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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 1994)
The Clackamas Print Pg. 4 Wednesday, Oct. 26,1994 NEWS 1994 Ballot Measures by Anjanette Booth News Editor On Nov. 8, Oregonians will be voting on ballot measures 3 through 20. Ballot measures will range from issues about taxes, to minor ity status for homosexuals, to the death-with-dignity measure. Measures being voted on may drastically change the standard of living for all Oregonians. It is important that all vot ing Oregonians familiarize them selves with all the measures and vote on Nov. 8. Here is an out line of the measures, a brief sum mary of each and the pros and cons of each specific case. EMeasure 3 Measure 3 - Filling deadlines at general elections: Summary: Ballot Measure 3 would amend Oregon’s constitu tion to increase the deadline for filling vacancies at general elec tions from 20 days to 61 days. The measure states that if a va cancy occurs more than 61 days before the next general election, it shall be filled at that next gen eral election. If a vacancy occurs within 61 days of a general elec tion, the vacancy will not be filled at that general election and would be filled by appointment. Pro: This measure would give voters more time to evaluate can didates who fill a vacancy. The measure also allows county elec tion offices more time to reprint ballots, mail them to absentee voters, and complete all other preparations for the election. Con: There is no organized op position to this measure. EMeasure 4 Measure 4 - Bans convicted fel ons from serving on legislator Summary: Ballot Measure 4 would prohibit any legislator con victed of a felony during the pe riod starting from the day the member was elected to the day the term of office ends, from serving on the legislature. The measure would also prohibit a convicted felon from being elected to the legislature until the end of his or her sentence, including any pro bation time and payment of fines or penalties. Pro: This measure would set character standards for office. It also reaffirms the legislature’s commitment to both making and abiding by the laws. Public offi cials should be expected to play by the same rules as other citizens do. Con: Voters should be able to judge through an open election who should represent them in of fice. Measure 4 may also violate due process if there is no provi sion for reversal of appeal. The only Oregon legislator ever con victed of a felony resigned rather than face a recall election. EMeasure 5 Measure 5- Voter approval for new or increased taxes: Summary: Measure 5 would bar any new or increased state or lo cal taxes without voter approval. Two tax elections annually would be permitted. An automatic six percent tax base increase, school tuition, fines, port and utility dis trict fees will still be permitted without voter approval. Pro: The measure would restrict tax and fee increases and curb government spending. Con: If measure 5 is passed, vot ers would be asked to go to the polls again and again to vote on things like whether or not the fee for marriage^licenses should be raised a nickel or the cost of a lo cal building permit should be in creased. It would also place tight restriction on the power of public officials and lawmakers to make, budget and tax decisions. EMeasure 6 Measure 6 - Campaign contribu tions allowed only from district residents: Summary: Measure 6 would limit local and state candidates to only accept campaign contributions from their electoral district resi dents. It prohibits passing any contributions from nonresidents to district residents. This does not apply to federal elections, such as President and members of Con gress. Pro: The measure would require candidates to work within the dis trict and not be influenced by out side interests. It will force candi dates to gain the support of the people in their district, instead of finding favors elsewhere. Con: If this measure is passed, it will restrict candidates’ ability to raise campaign money. It may also draw political boundaries through neighborhoods split by different districts. Most neighbor hoods cross district lines Oppo nents feel that this is a poorly written, simplistic solution to problems that don't exist. EMeasure 7 Measure 7 - Equal Protection: Summary: Measure 7 would pro hibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, age or national origin. It would amend Oregon’s constitution to guarantee equal protection. Pro: A clear statement of non discrimination would be made in the Oregon Constitution for the first time. People who suffer dis crimination will be able to bring their complaints to court under the new constitutional language. prevent excessive campaign spendings and the influence of special interest groups from domi nating Oregon politics. The voter will be more in control of the po litical dialogue of the candidate because the campaign will be on more of a grass roots level. lent crimes and would prevent violent, teenagers from facing more lenient treatment in the ju venile court system. It makes it harder for the legislature to reduce a criminal sentence that has been set by a vote of the people. Con: Problems in the budget may Con: It may be more difficult for unknown challengers to take on opponents. There is also the ques tion of money being laundered through anonymous political party committees and indepen dent expenditures, thus reducing the public’s ability to know who is paying for the campaign. Op ponents also argue that the mea be caused by overcrowding, mak ing it necessary for the state to sure violates the basic right of freedom of political expression. Summary: This measure sets mandatory sentences for crimes such as murder, assault, rape, kid napping and robbery. The court The new clause will enable Na tive Americans, women, children and Asian Americans to be pro tected from discrimination. Con: Equal protection is already guaranteed under the U.S. consti tution. This measure may weaken equal-rights protection already in the Oregon Constitution and could undercut protection based on gender. EMeasure 8 Measure 8 - Public employees pay part of salary for pension: Summary: Measure 8 would re quire public employees to pay six percent of their salaries towards their pension plans. It also pro hibits counting unused sick leave in an employee’s final year of sal ary for purposes of calculating pension benefits based on that fi nal salary. Government would not be able to increase salaries or any other benefits as an offset to wards this measure. Pro: Public employees would have greater responsibility in sav ing for their futures. Taxpayers should not shoulder the entire burden. Boosting a final salary artificially by using acquired sick leave distorts the long-term cost to the Public Employee Retire ment System, forcing taxpayers to pay more than is fair or necessary. Con: The measure is an attempt to make public employees pay for the state budget problems. The measure would take away a ben efit that public employees negoti ated in preparation for a salary increase in 1979. It would also make a cut in take-home pay for public employees. EMeasure 9 Measure 9 - Limits campaign contributions and expenditures: Summary: Measure 9 would limit contributions from individu als, political action committees and businesses to $500 for state wide candidates and $ 100 for leg islative candidates. The measure establishes campaign spending limits for candidates and bans some personal use of campaign funds. This excludes federal, ju dicial and local candidates. Pro: The measure would help EMeasure 10 Measure 10 - Legislature cannot reduce voter-approved sentence without a two-thirds vote: Summary: Measure 10 requires a two-thirds vote of each house of the legislature to pass any bill that would reduce a criminal sentence previously approved by the vot ers through initiative or referen dum. This would set mandatory sentences for certain felons and require juveniles 15 and up to be tried as adults. Pro: The measure would reduce crime by making criminals serve minimum terms for certain vio build more prisons. This measure might also unfairly treats children as adults. EMeasure 11 Measure 11 - Mandatory sen tences for listed felonies for per sons 15 and older: may not impose a shorter sentence for any reason, without a two- thirds majority vote. Pro: The measure would reduce crime by making criminals serve full terms. It would also make it more difficult for the legislature to reduce sentencing categories. Sentences imposed by judges would no longer have meaning. Con: Budget problem may be cre ated by this measure, requiring the state to build more prisons. Oregon’s constitution requires correctional facilities to be ori ented to rehabilitation; not
