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PROVIDED AS A PUBLIC SERVICEBY OUR OREGON

2008VOTERGUIDE

TAX FAIRNESSACCOUNTABILITY

AND

Simple and ClearInformation and Recommendations

for Oregon Taxpayers

This year, Oregonians will vote on 12 ballot measures.A number of them could have a profound impact on Oregon’s future –and your personal finances. Some will shift Oregon’s tax structure ontothe shoulders of middle class families already struggling to make endsmeet. Others would cut funding for services Oregon families count on,such as education, health care, and senior services. Still others wouldreduce government accountability and limit local control over localservices. Since it can be difficult to get reliable information about ballotmeasures, we have provided this concise Voter Guide on the most criti-cal measures on the ballot. We want to help you get to the heart of thematter and get the facts you need to make an informed vote.

It’s your vote and your choice.

Where do these measures come from?In many cases, Bill Sizemore.Five of this year’s ballot measures come from one man: Bill Sizemore.Sizemore has turned Oregon’s initiative system into a money-makingscheme for himself, funded by wealthy out-of-state donors. In July, theOregon Supreme Court affirmed that Sizemore engaged in fraud, forgeryand racketeering in order to get his initiatives on the ballot.

Sizemore’s measures are vague, poorly worded and filledwith unintended consequences. In many cases, these conse-quences are costly to taxpayers, leading to increased fees, shifting thetax burden to the middle class and leading to cuts to schools, health careand public safety – without making government any more accountable.

Tax Fairness and AccountabilityVoter Guide

Welcome to the 2008

2008 BALLOT MEASURE VOTER GUIDE

56BALLOT MEASURE

57BALLOT MEASURE

BALLOT TITLE

Amends Constitution:Provides that May andNovember Property TaxElections are Decidedby Majorityof Voters Voting

BALLOT TITLE

Increases Sentencesfor Drug Trafficking,Theft Against Elderlyand Specified RepeatProperty and IdentityTheft Crimes; RequiresAddiction Treatmentfor Certain Offenders

BACKGROUND: Law enforcement officials say that the majority of drugtrafficking, property crimes and identity theft are committed by repeatoffenders driven by drug addiction. Currently, the sentences for many ofthose crimes is probation, with no jail time. This measure was craftedwith the help of district attorneys from around the state to address thesecrimes.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: This measure stops the revolving jailhousedoor, and makes the best use of our tax dollars by focusing on repeatoffenders. It toughens sentences for crimes like drug trafficking, dealingdrugs to minors, identity theft, property crimes and theft against the eld-erly, with tough requirements for drug treatment for addicted offenders.It gives law enforcement the tools to keep Oregon’s communities safe.That is why sheriffs, police officers, District Attorneys and correctionsofficers believe this is the better way to fight crime.

WE RECOMMEND A

YESVOTE

WE RECOMMEND A

YESVOTE

BACKGROUND: In 1996, the “double majority” rule was instituted as ahidden part of a Bill Sizemore measure. Under that law, many local meas-ures are invalidated if voter turnout is less than 50%. This gives those whodon’t vote more power than those who do, and means that a local measurecan fail even if it’s supported by a majority of voters. Because all ofOregon’s elections are now conducted by mail, there’s no longer any excusefor someone not to vote. This measure will remove the unfair “doublemajority” requirement for May and November elections.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: Participation is the cornerstone of democra-cy. Measure 56 restores the basic democratic principle that if you take thepersonal responsibility to vote, you vote shouldn’t be cancelled out by some-body who doesn’t. And the current law can be costly. Just one example: in2006, Gladstone taxpayers had to pay an extra $10 million in school con-struction costs because of delays forced by the double majority rule.

MEASURES 56 & 57

58BALLOT MEASURE

59BALLOT MEASURE

BALLOT TITLE

Creates an UnlimitedDeduction for FederalIncome Taxes onIndividual Taxpayers’Oregon Income TaxReturns


WE RECOMMEND A

NOVOTE

WE RECOMMEND A

NOVOTE

SIZEMOREMEASURE

MEASURES 58 & 59

BALLOT TITLE

Prohibits TeachingPublic School Studentin Language OtherThan English for MoreThan Two Years

BACKGROUND: This measure eliminates local control over English lan-guage learning, replacing proven programs with one-size-fits-all deadlinesfor all students, even those with special needs or learning disabilities.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: All students have unique abilities and learnat different rates. And each school district has different needs — whatworks in Portland may not work in Baker City. But this vague, poorlyworded measure from Bill Sizemore —who has no background in educa-tion— makes no exceptions for students with learning disabilities. Everystudent in Oregon should become proficient in English, but this measurewill only make that goal more difficult and much more expensive: the offi-cial fiscal estimate is that Measure 58 would cost taxpayers $506 millionin the first two years alone.

