OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

DEMOCRATS SEEK TO MISLEAD, CONFUSE OREGONIANS

ON UPCOMING TAX VOTES

House Republicans Support Direct Democracy in Oregon 

SALEM—In the remaining hours of the 2009 session, Democrats are pushing a bill to confuse Oregonians on new laws that are placed on the ballot via citizen referendum. If the Democrats’ permanent tax increases are successfully referred, HB 2414 would mislead Oregonians into voting “No” in order to keep them intact.

“Democrats know that Oregonians will reject their permanent job-killing tax increases,” said House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg). “In a cynical effort to deceive voters, they will try to fool voters into supporting the tax increases when Oregonians are intending to vote against them.”

House Republicans say HB 2414 flies in the face of historical precedent and could be challenged in court.  When the Legislature passed a tax increase in 2003, the Attorney General authored the ballot title for the citizen referendum and determined that Oregonians should vote the same way the Legislature did on the laws they passed. The principle is further supported by case law that finds when a referendum is involved, the legislative act becomes a measure to be voted on by the people.

“It’s irresponsible for Democrats to violate the legal principles of honest ballot voting,” Rep. Hanna said. “Deceiving voters on citizens’ referenda will only further erode the public’s confidence in the Legislature.”

House Republicans say they will continue to vote to uphold the integrity of Oregon’s process for initiatives and referenda. HB 2414 is just one of the bills the Legislature has acted on to eliminate and stifle direct democracy in Oregon.

“HB 2414 is just another example of how the Legislature is trying to keep average Oregonians out of the process,” Rep. Hanna said. “Oregonians are understandably concerned that the tax increases passed this session will kill jobs and further harm the state’s economy.  Rather than allowing the special interests to control Salem, House Republicans will try to keep our process open, straightforward and transparent for all citizens.”

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