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