Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1996)
STATE MEASURES ONLY THE CAPTION AND QUESTION WILL APPEAR ON YOUR OFFICIAL (ALLOT REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 26. AMENDS CONSTITUTION: CHANGES THE PRIN CIPLES THAT GOVERN LAWS FOR PUNISHMENT OF CRIME 30 AMENDS CONSTITUTION: STATE MUST PAY LO CAL GOVERNMENTS COSTS OF STATE-MANDATED PROGRAMS (Measure 33 continued) could amend or repeal such a statute only by a 3/5 vote in each house. RESULT OF “YES" VOTE: 'Yes' vote requires the state to pay local governments for costs of state-mandated programs. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues. RESULT OF "YES* VOTE: 'Yes' vote repeals vindictive justice prohibition, adds responsibility, accountability, societal protection to criminal punishment principles RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: 'No' vote rejects requirement that state pay local governments for costs of state-man dated programs. 34. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT EXCLUSIVE TO COMMIS SION; REPEALS 1994 BEAR/COUGAR INITIATIVE RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: 'No* vote retains constitutional provision basing laws for criminal punishment on ref ormation, not vindictive justice. SUMMARY: Amends constivution Measure would require legislature to pay local governments for costs of new state- mandated programs or increased level of services for state- mandated programs. If funds are not paid, local govern ments need not comply with law or rule requiring pro gram or service Contains exceptions Requires 3/5 vote of each house of Legislature to take certain actions reduc ing state revenues that are distributed to local govern ments. If adopted, measure would be repealed on June 30.2001, unless approved again at general election in year SUMMARY: This measure amends the state constitu tion. The constitution now provides that laws for the punishment of crime must be based on principles of ‘ reformation, and not of vindictive justice.” The mea sure would delete that language. It would insert lan guage stating that laws for the punishment of crime must be based on these principles: "protection of soci ety, personal responsibility, accountability for one's actions and reformation.” ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues 27. AMENDS CONSTITUTION: GRANTS LEGISLATURE NEW POWER OVER BOTH NEW. EXISTING ADMINIS TRATIVE RULES RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: With "yes' vote, new adminis trative rules expire unless legislature approves: com mittee may veto existing rules. RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: ‘No’ vote retains current sys tem, allowing administrative rules to stay in effect w ith out legislative approval. SUMMARY: Amends constitution. State agency rules now may be adopted and stay in effect without legislative ap proval. Legislature may require agency to change rules by adopting new statutes, subject to governor's veto Mea sure would require agencies to file new rules with legisla tive committee. Rules would expire after legislature ad- urns unless legislature approves rule by joint resolution. pon qualified request, committee may review any new or existing rule and, upon review, must take public testi mony. If committee rejects rule, rule expires unless legis lature approves by joint resolution C ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: Start up costs are estimated at $584,000 Based on the last six years ex perience. for each 10% of rule changes adopted by agencies that are reviewed under this measure, annual operating costs are estimated at $823,000.__________ 28. AMENDS CONSTITUTION: REPEALS CERTAIN RESI DENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE VETERANS LOANS RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: ‘Yes1 vote repeals certain resi dency requirements now in constitution for veterans' home and farm loans. RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: 'N o' vote retains all residency requirements now in constitution for veterans' home and farm loans. SUMMARY: This measure amends the Oregon Consti tution. The constitution now provides that state veter ans' home and farm loans may be made only to per sons who were Oregon residents when they entered military service or who have resided in Oregon five years since discharge or separation from active duty. This measure repeals those eligibility requirements. The measure would not change other eligibility require ments, or the current residency requirement that such loans may be made only to persons who are Oregon residents when they apply for the loan. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues 29. AMENDS CONSTITUTION: GOVERNOR'S APPOIN TEES MUST VACATE OFFICE IF SUCCESSOR NOT TIMELY CONFIRMED RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: "Yes' vote requires Governor's appointees to vacate office if successor not confirmed within 90 days. RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: 'N o' vote retains law allowing Governor's appointees to serve until successor is ap pointed and confirmed. SUMMARY: Currently, an official appointed by the Gov ernor and subject to Senate confirmation may continue in office until the official's successor is appointed and confirmed. This measure amends the Oregon Consti tution to provide that such an official may not hold of fice longer than 90 days after the end of the official's term. The measure could cause an appointed office to be vacant until the official's successor is confirmed. This could preclude some state agencies from issuing or ders or conducting othér business during such a va cancy. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues Be Sure To Read Both Sides Of This Sheet 2000 ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues. 31. AMENDS CONSTITUTION: OBSCENITY MAY RE- CEIVE NO GREATER PROTECTION THAN UNDER FED ERAL CONSTITUTION RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: 'Yes' vote limits free speech protection for "obscenity, including child pornography” to federal constitution's level. RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: 'Yes' vote gives commission exclusive wildlife management authority: repeals 1994 bear/cougar hunting ban initiative. RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: 'N o' vote retains current w ild life management laws, including 1994 bear/cougar hunt ing ban initiative measure. SUMMARY: Current law gives the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission the authority to manage wildlife Measure pro vides that this authority would be exclusive. Measure repeals all laws other than legislation and Commission rules enacted since 1975 that regulate time, place and manner of taking wildlife by angling, hunting or trapping, including the 1994 bear/cougar hunting ban initiative That initiative banning use of bait or dogs to trap or hunt black bear and cougar was approved by vote of the people in the November, 1994 elec tion. