Ten initiative proposals gather more than $100,000

Friday, May 05, 2006 |
SALEM (AP) - Ten proposed initiatives for the Nov. 7 ballot have collected more than $100,000 each according to reports filed Thursday with the State Elections Division.
The richest proposal, to approve Oregon's first nontribal casino, at a defunct greyhound track in Multnomah County, had raised $348,045 but spent only $470.
Backers still lack clearance to circulate petitions to remove the 1984 state constitutional ban on casinos and to authorize the casino they have in mind. Tribal casinos so far are not affected by the state ban.
Opponents have until May 16 to ask the Oregon Supreme Court to review summaries prepared by the attorney general. The deadline for filing signatures is July 7.
Campaigns for three other proposed initiatives have topped $200,000. They are:
€ Election of appellate judges: $265,307 raised and spent on a measure that would require election by district, instead of statewide, of the seven Supreme Court justices and 10 Court of Appeals judges. A similar measure failed in 2002.
€ Abortion: $244,111 raised and $211,636 spent on a measure that would require notice to parents before a teenage younger than 18 can undergo an abortion. A similar measure failed in 1990.
€ Open primary: $207,776 raised and $189,291 spent on a measure that would revamp Oregon's primary election so that the top two finishers, regardless of party, would go on to the general election.
Supporters of six other initiatives each raised $100,000 or more:
€ Spending limit: A proposed Colorado-style spending limit drew $189,122. Voters rejected a spending limit in 2000.
€ Condemnation: a proposal for restrictions on government authority to obtain private property drew $158,253.
€ Term limits: Proposed new limits on legislative terms drew $151,497. Voters in 1992 approved lifetime limits of six years in the House, eight in the Senate, and 12 overall. The Oregon Supreme Court overturned them in 2002. The new proposal would set a 14-year overall limit counting previous service.
€ Health Care: Hope for Oregon Families, whose measure would require the Legislature to provide universal health care, raised $138,115.
€ Insurance rates: A measure barring insurance companies from using credit scoring to calculate rates and premiums drew $110,625, mostly from Loren Parks, a reclusive medical-equipment manufacturer who moved from Oregon to Nevada. The money went to an intermediary, rather than directly to Bill Sizemore, who is under a court order prohibiting him from raising or spending money for political purposes.
€ Nursing homes: Staffing levels at nursing homes would be increased under an initiative bankrolled at $102,142.
A proposed constitutional change in Oregon requires 100,840 signatures, a new law, 75,630. The secretary of state will have until Aug. 6 to verify signatures.
Sponsors must submit final financial reports by July 24.
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