CLF Joins Other Oregonians to Defeat Ballot Measures 41 & 48

Special interests, mostly from out-of-state, are at it again: Using Oregon's initiative system and today's political climate of accessible mass media, paid signature gathering and political consultants, in an attempt to trick Oregonians into passing really bad laws. Among the field of mostly bad measures that will be on the ballot in November, two stand out: Measures 41 and 48 - a double whammy to our state budget.

"These measures fly in the face of everything we are working for," said Co-Director, Jill Fuglister. "They will cripple public education, health care, affordable housing, pollution prevention and clean-up efforts and cause an economic backslide that we can't afford. Measure 48 even threatens our public lands by creating pressure to sell them and backfill other unfunded programs." On September 11th, Coalition for a Livable Future members voted to join Defend Oregon and defeat Ballot Measures 41 and 48.

Measure 48 would place an arbitrary state spending limit in Oregon’s constitution. The measure is modeled on Colorado’s “taxpayer bill of rights,” or “TABOR.” Last November, Colorado voters suspended their law for five years after Republican Governor Bill Owens, business leaders, and the state legislature agreed that TABOR was damaging Colorado’s universities, health care system, road maintenance, and other crucial public services. Check out Measure 48 Quacks like a Duck for more background on why we must defeat Measure 48 see

Another creation of anti-tax, anti-Oregon, Bill Sizemore, Measure 41 is a scheme to gouge the state budget. While the arcane and confusing ballot title, which reads: "Allows income tax deduction equal to federal exemptions deduction to substitute for state exemption credit” doesn't give voters any clue what it's impacts really are.  Like Measure 48, Measure 41 would be devastating if passed. Check out Fool's Gold for more background on why we must defeat Measure 41.