Following the example set by the most illustrious RoyalScribe, here is my list of Oregon statewide ballot measures. (The ballot will also offer significant city and county measures, but I will not have time to compile an article about them. Memo to self: Next time, start earlier.)
OREGONIANS: DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18. Registration cards postmarked by this date or submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. are valid. If you are already registered, you can also check and update your information there. Ballots will be mailed to voters between Oct.19 and Oct. 25.
Sources: I've lifted measure descriptions from the Oregon Voters' Pamphlet, and compiled other information from Ballotpedia, the League of Women Voters, and various newspaper websites. Funding information comes from the Oregon Elections System for Tracking and Reporting (ORESTAR).
Newspapers mentioned include the Oregonian (Portland; for the love of Mike, do NOT read the comments), Willamette Week (Portland), Register-Guard (Eugene), Statesman-Journal (Salem), The Bulletin (Bend); Mail-Tribune (Medford); Daily Astorian (Astoria); and Democrat-Herald (Albany). Most papers are conservative-to-really-conservative editorially. Willamette Week and the Register-Guard are considered relatively more “liberal.”
The Democratic Party of Oregon advocates a Yes vote on all seven of the statewide measures, but is not listed as providing funding for any.
The Defend Oregon coalition also supports all seven of the ballot measures. Defend Oregon's aggregate funding for all the measures combined is about $3.2 million. ORESTAR doesn't break these donations out for the individual measures. The top donors in the coalition are the American Federation of Teachers Oregon Issues PAC; National Education Association; Nurses United PAC; and Oregon AFSCME Council 75 (public employees). Other coalition members include Causa (immigrant rights); Main Street Alliance of Oregon (small business advocacy); NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon; Oregon Nurses Association; Oregon League of Conservation Voters; UFCW Local 555 (grocery workers); Asian Pacific Network of Oregon; IATSE Local 28 (theatrical stage hands); SEIU Local 503 (service employees); and Basic Rights Oregon (LGBTQ).
Outside of these organizations, support or opposition for a given measure doesn't seem to be breaking cleanly on party or ideological lines.
Measure 97: Corporate Taxes
Comment: I'm taking this one out of order because it's the big honker on the ballot this year. As you might expect, this tax proposal is drawing a fair bit of out-of-state cash. With a population of about four million, Oregon isn't the biggest state on the political map, and you wouldn't think our tax structure was such a big deal. That notwithstanding, the Wall Street Journal graciously condescended to deliver a slapdown. Disclosure: I intend to vote Yes.
Measure 97: Increases corporate minimum tax when sales exceed $25 million; funds education, healthcare, senior services
Summary: Current law requires each corporation or affiliated group of corporations filing a federal tax return to pay annual minimum tax; amount of tax is determined by tax bracket corresponding to amount of corporation’s Oregon sales; corporations with sales of $100 million or more pay $100,000. Measure increases annual minimum tax on corporations with Oregon sales of more than $25 million; imposes minimum tax of $30,001 plus 2.5% of amount of sales above $25 million; eliminates tax cap; benefit companies (business entities that create public benefit) taxed under current law. Applies to tax years beginning on/after January 1, 2017. Revenue from tax increase goes to: public education (early childhood through grade 12); healthcare; services for senior citizens.
Sponsors: Yes on 97 Campaign (A Better Oregon coalition)
Endorsed in support: Democratic Party of Oregon; Defend Oregon; League of Women Voters; Main Street Alliance of Oregon; City Club; Oregon Parent-Teacher Association; Gov. Kate Brown (D), Barbara Roberts (D, governor 1991-1995); Ted Kulongoski (D, governor 2003-2011); the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators; Our Revolution; and a long list of social and economic justice organizations.
Funding in support: The Yes on 97 coalition has raised about $7.5 million. Top donors are Oregon Education Association, National Education Association, AFSCME Council 75, SEIU Local 503, and American Federation of Teachers.
Official opponents: No on 97 Campaign
Endorsed in opposition: Bud Pierce (R, governor candidate); Jeff Gudman (R, Treasurer candidate); Chris Telfer (I, Treasurer candidate); Clackamas County Board of Commissioners; Washington County Board of Commissioners; Dennis Richardson (R, state Rep. 2002-2015 and current Secretary of State candidate); Cascade Policy Institute; Oregon Business Association; Associated Oregon Industries; Oregon Homebuilders Association; Oregon Retail Council; Oregon Farm Bureau Federation; Taxpayer Association of Portland; Northwest Grocery Association; Freedom Foundation; a long list of regional businesses, including Chown Hardware, Full Sail Brewing, Powell's Books, and Umpqua Dairy; Chambers of Commerce statewide; some farming groups. The majority of editorial opinion statewide is against the measure, including the “liberal” Willamette Week.
Funding in opposition: The No on 97 coalition has raised about $18 million. Top donors are Albertsons Safeway, Costco, Kroger/Fred Meyer, Lithia Motors, Cambia Health Solutions (insurance company), Comcast, Standard Insurance, Oregon Association of Realtors, Chevron, Weyerhaeuser (forest products), and Sysco (food service logistics).
The other ballot measures follow in numerical order.
Measure 94: Judge retirement age
Measure 94: Amends Constitution: Eliminates mandatory retirement age for state judges
Summary: Article VII (Amended), section 1a, of the Oregon Constitution, requires state judges to “retire from judicial office at the end of the calendar year” in which they turn 75 years old. Section 1a(1) authorizes laws that establish a lesser age—not younger than 70 years—for mandatory retirement. Measure amends constitution to remove provision requiring mandatory retirement at age 75, as well as provision authorizing statutes requiring mandatory retirement at age 70 or older. Measure retains constitutional provision that authorizes statutes permitting retired judges to be recalled to temporary active service. Measure retains constitutional provision that authorizes laws permitting or requiring judges to retire due to a physical or mental disability or any other cause that renders them incapable of performing their judicial duties.
Sponsors: Referred by legislature. Promoted by Gov. Kate Brown (D) and state Rep. David Gomberg (D).
Endorsed in support: Democratic Party of Oregon; Defend Oregon; Oregon Progressive Party, City Club of Portland; Daily Astorian, Democrat-Herald, Mail-Tribune, Oregonian, Willamette Week, Register-Guard, Bend Bulletin
Funding in support: Defend Oregon.
Official opponents: none
Endorsed in opposition: Ken Fairfax (member, City Club evaluation committee)
Funding in opposition: none listed
Measure 95: Equities investments by public universities
Measure 95: Amends Constitution: Allows investments in equities by public universities to reduce financial risk and increase investments to benefit students.
Summary: This measure allows investments in equities by public universities to reduce financial risk and increase investments to benefit students. Additional investment income could benefit students by minimizing tuition increases and enhancing student programs.
Note: The Oregon constitution currently prohibits the state or any of its agencies from owning financial stocks, including equities. Measure 95 would make an exception in Section 6 of Article XI for public universities.
Sponsors: Referral from legislature. Promoted by Sen. Mark Hass (D), Rep. Mark Johnson (R), Randall Edwards (D, state treasurer 2001-2009)
Endorsed in Support: Democratic Party of Oregon; Universities; City Club; bipartisan support from various legislators and public officials; Michael Schill (president, University of Oregon), Edward Ray (president, Oregon State University), Tom Insko (president, Eastern Oregon University), Democrat-Herald, Mail-Tribune, Bend Bulletin, The Oregonian, Willamette Week, Register-Guard
Funding in support: Defend Oregon
Official opponents: none
Endorsement in opposition: Independent Party of Oregon
Funding in opposition: none listed
Measure 96: Lottery funds for veterans' services
Measure 96: Amends Constitution: Dedicates 1.5% of state lottery net proceeds to funding support services for Oregon veterans
Summary: Amends Constitution, dedicates lottery funding for veterans’ support services. Currently, constitution requires that state lottery proceeds be used to create jobs, further economic development, and finance public education; dedicates some net lottery proceeds as follows: 18% to finance education stability fund, 15% to finance state parks, restoration and protection of native fish and wildlife, watersheds, water quality and wildlife habitats, 15% to finance school capital matching fund. Measure dedicates 1.5% of lottery net proceeds to fund services for Oregon veterans. Veterans’ services include assistance with employment, education, housing, physical/mental health care, addiction treatment, reintegration, access to government benefits, and other services for veterans, spouses and dependents. Other provisions.
Sponsors: Referral from legislature. Promoted by Rep. Julie Parrish (R), Rep. Paul Evans (D), Rep. John Lively (D), Rep. David Gomberg (D), Sen. Brian Boquist (R).
Endorsed in support: Democratic Party of Oregon; veterans' groups; bipartisan group of legislators, Daily Astorian, Willamette Week, Register-Guard
Funding in support: Defend Oregon
Official opponents: None
Endorsed in opposition: City Club of Portland, Mail-Tribune, The Oregonian, Bend Bulletin
Funding in opposition: none listed
Measure 98: Oregon high school funding
Measure 98: Requires state funding for dropout-prevention, career and college readiness programs in Oregon high schools
Summary: Currently, the Oregon legislature provides General Fund revenues to the State School Fund based on constitutionally required quality goals; those funds are distributed directly to school districts under a specified formula. Measure requires legislature to separately provide at least $800 per high school student—adjusted upward annually for inflation/population—to a Department of Education (ODE) administered account. ODE distributes those funds to school districts to establish or expand high school programs providing career-technical education, college-level courses, and dropout-prevention strategies. School districts must apply for grants, meet specified requirements. Districts may use limited portion of fund for administration costs but not unrelated activities. ODE monitors school district performance, ensures compliance, facilitates programs; Secretary of State audits biannually. Other provisions.
Sponsors: Ted Kulongoski (Democrat, Oregon governor 2003-2011); Toya Fick (executive director, Stand for Children); Carmen Rubio (executive director, Latino Network.)
Endorsed in support: Democratic Party of Oregon; Defend Oregon, Independent Party of Oregon; Public and vocational school instructors and students, and a long list of businesses, trade associations, unions, community groups, and neighborhood associations; City Club (partial) the Mail-Tribune, Oregonian, Register-Guard, and Bend Bulletin.
Funding in support: Defend Oregon and Yes on 98 Campaign. The Yes on 98 main donor is Stand for Children, but there are also thousands of small individual contributions listed. Total from Yes on 98 is about $1.2 million.
Official opponents: none
Endorsed in opposition: Parents Across America Oregon, Oregon Save Our Schools, (City Club (partial) Willamette Week.
The City Club of Portland reported that, unusually, its evaluation team were evenly split, with five reviewers recommending a Yes vote and five recommending No.
Funding in opposition: none listed.
Measure 99: Lottery funding for Outdoor School
Measure 99: Creates "Outdoor School Education Fund," continuously funded through Lottery, to provide outdoor school programs statewide
Summary: Presently, Oregon does not fund outdoor school programs statewide, but, under current law, OSU assists school districts by awarding grants according to specified criteria and providing program maintenance, conditioned on funding. Measure creates separate “Outdoor School Education Fund” (Fund) that is financed by Oregon State Lottery money distributed for economic development. Caps annual distributions of Lottery revenues to Fund. Specifies Fund’s purpose to provide every Oregon fifth- or sixth-grade student week-long outdoor school program or equivalent. Continuously appropriates Fund to OSU to administer and fund outdoor school programs statewide consistent with current law’s grant program criteria; may require Fund dispersal outside of grant program. Allocations to Fund shall not reduce lottery proceeds dedicated under Oregon Constitution to education, parks, beaches, watersheds, fish, wildlife.
Sponsors: Yes on 99
Endorsed in support: Democratic Party of Oregon; Defend Oregon; Numerous nature-focused organizations including Audubon Society of Portland, Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts, Forest Park Conservancy, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Friends of Trees, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Oregon Environmental Council, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club; businesses focused on outdoor activities, including REI and Timberline Lodge; campgrounds and recreation areas; and a wide variety of others. Editorial endorsement: Willamette Week
Funding in support: About $250K. Top donors: Gray Family Foundation; James Ratzlaff (Roseburg-area ranch owner); Outdoor School for All PAC
Official opponents: none
Endorsed in opposition: Oregon Economic Development Association, Sen. Betsy Johnson (D), Rep. David Gomberg (D), Mail-Tribune, The Oregonian, Register-Guard, Bend Bulletin
Funding in opposition: none listed
Measure 100: Sale of wildlife parts or products
Measure 100: Prohibits purchase or sale of parts or products from certain wildlife species; exceptions; civil penalties
Summary: Existing Oregon law does not prohibit sale of wildlife parts/products for non native species, except shark fins. Existing federal law does not prohibit intrastate sales of wildlife parts, with exceptions. Measure amends ORS 498.022 to prohibit purchase, sale, or possession with intent to sell of parts/products from elephant, rhinoceros, whale, tiger, lion, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, pangolin, sea turtle, shark, ray. Imposes civil penalties. Creates exceptions: law enforcement activities; activities authorized by federal law; fish managed under federal plan; certain antiques (over l00 years old) and musical instruments with less than 200 grams of parts; noncommercial transfers through estates, trusts, gifts; possession by tribal members. Other exceptions. Fish and Wildlife Commission may adopt rules, including prohibiting purchase/sale of parts "closely" resembling listed species parts.
Sponsors: Save Endangered Animals Coalition (main donor: Humane Society)
Endorsed in Support: US Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), Bruce Starr (R, Oregon state Sen. 2002-2015), Thomas M. Hughes (President, Metro Council), Democratic Party of Oregon, Defend Oregon, Born Free USA; Defenders of Wildlife; National Wildlife Federation Action Fund, Environmental Investigation Agency (an international organization not affiliated with a government), WildAid, Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society International, Oregon Humane Society, Paul G. Allen (yes, the billionaire), Daily Astorian, Mail-Tribune, The Oregonian, Willamette Week, Register-Guard, Gov. Kate Brown, and a thundering herd of other public officials.
Funding in support: Defend Oregon; Save Endangered Animals, including about $300K from the Humane Society of the US
Official opponents: none
Endorsed in opposition: Bend Bulletin, Elephant Protection Association (ivory collectors and traders)
Funding in opposition: none listed.