Looking to 1998: Initiatives
t may still be six months away,
however, 1998 is already showing
. signs of being a big political year.
President Clinton’s second term will
be coming to a close. Vice Presi
dent Al Gore will be facing growing
competition for the top elected
position.
Closer to home, term limits
will begin taking effect on state
legislators, creating new opportuni
ties for those seeking to win back
the legislature and posing new
threats to those who aren’t ready to
relinquish power.
Next year is also shaping up
as a big year of initiatives - particu
larly ones which attack workers,
people of color and others. Bill
Sizemore is moving forward with
new versions of his attacks on
collection of union political contri
butions and other attacks on work
ers’ rights. The self-appointed tax
revolt leader is also: launching a new
tax initiative-aimed at Oregon’s
regional government: the Metro
politan Service District (METRO).
Sizemore isn’t alone as an
early filer of initiatives. He’s been
joinedby Grants Pass ultra-conser
vative Jack Alan Brown who has
filed a proposed constitutional
amendment that would open up
primaries to both parties and to
independents.
I
Former state legislator Bob
Tieman is taking on mandatory
sentences for repeat offenders,
politicizing judicial elections and
linking lottery dollars to college
tuition.
Lon Mabon is also making
an appearance with anti-abortion,
anti-gay/lesbian measures and a
rejected “separation of powers”
initiative,
Walter Huss; a forerunner to
Lon Mabon and the politically-
active religious Right, has filed a
proposal for a single tax - a gross
receipts tax that would replace all
other taxes. Huss is also moving an
anti-abortion measure as well.
Finally, anti-nuke activist
Lloyd Marbet has joined with
former senate candidate Harry
Lonsdale and the Pacific Party to
move an initiative that would ban
corporate and union PAC dollars.
Among th 13 growing field,
however, Sizemore continues to be
the one to watch. His Measure 47
victory and the deference shown by
the legislature to him during the
rewrite of Measure 47 makes this
effective campaigner more danger
ous than ever.
- For working people, win
ning again in 1998 means organiz
ing and mobilizing every member in
1997.
Overview of a Few Bad Initiatives
Collection of Union Political Contributions
Sizemore has filed several initiatives aimed at preventing public unions
from using payroll deduction to collect political dues or to receive a tax
credit, using the process to test measure titles. One such initiative has
already been withdrawn. Another is being appealed to the Supreme Court.
The following titles are on file: #16 Workplace Freedom Act; #18 No
Taxpayer Money for Politics; #21 Campaign Finance Reform for Employ
ees; #26 Requires Employees Permission to Deduct Political Funds from
Paycheck.
Term Limits
Sizemore has filed two term limits measures. One would amend the
constitution to direct state and federal legislators to vote for congressional
term limits. The other calls for voluntary term limits by congressional
candidates. The titles on file are: #19 Congressional Term Limits; #27
Voluntary term Limits Act of 1998.
Anti-Immigrant
Sharon Sheppard, Randall Killion arid Robert F. Stewart, anti-immigrant
activists from 1996’s effort to import California’s Proposition 187 to
Oregon have filed twodnitiatives again — both aimed more at creating
anti-Latino Sentiments’ than addressing real problems .One measure
would deny public benefits to and services until legal presence is proved.
The second would deny drivers license eligibility unless a citizen or a
“lawfullypresent alien.”
Taxes
Walter Huss’ tax initiative would create a gross receipts tax of 2.5% and,
in the author’s mind at least, is intended to eliminate all other taxes. This
measure is the “Single Tax Amendment,” #28.
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THE OREGON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PAGE 9