HONEST ELECTIONS - OREGON
Why Do This?
Oregon is almost unique in the United States. There are only 5 other states which have no limitations on campaign contributions.
The State Integrity Investigation of the Center for Public Integrity in November 2015 graded Oregon an overall "F" in systems to avoid government corruption. Oregon was ranked 49th worst out of 50 states in control of "Political Financing," beating only Mississippi on that score.
Big money, special interest money dominates Oregon politics at all levels of government in both candidate elections and ballot measures. Some examples:
The State Integrity Investigation of the Center for Public Integrity in November 2015 graded Oregon an overall "F" in systems to avoid government corruption. Oregon was ranked 49th worst out of 50 states in control of "Political Financing," beating only Mississippi on that score.
Big money, special interest money dominates Oregon politics at all levels of government in both candidate elections and ballot measures. Some examples:
- Legislators use pass-through contributions/donations to other legislators/candidates to hide true source of contributions. Read more.
- Phil Knight contributes $380,000 to Republicans in competitive legislative races, by Hillary Borrud Oct. 6, 2016, The Oregonian Read more. Update: Phil Knight contributes $1 M to Republican Knute Buehler Read more.
- Did campaign donations influence Commissioner Steve Novick’s vote on Terminal 1? City Commissioner received $1,000 just 4 days before vote Read more.
- Just 600 big donors (including individuals, business entities, labor organizations, and PACs) accounted for nearly 60 percent of all money given to city campaigns in the last completed election cycle. Read more
- Big Tobacco Makes Campaign Donations in Oregon Read more
- Oregon Gov. Kate Brown And AG Ellen Rosenblum Blaze The Oregon Trail Of Political Patronage Read more
In 2006, Oregon voters were asked to approve ballot measure 47. M47 contained limits on campaign contributions/expenditures and a lot more. Voters approved the measure but it has never been enforced because the Oregon Secretaries of State (there have been 4 since its approval) have refused. They claim that the Oregon Supreme Court has declared that all such limits are an unconstitutional infringement of free speech rights under the Oregon Constitution.
In November 2016, Multnomah County voter approved a set of limits on campaign contributions/expenditures by almost 90%. Those limits are expected to generate a court challenge on their constitutionality. Passage of this constitutional amendment would eliminate the reasoning for such a challenge, as the constitutionality of limits would now be part of the constitution.
In November 2018, Portland voters also approved a ballot measure almost identical to the Multnomah County measure.
In November 2016, Multnomah County voter approved a set of limits on campaign contributions/expenditures by almost 90%. Those limits are expected to generate a court challenge on their constitutionality. Passage of this constitutional amendment would eliminate the reasoning for such a challenge, as the constitutionality of limits would now be part of the constitution.
In November 2018, Portland voters also approved a ballot measure almost identical to the Multnomah County measure.