TO MY FELLOW CITIZENS
The "Committee" behind Measure 24 claims says that the reason we have this measure is because "Oregon's business community played a major role in encouraging the state's decision makers to pursue this concept and place it before the people." This is absolutely true, for big utilities and large corporations like Boise Cascade, First Interstate Bank, Georgia Pacific Corporation, Northwest Natural Gas, Portland General Electric, U.S. Bank, and US West Communications are behind Measure 24.
The Campaign Treasurer for the "Committee" supporting Measure 24 is Vice President of Public Affairs for Portland General Electric, the same utility that broke the spending record in all three ballot measure campaigns to close Trojan. PGE misled Oregon voters into believing that Trojan was safe and economical, and that by closing Trojan the lights would go out. None of this was true! Now they are telling us that they support Measure 24 to curb "special interest abuse of this sacred citizen process" and stop people like me "who have demonstrated a willingness to use the initiative process for their own purposes." This is coming from corporations who have always used Oregon's Legislature for their own purposes.
WHOM ARE THEY TRYING TO FOOL?
It was corruption in Oregon's Legislature that led to the creation of the initiative process and similar concerns drive Oregon citizens to use it now. Do you really believe that PGE has brought us Measure 24 because it cares about the right of "all Oregonians to decide which initiatives qualify for the statewide ballot." All Oregonians already decide whether a ballot measure becomes law! The City Club of Portland Report said it best: "Such changes would simply increase the power and advantage of individuals or interests with money compared with individuals or interests with less or no resources." (The Initiative and Referendum in Oregon, Page 37, February 16, 1996)
STOP BIG MONEY FROM TAKING OVER
THE INITIATIVE PROCESS!
VOTE NO ON MEASURE 24!
(This information furnished by Lloyd Marbet.)
(This space purchased for $500 in accordance with 1993 Or. Laws 811 §11.)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by the State of Oregon, nor does the state warrant the accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument.