League Recommendations on Ballot Measures

The Board of League of Women Voters of Oregon has voted to take these positions on Oregon's statewide ballot measures.  The LWV will only support or oppose a measure if we have researched and reached member consensus on the issue.  Then we carefully weigh the pros and cons of each measure and the potential effect on Oregonians before taking a position. For more information on each measure, please click on the measure number.

Measure 39: Oppose
Measure 40: Oppose
Measure 41: Oppose
Measure 42: Neutral
Measure 43: Oppose
Measure 44: Support
Measure 45: Oppose
Measure 46: Neutral
Measure 47: Neutral
Measure 48: Oppose

Measure 39, Oppose

Eminent domain:  This measure would prohibit state and local governments from using their power of eminent domain to seize private property and give it to another private entity. Its chief sponsor is Oregonians in Action.  This measure is part of a national reaction by property rights advocates to a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the right of the city of New London, Conn., to condemn private property for use in a private waterfront redevelopment project to expand the city's tax base.  This costly measure could have unintended consequences; it could make urban renewal programs more difficult, or could cause more condemned land to be owned by government entities.  The League state board has unanimously chosen to oppose this measure.  Read our statement for the Oregon Secretary of State's Voters' Pamphlet

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Measure 40, Oppose

Judicial election districts:  This constitutional amendment would require that judges of the Oregon Supreme Court and state Court of Appeals be elected by District.  The League opposes this measure based on a previous opposition on a similar ballot measure and our view that we should elect the best person for the job.  Geographic representation has nothing to do with impartial interpretation of the law.  Read our statement for the Oregon Secretary of State's Voters' Pamphlet

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Measure 41, Oppose
This measure would cut state tax revenues by allowing taxpayers to use the more generous federal personal tax exemption instead of a state tax credit.  For most taxpayers, that would mean about $140 a year in tax savings per person.  If passed, it would cut state revenues by more than $400 million a year beginning in 2008.  Furthermore, state revenues would then be subject to changes by Congress of federal law.  The League opposes this measure based on our position on Fiscal Policy - Tax System.  Read our statement for the Oregon Secretary of State's Voters' Pamphlet

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Measure 42, Neutral
This measure would prohibit using credit scores to set insurance premiums.  Its chief sponsor is veteran tax reform activist Bill Sizemore.

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Measure 43, Oppose

Parental notice:  This measure would require 48-hour written notice to parents before girls ages 15 through 17 could obtain an abortion.  Parental consent is already required for a child younger than 15 to undergo any medical procedure.  Voters narrowly rejected a similar ballot measure in 1990.  The League is strongly opposed to this measure based on our national position, Public Policy on Reproductive Choices. Read our statement for the Oregon Secretary of State's Voters' Pamphlet

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Measure 44, Support

Prescription drug coverage:  This measure would allow any Oregon resident without prescription drug coverage to participate in the Oregon Prescription Drug Program.  This drug discount program is currently open only to uninsured Oregonians 55 and older with low incomes.  The League supports this measure based on our national position, Position on Health Care.  Read our statement for the Oregon Secretary of State's Voters' Pamphlet

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Measure 45, Oppose

Term limits:  This constitutional amendment would limit state legislators to six years as a representative, eight years as a senator, and fourteen years total in the Legislature.  The League has previously opposed a similar measure that was later ruled unconstitutional by both the U.S. and Oregon supreme courts.  This proposal has tried to remove the features that were unconstitutional.  The League opposes this measure based on our previous opposition and on our national opposition to term limits based on the Statement of Position on Congress.  Read our statement for the Oregon Secretary of State's Voters' Pamphlet

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Measure 46 and 47, Neutral

Campaign Finance:  Measure 46 is a constitutional amendment that would override previous Oregon Supreme Court decisions and allow campaign contribution and expenditure limits if approved by an initiative or a three-fourths vote of both houses of the legislature.  The League has conflicting positions on this measure.  Our national position, Statement of Position on Campaign Finance, would generally allow us to support this proposal; however, our state position on Constitutional Provisions, states that we believe "… the Oregon Constitution should be a basic framework of state government, free of obsolete material and statutory detail."  The League State Board has consistently interpreted this, along with the LWVUS League Principle supporting representative government, as opposing requiring super-majority votes of the Legislature.  In our view, the Legislature is the place to deal with complicated issues.  The Oregon Court of Appeals recently ruled that this measure contains two subjects and is thus unconstitutional; this ruling is being appealed.

Measure 47 is a complex implementing statute that depends on Measure 46 for its authority and that provides campaign contribution and spending limits and other revisions to campaign finance laws.  In the League's opinion, it contains several provisions that are unconstitutional, but the League also recognizes that the drafters are attempting to challenge constitutional restrictions.  Regardless, because the League is not supporting or opposing Measure 46, then it also cannot support or oppose Measure 47.

