Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon Elections Division opened an investigation Thursday into Bill Sizemore’s campaign activities during the 2008 elections. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The investigation will look into whether the initiative sponsor filed the right paperwork for the five organizations he controlled.

Secretary of State, Kate Brown, wants to find out whether any of those organizations should have filed as Political Action Committees, and whether Sizemore reported all contributions.

Kate Brown: “We want to make sure that voters know where the money in politics is coming from. We have very extensive reporting laws in this state and we’re just wanting to make sure that Mr. Sizemore complies with the law – like everyone else in this state.”

A Multnomah County judge indicated Sizemore might not be reporting all his campaigning activities, when she ruled on a lawsuit between him and the Oregon Education Association.

Sizemore calls  this new investigation political pay-back from the Secretary of State to unions that helped get her elected.