Pro-Democracy Groups File Ballot Measures to Reform Oregon’s Campaign
Finances
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 7, 2021
PORTLAND, Oregon -
Honest Elections
Oregon, a coalition of pro-democracy groups and advocates, filed ballot
initiatives to enhance the
campaign finance system in Oregon, reduce the perception and reality of
corruption, and empower more voices in Oregon’s elections.
These
measures:
include large campaign
contribution limits to reduce outsized big money influence
require political ads to
transparently reveal their largest funders
create a small donor matching
program to make smaller contributions
matter and improve opportunities for candidates from historically
marginalized communities
“I am honored to support the ballot campaign finance reform initiatives
filed today. These measures can help to restore voters’ confidence in
healthy democracy. Voters must know that our elections are fair and
free of undue influence by powerful dark money at the expense of
voters. We can accomplish this and restore trust in our political
system.”
--Rebecca
Gladstone, President, League of Women Voters of Oregon
“I
am proud of the measures we have filed and the extensive process we
embarked on to craft the best policies possible with both local and
national experts. We hope in the coming months, during the ballot title
review process, to continue building a big tent to support these
measures and to continue to work with historically
marginalized communities. We know that
voters want to take big money out of politics. These initiatives could
move Oregon from the Wild Wild West of campaign finance to leading the
way with one the best programs in the nation.”
--Jason
Kafoury, Honest Elections Oregon
Honest
Elections Oregon worked successfully to pass campaign finance reforms
in Multnomah County (2016) and the City of Portland
(2018), proving not only that such policies
are needed and popular but also that they work. The goal is to simply
limit the corrosive impact money has had in Oregon politics and hold
accountable those who attempt to subvert the will of democracy by
buying elections.
The initiatives will start
gathering qualifying signatures
as soon as today.