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Measure 48, Oppose

TABOR:  This constitutional amendment would limit the biennial increase in state spending to the percentage increase in state population plus inflation.  The League opposes this measure based on our positions on Constitutional Provisions and Fiscal Policy - Tax System.  This deceptively simple proposal ignores the fact that government spending does not keep pace with population and inflation during a recession; therefore, state spending would fall farther and farther behind with each economic cycle.  (This seems to be the purpose of the drafters.)  In addition, at any time, some spending growth may unavoidably exceed population growth and inflation. This is the case when there are increases in the costs of health care or prisons, and when new programs are needed. The impact of this measure on state government services would be dramatic and devastating.  The state of Colorado passed a similar ballot measure several years ago, and voters have now suspended it. Read our statement for the Oregon Secretary of State's Voters' Pamphlet

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Statements submitted to the Oregon Secretary of State for publication in the Voters' Pamphlet

The League of Women Voters of Oregon urges you to

VOTE NO ON MEASURE 39

IMPACTS OF MEASURE 39

If your community wants to redevelop its waterfront with stores and pedestrian walkways, Measure 39 will make it more expensive! 

If your community wants to develop a business park to create jobs for the community, Measure 39 will require the government own it!  Do the promoters of this measure want the government to own more property?

If your community wants a public economic development project that involves selling property (bringing in profitable businesses into the community), Measure 39 won’t allow it! 

The official Financial Estimate says it could cost Oregonians from $16 to $30 million per year.  The measure drives most disagreements over the value of condemned property into court rather than negotiation.  The cost of lawyers alone will prevent many communities from purchasing land necessary for new roads, bridges, schools, sewer and water systems and other valuable public resources.  Measure 39 would surely increase the cost of government ownership of public property.

OREGONIANS CARE ABOUT OREGON.  Don’t let out-of-state special interests buy your vote.

• Makes public projects more expensive
• Will increase the amount of property that the government owns and the costs to manage it
• Inhibits most job-producing public economic development projects
• Was largely paid for by out-of-state lobbying interests

VOTE NO ON MEASURE 39

(This information furnished by the
League of Women Voters of Oregon)

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Oregonians deserve to have the most competent, experienced judges possible, regardless of where they live.  Judges should be selected on merit, not politics. Geography has nothing to do with justice.

• This unnecessary constitutional amendment would make it more difficult to attract the most qualified judges for the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals.  We should be able to vote for the best people for these important positions.

• This unnecessary constitutional amendment invites politics into our system of judicial selection—which should be as free from political influence as possible.  Measure 40 would make it easier for special interest groups to defeat judges whose decisions they don't like. The promoters of this measure are just such special interests with much of their money coming from outside of Oregon.

• This unnecessary constitutional amendment would upset the constitutional balance of power.  The Legislature is designed to be the branch of government that geographically represents state voters.  There is nothing geographic or representative about truth and justice.  Judges should not represent geographical districts—they should act in the interest of all the people of the State.

• This unnecessary constitutional amendment would make Oregon courts less accountable to all Oregon's citizens. Our Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges interpret the laws for the entire State.  Oregonians deserve accountable, knowledgeable, experienced judges to ensure all individuals in the state are afforded the rights and protections guaranteed in Oregon’s Constitution and laws. 

The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed participation in government.

Please join the Oregon League of Women Voters in voting “No” on
constitutional amendment Measure 40.

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This measure may seem reasonable, but in reality Measure 41 creates a black hole of cuts to Oregon's education, healthcare and public safety for the foreseeable future. Continuing to decrease funding for these essential state programs does not improve either Oregonians' quality of life or government accountability.

Economically, Oregon is just coming out of the devastating effects of the 2001-03 recession. The current General Fund budget does not restore funding in many cases where cuts were made to public education at all levels, to healthcare for seniors, the disabled, and families, and to essential public safety services.  Ninety percent of the General Fund supports these programs, and the immediate cuts resulting from passage of Measure 41 would jolt the fragile economic status of the state.

Measure 41 is simply poor public policy.  It promotes a future of mediocre or worse support for citizens while empowering special interests.  Oregon should be a leader in the encouragement and development of educational opportunities and social programs with positive outcomes, not part of a movement to demonstrate the future effects of reducing vital government services. 

The League of Women Voters of Oregon opposes Measure 41.  The League is a non-partisan political organization which conducts research and studies issues, adopting positions based on member agreement.  We believe in representative government that provides its citizens with adequate education, healthcare, and public safety services.  Measure 41 puts such programs in jeopardy. 

Please join the Oregon League of Women Voters in voting “No” on Measure 41.

President,
League of Women Voters of Oregon

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Measure 43 will not support traumatized teenage girls.  The League of Women Voters believes that parental notification would place legal, economic and emotional barriers in the way of a teenage girl to keep her from terminating her pregnancy.  Such delays and barriers are part of the cultural wars currently raging in America and have nothing to do with what is medically best for a young woman caught up in a traumatic and tragic situation.

Measure 43 may increase the risk of both physical and mental trauma to the teenager.  Many families are not as supportive as we would like.  If the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest by her father, adoptive father, family friend or guardian, then a certified letter could even put her life in danger. 