BACKGROUND: This measure — similar to a failed Bill Sizemoremeasure from 2000 — is a giveaway for the wealthiest Oregonians. Morethan 75 percent of Oregon taxpayers would save less than $1 per yearfrom this measure, while the top 1% will get tax breaks averaging over$15,000.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: This measure does nothing to help middleclass families who are already struggling to make ends meet. But it wouldcut $2.4 billion every two years from the services we all count on like edu-cation, public safety and healthcare. Cutting vital services will not makegovernment more accountable; it will just end up costing us more in hid-den fees and new taxes.

SIZEMOREMEASURE

Funded without-of-state money


61 WE RECOMMEND A

NOVOTE

WE RECOMMEND A

NOVOTE

BALLOT MEASURE

62BALLOT MEASURE

BALLOT TITLE

Creates MandatoryMinimum PrisonSentences for CertainTheft, Identity Theft,Forgery, Drug, andBurglary Offenses

(Also see Measure 57, thebetter way to fight crime.)

BALLOT TITLE

Amends Constitution:Allocates 15% ofLottery Proceeds toPublic Safety Fundfor Crime Prevention,Investigation,Prosecution


MEASURES 61 & 62

BACKGROUND: This Constitutional Amendment would divert millionsof dollars from schools and job creation programs to pay for undefinedpublic safety projects.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: If Measure 62 were in effect right now,approximately $185 million would be cut from the State School Fund,which pays for textbooks, teachers and classroom services. Familiescould be forced to pay more out-of-pocket for basic education services.Millions more would be taken from job creation and economic develop-ment programs just when our economy desperately needs them. Thismeasure creates undefined spending as far as the eye can see on petprojects with no accountability.

BACKGROUND:Measure 61 creates an arbitrary sentencing system thatwould require at least three more prisons to be built in Oregon withoutproviding the funds to build or operate them. It does not require drugtreatment necessary to stop the revolving jailhouse door. Official estimatessay it will cost taxpayers more than $2 billion over the next 10 years. Lawenforcement is supporting Measure 57 as the better way to fight crime.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: This measure is expensive and ineffective.Rigid one-size-fits-all sentencing gimmicks like Measure 61 simply don’twork. This measure does nothing to address the root causes of crime; it justwarehouses criminals. Measure 57 is the better way to fight crime becauseit toughens sentences for the worst repeat offenders and requires drugtreatment— or stiffer sentences for those who refuse treatment.Whichever of these measures gets the most votes will become law.



63BALLOT MEASURE

65BALLOT MEASURE

BALLOT TITLE

Changes GeneralElection NominationProcesses forMajor/Minor Party,Independent Candidatesfor Most PartisanOffices


WE RECOMMEND A

NOVOTE

WE RECOMMEND A

NOVOTE

SIZEMOREMEASURE

MEASURES 63 & 65

BACKGROUND: This measure creates a building loophole that willoverride state and local safety and environmental codes, allowing proper-ty owners to build on their property without any permits or inspections.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: Measure 63 is unsafe and irresponsible. Itopens the door to uninspected, shoddy work to structures, gas lines andplumbing lines that could pose threats to neighboring properties. And itwill endanger emergency responders, who could find themselves facingunknown structural dangers. Measure 63 will also override state lawsthat protect Oregon’s rivers, streams and drinking water.

BACKGROUND: Measure 65 would create two different primary elec-tions in Oregon: one for presidential candidates, another “Louisiana style”election for all Oregon candidates. Measure 65 bars voters who belong topolitical parties from selecting their own candidates for the general elec-tion. Instead, the two top primary candidates are matched against eachother again in the general election regardless of party affiliation.

OUR RECOMMENDATION: This measure would give Oregonians theunnecessary cost and confusion of having to hold two primary elections.It would drastically limit voter choice in general elections to only twocandidates, with third parties and other independent candidates blockedfrom presenting their ideas. Making the same two candidates competeagainst each other in both the primary and general elections wouldmake campaigns much more expensive and last longer, giving even moreinfluence to contributions from the corporate special interests who havesponsored this proposal.


BALLOT TITLE

Exempts SpecifiedProperty Ownersfrom Building PermitRequirements forImprovementsValued At/Under35,000 Dollars


CHECKLIST

Accountable Government.Responsible Use of Tax Dollars.

Your handy checklist of Ballot Measurerecommendations from Our Oregon

Election Day is

Tuesday, November 4thBallots are due into your

County Elections Office by 8:00pm

MEASURE 56 YES

MEASURE 57 YES

MEASURE 58 NO

MEASURE 59 NO

MEASURE 61 NO

MEASURE 62 NO

MEASURE 63 NO

MEASURE 65 NO

2008Ballot Measure Voter Guide!Provided as a public service by Our Oregon,

a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promotingeconomic and tax fairness for all Oregonians.

OUR PRIORITIES INCLUDE:

• Reducing health care costs• Stopping unfair giveaways and loopholes that shift the

tax burden to middle class families• Promoting government accountability

• Preserving the integrity of Oregon’s election systemand initiative process

Election Day is

Tuesday, November 4thFor more information visit

www.ouroregon.org

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