Some of Oregon’s advocacy organizations, labor unions and some small businesses launched Defend Oregon’s Ballot, the coalition-led campaign to stand up to a series of what they call extremist initiatives filed for Oregon’s November 2016 ballot including an English only measure, a voter access measure, an anti-abortion measure and union petitions.
“Oregon is a leader when it comes to passing progressive policies that benefit the state as a whole: We won an increase in the minimum wage and sick days for all workers; Oregon women experience unfettered access to comprehensive reproductive health care; and we have a legislature that stands up for working families and communities of color,” said Anna Stiefvater RN, MPH, Oregon Nurse Association’s Cabinet on Health Policy Chair. “Special interests can’t stop good legislation and they can’t win on the merits of their arguments, so now they’re spending millions to try and pass destructive ballot measures to halt our progress.
“Corporate and conservative interests and out-of-state millionaires are behind a series of ballot initiatives that attack Oregon workers, immigrant communities, women, and the democratic system. The initiatives aim to dismantle labor unions, diminish the quality of life for Oregon’s immigrant communities, reduce voter access and voter education, inhibit the abilities of the Oregon Legislature and eliminate funding for reproductive health care.”
Already, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been directed toward the campaigns, and hundreds of paid signature gatherers have been registered to circulate petitions around the state. All but three of the initiatives are statutory. In order to qualify for the November 2016 ballot, each statutory initiative needs to submit 88,184 signatures to the Secretary of State by July 8, 2016. 117,578 signatures need to be submitted for the constitutional initiatives by the same date.
“If voters don’t look closely at the petitions they’re being asked to sign, these extreme measures with cleverly crafted names could become law,” said Andrea Miller, executive director of Causa Oregon. “That’s why it’s so important that we educate our friends, family and co-workers about these initiatives now, instead of waiting until we see them on November’s ballot.”
For more information about the Defend Oregon’s Ballot coalition, and to learn more about the individual initiatives and who is behind them, visit www.defendoregon.org.
The Defend Oregon’s Ballot coalition is fighting against the following initiatives:
Initiative Petition 40, English only: All government information and documents —including those at schools — would only be published in English. Would limit our ability to ensure that every Oregonian has access to strong schools and critical public services.
Initiative Petition 49, Inhibits legislative process: Would make it harder for legislators to respond to emergencies by limiting legislators’ ability to do the job they were elected to do: address our state’s most pressing needs and pass the policies that make Oregon a better place to live.
Initiative Petition 50, Limits voter education and participation: Would eliminate grassroots organizing from campaigns, leaving only big-money special interest ads to fill the educational void. Would eliminate the ability of campaigns and the media to monitor and engage in the ballot counting process.
Initiative Petition 51, Reduces voter access: Rolls back the clock on voter access in Oregon. Would cancel every Oregonian’s voter registration and would make it incredibly difficult and time consuming to re-register.
Initiative Petition 52, Mandates flawed federal program: Would require all Oregon businesses to adopt a new, flawed and inaccurate federal program. Under the program, everyday workers might find themselves out of a job and businesses could lose employment licenses altogether.
Initiative Petition 61, Limits funding for reproductive health: Would explicitly prohibit public employee health insurance plans from covering abortion. Targets public employee members whose health insurance is paid for by a public body as well as all women on the Oregon Health Plan.
Initiative Petition 62, Undermines pro-worker policies: Would create a “free-rider” effect in which workers would receive all the benefits of being in a union without having to share the costs of supporting that union. It would also limit the kinds of activities union members can pay for, making it especially hard for union members to advocate for better workplace policies.
Initiative Petition 69, Mandates workplace discrimination: Would require employers to discriminate between union and non-union employees when it comes to wages and benefits. This would lead to two tiers of workers and would foster worksite hostility.
Contact: Melanni Rosales
562-242-4817, melanni@ouroregon.org
