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Taking the initiative
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After years of reacting to ballot measures a new group
ponders going proactive
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YWCA of Portland:
Continuing to make a difference.
A
whether to place its own initiative before voters.
fter years of reacting to initiatives
The OCA is attempting to place initiatives on
sponsored by the Oregon Citizens
the 1996 ballot. It cost nearly $2 million to defeat
Alliance, the head of a new human
Ballot Measure 13, and Davis says it could cost as
rights group says her organization is
much as $4 million to run a proactive and a
pondering a proactive measure that
reactive
would prohibit Oregon’s initiative process
from campaign simultaneously.
“The advantage of having a counter initiative
being used to deny basic human rights to Orego
it allows you to feel more positive because
nians that are currently guaranteed by is
the that
state
you’re
not simply reacting” explains William
Bill of Rights.
Lunch, political commentator for Oregon Public
“It’s certainly not out of the question,” says
Broadcasting. “The disadvantage of having your
Julie Davis, executive director of Basic Rights
own initiative is that you have to get yes votes
Oregon, formerly the No on 13 Committee and
instead of no votes. If a voter steps into the voting
Support Our Communities PAC. No on 13 was
booth and sees a series of complicated ballot
the most widely recognized organization to cam
questions— the way we do here in Oregon—
paign against Ballot Measure 13, the proposed
they’re likely to become confused. Voters who
state constitutional amendment that Oregon vot
are confused or uncertain typically vote no be
ers rejected last year by a vote of 51 -49 percent;
cause it’s safer.”
while SOC PAC was created to counter the slew
The wording of the draft initiative reads, in
of local initiatives targeting gay men and lesbians
part: “The initiative power reserved to the
that have been considered across the state during
people...does not include the power to repeal or
the past two years.
limit rights and liberties guaranteed by the Or
Unlike those short-lived organizations, both
egon Bill of Rights.... Those rights and liberties
of which were specifically created to defeat par
include, but are not limited to, Freedom of Speech,
ticular ballot measures, Basic Rights Oregon will
Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Religion.
be a year-round, long-term operation— much like
No ballot title shall be is
its nemesis, the OCA, a full
sued nor shall an election be
time entity that builds sup
held on any initiative peti
port for its cause during
tion if the measure proposed
both on and off election c WÈ mèma
years.
by the petition includes
According to its mis
matters that fall outside the
sion statem en t, B asic
scope o f the initiative
Rights Oregon strives “to
p o w er.” T he in itiativ e
build a movement to ad
would be a proposed state
vance and protect demo
constitutional amendment.
cratic freedoms and civil
A similar measure is
and human rights; to build
currently being considered
the broadest possible coa
by state lawmakers. Senate
lition to counter the activi
Joint Resolution 39, which
ties of groups such as the
was introduced by Sen. Pe
Oregon Citizens Alliance
ter Sorenson (D-Eugene),
[and] to defeat attempts to
would allow the Oregon
deny basic rights through
Constitution’s Bill of Rights
the electoral process.”
to be amended only by the
Julie Davis
“Our goal is to out-educate, out-organize and
referendum process, not by the initiative process.
out-vote the OCA,” says Davis, who was the
An initiative consists of a procedure whereby
campaign manager for No on 13. “We intend to do
a certain percentage of voters may, by petition,
that by connecting with recognized opinion lead
propose that a law or constitutional amendment
ers in local communities, and by employing a
be placed on the ballot for voter approval or
house-meeting strategy which will enable us to
rejection. This technique circumvents the legisla
connect with citizens throughout the state.”
ture. A referendum, meanwhile, allows questions
Davis says Basic Rights Oregon, which held
to be submitted to voters on the judgment o f the
its official kick-off earlier this month, recently
legislature. Unable to push its measures through
sponsored five house meetings in Washington
the state Legislature, the OCA has effectively
County. An estimated 65 people turned out for the
used the state’s initiative process to further its
gatherings, at which participants were asked to
agenda. However, many believe the OCA has not
make a pledge that they will always vote against
only used the process but abused it as well.
the OCA’s anti-human rights measures. They
“It’s essential that the initiative process not be
were also asked to pledge financial support to the
misused by one group of people attempting to
group.
take away the basic rights of others. No one’s
Davis says because Basic Rights Oregon
basic rights should be so vulnerable to a vote,”
evolved from No on 13 and SOC-PAC, it has an
says Sorenson. “Aside from the obvious moral
established donor, volunteer and organizational
reasons for SJR 39, Oregon stands to save many
base. She hopes to tap into the 20,000-member
millions of dollars in what it costs to bring an
donor network that contributed to those groups
improper initiative to a vote, and then to pay for
and mobilize their 5,000 volunteers. She further
the court challenges to an initiative intended to
says hundreds of religious and community groups,
erode the protections guaranteed in the Bill of
labor organizations, professional associations, and
Rights.”
public officials— including Gov. John Kitzhaber
To the surprise of some, SJR 39 received a
and U.S. Reps. Elizabeth Furse, Ron Wyden and
hearing in the Republican-controlled Senate. Fur
Peter DeFazio— have already endorsed Basic
ther movement on the bill is considered unlikely,
Rights Oregon’s overall mission statement.
however.
One monumental philosophical and strategi
For more information about Basic Rights Or
cal break from campaigns of the past, however, is
egon, call 222-6151.
Basic Rights Oregon s serious consideration of
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*""wiTH THIS COUPON”
D rop in f o r . ..
by Inga Sorensen
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