Measure 43 is too complex for most teenagers.  The administrative and court procedures, specified by Measure 43 to avoid a certified letter being sent to parents, are too complex for most teenagers to follow.  Finding help could be difficult, since it may be necessary to rely on lawyers and other professionals for support, a cost that few of any age can surmount.  Thus, it would seem that the real purpose of Measure 43 is to interfere in the reproductive rights of the individual. 

Let's face the facts.  Measure 43 is about stopping abortions, which is more important to the promoters of this measure than the lives and futures of vulnerable young women.  Oregonians have always supported a woman's right to choose.  We need to stand up for these young women who may have to make a most difficult decision, and who have no functional family for support.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed participation in government.

Please join the League of Women Voters of Oregon in voting "No" on Measure 43

Margaret Noel

President,
League of Women Voters of Oregon

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The League of Women Voters nationally and in Oregon has long supported public policies and efforts that help provide accessible and affordable health care.

We believe that Measure 44 is an important step toward providing all Oregonians with access to basic health care—including preventive care—and controlling health care costs.

Here is why the League of Women Voters of Oregon supports Measure 44:

It will lower prescription drug costs by up to 60 percent for more than one million Oregonians estimated to be without prescription coverage, by allowing them to be part of a purchasing pool.
By providing Oregonians access to the medications they need for healthy lifestyles, it helps contain health care costs for all residents because more expensive emergency room visits or treatments can be avoided.
It builds upon an innovative and already proven successful program. The Oregon Prescription Drug Program uses the power of the marketplace to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers and pharmacies, giving Oregonians valuable purchasing power. The more people who can join, the more everyone saves.
It won’t cost taxpayers anything extra because Measure 44 utilizes the structure of an existing, efficient program and the savings realized from deep discounts, rebates and grants negotiated with drug companies.
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization that encourages informed citizen participation in government.

Please join the
League of Women Voters of Oregon
in voting “yes” on Measure 44.

Measure 44 could help you, your family, a neighbor, a friend or a co-worker, with no new costs to taxpayers.
It will help build a healthier Oregon.

(This information furnished by the
League of Women Voters of Oregon.)

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The League of Women Voters of Oregon opposes
constitutional amendment Measure 45

Term limits are poor public policy. 
When term limits go into effect, the ability of legislators to make effective long-term policy decisions for the state is decreased.  Lawmakers who are elected for short periods of time often come with specific agendas to pass while they are in office, rather than considering the effects of legislation on the future.  If this constitutional amendment passes, 50 percent of the current House members and 30 percent of the Senate members would be ineligible for re-election in 2008.  This drain on legislative leadership diminishes the Legislature's efficiency and would create the same severe problems experienced by the Oregon Legislature over several legislative sessions following the passage of term limits in 1992.

Out-of-state interests are promoting term limits.  Contributions for the constitutional amendment Measure 45 initiative campaign came largely from U.S. Term Limits, located in New York.  This is not a home-grown initiative and comes at a time when other states are either rescinding previously passed term limits laws or courts are striking them down. No state has adopted term limits since 2000.

Term limits take power away from the Legislature.
Term limits result in a shift of power away from the Legislature because special interest lobbyists and bureaucrats may exert more influence on inexperienced legislators. Term limits have created a revolving door to legislative leadership positions and empowered special interests.

We already have term limits. They are called elections.
This constitutional amendment would take away the voters' ability to elect candidates of their choice.  Responsible and respected decision-makers are forced out of office by term limits despite support of constituents.

Oregon does not need term limits.

The League of Women Voters of Oregon,
a non-partisan political organization,

urges you to vote “No” on
constitutional amendment Measure 45.

(This information furnished by the
League of Women Voters of Oregon)

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Measure 48’s proposed spending cap would be a fiscal policy nightmare for Oregon. Unavoidable cost increases for healthcare, senior services and prisons would mean cuts to other programs like schools and public safety.  This proposal ignores the fact that government spending does not keep pace with population and inflation during a recession; therefore, state spending would fall farther and farther behind with each economic cycle. 

Measure 48 is poorly written.  With no effective date for implementation, it could require retroactive cuts in the current General Fund budget.  Because of this defect, the Voters' Pamphlet fiscal impact statement has two scenarios to indicate the decreased revenues for both 2005-07 and subsequent biennial budgets.

Oregonians should be concerned about these facts about Measure 48:

• It is an amendment to the Oregon Constitution, so its problems and unintended consequences would be difficult to change.
• It has no guidelines for accountability or spending priorities.
• 85% of the funding for the initiative came from just one person, New York developer Howard Rich, not from Oregonians.
• Coloradoans voted to suspend a similar spending cap last November.  The cuts to state schools, healthcare and public safety were so devastating that the former governor, a previous supporter of the limits, led the campaign for its suspension.

The League of Women Voters of Oregon, a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed participation in government, opposes Measure 48 because of its dire consequences for Oregon’s future. 

Please join the Oregon League of Women Voters in voting “No” on Measure 48.

President,
League of Women Voters of Oregon

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