OREGON LEGISLATURE 2023
On June 24, the Oregon Legislature adjourned for the year, without adopting campaign finance reform:
After the press revealed that many Oregon politicians had received huge bags of cash (really!) from a marijuana merchant, the Oregon Legislature amended a bill so that it limits "currency" contributions from any "source" to any candidate to $100 per year. But it does not define "source" and it does not apply to other forms of untraceable money transfers, such as such as cashier's checks, money orders, Western Union, Wirex, Signal, Paysafecard, Cash App, Venmo, or Google Pay. The owners of the La Mota chain of pot stores "gave more than $200,000 in campaign contributions to top Democrats in recent years, including $68,000 to Kotek, $10,000 to [Oregon Senate President Rob] Wagner, and $45,000 to former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan." It appears that most of these contributions were in the form of bags of cash. Also in cash were contributions of $10,000 or more to the PAC of the Oregon House Democratic Caucus and to the PAC of the Oregon Senate Democratic Caucus ---- Willamette Week. More Info Here |
On June 8, 2023, the Democratic Leadership announced that it would not pursue campaign finance reform in the 2023 session. Curiously, this has received no press coverage. Democrats have majorities in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature in the 2023 session. The Legislature had conducted no hearings on any campaign finance reform bill. The bill that the Democratic Leadership is pushing -- HB 2003 -- is largely a recycle of HB 2680-1 from the 2021 session. |
Here is a statement about HB 2003 by Bill Vollmer for Act for Democracy and the Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network (COIN):
The Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network (COIN) is an affiliation of grassroots organizations throughout the state that promote progressive causes and legislation. Act for Democracy is a Portland-based member of the COIN Network. This testimony is being submitted on behalf of both entities.
In 2020, Oregon voters passed BM107 by a 78% - 22% margin, making crystal clear their desire for real campaign finance reform. Voters in Multnomah County and Portland adopted comprehensive campaign finance reform measures, including “ad paid for by” requirements, by overwhelming margins (over 87% “yes) in 2016 and 2018. Yet despite this evidence of overwhelming voter support for good campaign finance reform, the Legislature has yet to pass any meaningful legislation addressing the issue.
Three key goals of meaningful campaign finance reform on which I’m sure we can agree are:
In 2020, Oregon voters passed BM107 by a 78% - 22% margin, making crystal clear their desire for real campaign finance reform. Voters in Multnomah County and Portland adopted comprehensive campaign finance reform measures, including “ad paid for by” requirements, by overwhelming margins (over 87% “yes) in 2016 and 2018. Yet despite this evidence of overwhelming voter support for good campaign finance reform, the Legislature has yet to pass any meaningful legislation addressing the issue.
Three key goals of meaningful campaign finance reform on which I’m sure we can agree are:
- give more voice to regular Oregonians, especially those from marginalized communities, by limiting the ability of wealthy individuals, businesses other special interest groups to dominate our election process;
- build in strong transparency and accountability to restore public confidence in our elections;
- don't favor any one political party over others; and
- avoid loopholes and other ways to game the system.
The key concerns are outlined in these two documents. The first one is a shorter summary of the concerns.
As noted above, HB 2003 is very close to the same as HB 2680-1 from the 2021 session. That bill was opposed by a wide variety of democracy-focused groups, including the League of Women Voters of Oregon, Common Cause, OSPIRG, and Honest Elections Oregon. These groups and many others sent a Letter to the Legislature stating their opposition to HB 2680-1. The Editorial Board of The Oregonian issued a scathing editorial against it on May 26, 2021, entitled Campaign Finance Reform Bill -- Missing the ‘Reform’, concluding that the bill was more loopholes than limits.
Virtually all of the flaws in HB 2680-1 are copied into HB 2003, and the HB 2003 Problems documents (see above) show that even more flaws have been added.
Meanwhile, Senator Jeff Golden has introduced a campaign finance reform bill worth supporting, SB 500. He is going to submit amendments to that bill that will fully incorporate the provisions of two Honest Elections Oregon proposed statewide ballot measures for 2024, Initiative Petition 9 and Initiative Petition 23.
As noted above, HB 2003 is very close to the same as HB 2680-1 from the 2021 session. That bill was opposed by a wide variety of democracy-focused groups, including the League of Women Voters of Oregon, Common Cause, OSPIRG, and Honest Elections Oregon. These groups and many others sent a Letter to the Legislature stating their opposition to HB 2680-1. The Editorial Board of The Oregonian issued a scathing editorial against it on May 26, 2021, entitled Campaign Finance Reform Bill -- Missing the ‘Reform’, concluding that the bill was more loopholes than limits.
Virtually all of the flaws in HB 2680-1 are copied into HB 2003, and the HB 2003 Problems documents (see above) show that even more flaws have been added.
Meanwhile, Senator Jeff Golden has introduced a campaign finance reform bill worth supporting, SB 500. He is going to submit amendments to that bill that will fully incorporate the provisions of two Honest Elections Oregon proposed statewide ballot measures for 2024, Initiative Petition 9 and Initiative Petition 23.
Survey Shows Most Oregon Candidates are Ignoring Voter Demands for Campaign Finance Reform (October 2022) Statewide Survey Results 27 earn A’s - 23 earn and B’s - 4 earn C’s - 9 earn D’s 104 earn F’s Tina Kotek earns best grade among candidates for Governor Read More about the Survey |