FreedomWorks Foundation Launches Education Campaign on Efforts by the Oregon Legislature to Gut the Initiative Process

Salem, OR-   While most Oregonians hold dear the right to propose policy by initiative, many in the Oregon House of Representatives do not. Thirty-one members of the Oregon House recently voted for HB 2082, a bill which complicates the initiative process, making it more difficult for citizens, regardless of political inclination, to refer issues to the statewide ballot. Often politicians do not like the initiative process because it allows citizens direct access to the law making process.  Politicians and their special interest friends have very little control over that process. 

If HB 2082 passes the Oregon senate, signature-gatherers would be compelled to register with the government and complete mandatory training before they could collect signatures for initiatives.  These new regulations are simply bureaucratic roadblocks designed to make it more difficult for citizens to influence public policy.

FreedomWorks’ West Coast Director Russ Walker commented:

“For years, politicians in Salem have been attempting to overturn ballot measures citizens have passed, and now they’ve come up with a new scheme to dismantle Oregon’s sacred initiative system. It is wrong and it is a betrayal of the public trust. The citizens of Oregon have a right to know what their politicians are doing, and we believe that Oregonians will rise in one voice and tell the politicians to leave the initiative process alone.”

For additional information please contact Russ Walker. He is available for comment at 503 709-8864.