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues. 35. RESTRICTS BASES FOR PROVIDERS TO RECEIVE PAY FQR HEALTH CARE RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: 'N o ' vote retains Oregon Constitution’s current right to speak freely on any sub ject, including obscenity. QUESTION: Shall statute restrict bases on which health care providers may receive pay to five listed in statute? SUMMARY: Amends Oregon Constitution. Oregon Con stitution now protects the "right to speak, write, or print freely on any subject." The Oregon Supreme Court has held that provision protects obscenity. United States Constitution's free speech provision does not currently protect obscenity Measure would state that "obscen ity, including child pornography," may receive no greater protection than under United States Constitution. Mea sure thus would remove Oregon Constitution's current protection for obscenity. Measure would lim it state judges' authority to interpret free speech provision as applied to obscenity, including child pornography. SUMMARY: Adopts statute. Measure restricts bases on which health care providers may receive pay. Providers accepting payment on any other basis lose business and professional licenses. Restrictions do not apply to individuals and families. Permissible bases are: work erformed, hourly wages, prearranged salary/benefit, onus, or expense reimbursement. Disallows some cur rent payment arrangements. Defines "work performed' as delivery of health care for specific patient needs. De fines 'health care provider" to include health care pro fessionals and employers/contractors of health care pro fessionals. but to exclude insurers. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues. REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE ___________ BY REFERENDUM PETITION___________ 32. AUTHORIZES BONOS FOR PORTLANO REGION LIGHT RAIL. TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS ELSEWHERE RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: 'Yes' vote authorizes lottery bonds for Portland region light rail, transportation projects outside Portland region. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: Using existing aver age cost differences between Health Maintenance Organl-. zation (HMO) and indemnity type health coverage, direct expenditures by state and local government will increase. Assuming the increased health care costs will be borne by the employer, state government expenditures would lb- crease By $57 million annually, and local government di rect expenditures would increase by $22 million annually. RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: 'No' vote rejects lottery bonds for Portland region light rail, transportation projects out side Portland region. RESULT OF “YES" VOTE: "Yes' vote increases state's mini mum wage to $6.50 per hour over three year period. SUMMARY: Permits state to issue lottery revenue bonds to fund the following, plus costs and reserves: ( 1 ) $375 million of state’s share of cost to build Portland region "South North light rail": and (2) $115 million of separate $375 million "Trans portation Equity Account," payable to cities and counties for transportation projects outside Portland region $260 million of Transportation Equity Account funded by general fund and other sources Unobligated net lottery proceeds repay bonds Bonds cannot be sold unless federal light rail matching funds available. Other provisions ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: The measure provides $750 million funding for transportation projects through out Oregon The measure authorizes the sale of Lottery- backed revenue bonds with a principal sum of up to $490 million, plus bond issuance costs and reserves Up to $375 million of the bonds will be used to finance the State's commitment toward construction of the South North Light Rail Line Total Tri-Met expenditures from all sources, in cluding federal funds, for the South North light rail project would be up to $15 billion. $115 million of the bonds will be used to finance city and county transportation projects outside the Portland metropolitan region. The bonds, plus interest, will be repaid through a Lottery revenue alloca tion of $21.8 million per year beginning in 1999. and in creasing to $33 8 million per year beginning with the year in which the South North Lottery-backed revenue bonds are sold. If issued at current interest rates, for each $100 million in 20-year Lottery-backed revenue bonds total in terest costs are estimated at $64 4 million. In addition, state General Fund revenues of $110 million will be avail able over a ten year period for city and county transporta tion projects outside the Portland metropolitan region. Lo cal governments in the Portland metropolitan region will provide $150 million from various sources, including fed eral transportation funds, for cities and counties outside the Portland metropolitan region to spend on transporta tion projects over a ten year period PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION 33. AMENDS CONSTITUTION: LIMITS LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO STATUTES PASSED BY VOTERS QUESTION: Shall constitution bar legislature tor 5 years from changing statutes passed by voters, require 3/5 vote in each house thereafter? SUMMARY: This measure would add a new section to the state constitution. It would bar the legislature from changing or repealing statutes enacted or approved by the voters for 5 years The voters still could do so by initiative or referendum After 5 years, the legislature 36. INCREASES MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE TO $6.50 OVER THREE YEARS RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: 'No' vote leaves state's minimum wage at current level of $4 75 per hour. SUMMARY: This measure amends the state s hourly mini mum wage The current minimum wage is $4 75 per hour and has been in effect since January 1,1991. This mea sure would increase the minimum wage to $5.50 per hour for calendar year 1997, to $6.00 per hour for calendar year 1998. and to $6.50 per hour for calendar year 1999 and the years following. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: Direct state expendi tures are estimated to increase by $26.4 million when fully implemented in 1999 to bring state government employ ees and state contract service providers currently paid at minimum wage to the new level. Direct state expenditures are estimated to decrease by at least $3.3 million annually due to reduced public assis tance eligibility. Direct state tax revenues are estimated to increase $4.8 million a year, due to both increased personal income taxes and decreased corporate income taxes by increasing wages of workers paid at current minimum wage Direct local government expenditures are estimated to in crease $5 million when the measure is fully implemented to bring local government employees and local contract service providers currently paid at minimum wage to the new level. Other expenditure and revenue changes could not be esti- mated due to insufficient data.______________________ 37. BROAOENS TYPES OF BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REQUIRING DEPOSIT AND REFUND VALUE QUESTION: Shall bottle bill be expanded to require con sumers. dealers to pay deposits, receive refunds on additional types of beverage containers? SUMMARY: Amends statutes Under current law, consum ers and dealers pay deposits arid receive refunds on all beer and carbonated beverage containers Dealers must accept such containers for refund Measure broadens law to include any liquid drink intended for humans, except dairy products or substitutes, distilled spirits or liquor, or wine with over eight percent alcohol. Measure requires refund value for containers of: - Beer, malt beverages or carbonated drinks, any size. - Non-carbonated drinks, other than water, from six oun ces to one liter. -W ater, up to two liters. ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues
