Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s initiative system faces a new round of restrictions under a bill given final approval by the Oregon Senate Monday.  Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

Supporters of the bill include Democratic Secretary of State Kate Brown.  She says the measure would help prevent fraud by increasing the penalties against violators of initiative laws.  

It would allow officials to throw out signatures collected by people who have been convicted of certain elections offenses in the past five years. And it would hold chief petitioners more accountable for violations by their paid signature gatherers.   

Republicans in the Senate argued strenuously against the bill.  Minority leader Ted Ferrioli suggested the bill was motivated by liberal politicians fed up with conservative-themed ballot measures.

Sen. Ted Ferrioli:  “Let’s not kid anybody.  This is about not liking the outcome of the citizen’s initiative process.”

But Ross Day of the conservative activist group Common Sense For Oregon said he wasn’t overly concerned about the bill.  He said legislative action two years ago placed even more significant limits on the initiative process.

Online:

Oregon House Bill 2005-A