo Inns
Primary contributor to Primary PAC
Wes Lematta
- Owner of Columbia Helicopters, Inc.
- Primary contributor to Primary PAC
- Contributor to Oregon Victory PAC
Larry Campbell
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives
Founder of Oregon Victory PAC
Director of the lobbying firm, Oregon Victory Group
Victory Group
Lobbyist for US West, Oregon Lodging Association, Associated Oregon Loggers
William P. McCormick
- Restaurant Owner
- Contributor to Oregon Victory PAC
- Contributor and spokesperson for the Oregon Restaurant Association
Oregon Restaurant Association
Contributor to Leadership Fund
Contributor to Impact Oregon
Paulette
Pyle
- Founder of Ag PAC
- Grassroots Director for Oregonians for Food and Shelter
Oregon Farm Bureau
Contributor to Ag PAC
Contributor to Leadership Fund
Seneca Jones Timber Co.
Contributor to Oregon Victory PAC
Contributor to Primary PAC
Steven D. Swanson
Contributor to Impact Oregon
Manager, Swanson - Superior Lumber Co.
Swanson - Superior Lumber Co.
Contributor to Oregon Forest Industries PAC
Contributor to Oregon Victory PAC
Oregon Forest Industries Council PAC
Contributor to Leadership Fund
