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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2006)
BY TED TAYLOR Improve Your Health, Naturally! Getting the Money Out • Long & Short Term Health Problems Measures 46 & 47 backers say they’re flustered by campaign of disinformation. • ADHD • Fatigue • Depression • etc. D studying these measures for the past three an Meek is a Portland public interest weeks and I still have difficulty comprehend- attorney and tireless advocate for ing what all the requirements would be. You campaign finance reform in Oregon. shouldn’t have to be a lawyer to understand He’s accustomed to fighting utilities and other and comply with the law.” big corporations, but now Meek countered with, he’s facing new and unex- “Damiana says she cannot un- pected opponents: a group of derstand the provisions of the progressive, nonprofit or- measures. I dare say that she ganizations that have come would not be able to under- out in opposition to his stand the provisions of the Measures 46 and 47. He fig- measures in effect in 45 other ures these groups have fallen states as well. That’s why we under the influence of a have lawyers.” union-backed campaign of Dan Meek This point may be key in disinformation. And it hap- whether Measures 46 and 47 pened while he was busy pass. A big challenge for Meek fighting, and winning, a pro- is getting voters to understand tracted lawsuit by the what he and co-sponsor Harry American Civil Liberties Lonsdale are trying to do in Union, challenging the su- plugging as many loopholes as permajority provision re- possible with legal language. quired of the Legislature to They are also trying to show tweak Measure 47. that the provisions in these Measure 46 in effect measures are not that different overturns a 1997 Oregon Damiana Merryweather from existing federal elections Supreme Court ruling that laws and laws in other states. Meek says the the Oregon Constitution does not allow any precise legal language in the measures is get- limits on political contributions in any race ting translated into numerous “false and mis- for state or public office. The measure would leading” statements about the impact of the amend the Constitution to allow limits on measures. campaign contributions in Oregon. “Measure 46 would eliminate from the Measure 47 is a companion statute that Oregon Constitution any guarantees that you would enact a comprehensive system of cam- and I have to participate in impacting the out- paign finance reform with provisions similar come of any election through contributions or to those of Washington state and 44 other expenses,” said Merryweather. “Once we states. Oregon’s version of campaign finance give away any of our rights to free speech, we reform would ban all corporate contributions will not get them back.” and limit individual contributions to $500 in Meek says the free speech argument holds statewide races and $100 in non-statewide no water since individual free speech is cur- races. Unions and other organizations would rently being drowned out by corporate paid still be able to raise money for candidates speech, “and our measures will have no effect through small donor committees, but the on 99.98 percent of Oregonians.” He says donors would be limited to $50 each per year. only 1 percent of registered voters make po- Why do we need such reforms? Meek, litical contributions, and only 2 to 3 percent chief spokesman for the measures, says polit- of those are $50 for individuals or $100 for ical spending is out of control in Oregon, and couples. The rest are much larger, and most corporations have pumped more than $20 come from corporations or business owners. million into legislative races in the past two “Take out the small contributions below a election cycles, massively outspending couple of hundred bucks and most candidates unions and other groups and causes. The re- won’t miss them at all, because that’s not sult over time, he says, is a corporation- where they get their money,” he says. “Our friendly Legislature. In 1975 corporations system is incredibly top-heavy.” paid 18 percent of Oregon’s income taxes; The two measures were analyzed in detail today, they pay about 4 percent. by the nonpartisan Money in Politics Organizations opposed to or neutral on the Research Action Project (www.followthe- measures include the ACLU, Ecumenical money.org). The group’s detailed report out- Ministries of Oregon, Oregon League of lines the need for campaign finance reform Conservation Voters and several unions. but voices concern that some provisions Organizations supporting the measures in- might not survive court challenges: “Limits clude the Sierra Club, OSPIRG, Physicians on independent expenditures by individuals for Social Responsibility, Pacific Green in Measure 47 push the legal envelope and Party, Alliance for Democracy and Health are constitutionally vulnerable.” Care for All Oregon. Politicians are lining up Measure 47 can be altered by the courts both pro and con. for by the Legislature with a 75 percent ma- Meek defended the measures at a City jority vote of both houses. Meek justifies the Club of Eugene luncheon Oct. 13, debating supermajority provision, saying that under a with union spokeswoman Damiana simple majority vote, the current corporate- Merryweather. friendly Legislature would gut Measure 47 “For campaign finance reform to be effec- the first chance it gets. tive,” Merryweather said, “it must be clear, ew concise and compelling, and these measures More information pro and con is available at www.fairelections.net and www.protectourvoice.org are none of those three things. I’ve been • Menopause • PMS • Men’s Health • etc. • Thyroid Problems • Fibromyalgia • Adrenal Fatigue Using therapies such as: • Diet and Lifestyle • Nutrition • WTS/Low Temperature (www.wilsonsyndrome.com) •Homeopathy • Herbs • Other Natural Therapies Dr. Stephanie P. Wilson, N.D. • 1755 Coburg Rd., #6B • Eugene, OR 97401 • 541-683-9357 “I’ve seen in Alan Leiman the core values that matter to me – integrity, sound judgment and strong leadership. Lane County has tough problems to solve. I’m confident Alan Leiman can get the job done as a Circuit Court Judge. Please join me in voting for Alan Leiman for Lane County Circuit Court Judge. Thank You.” OCTOBER 19, 2006 13
