Coming in 2008: Slew of Ore. ballot initiatives from the right

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Early signature-gathering efforts are already taking place around the state for the November 2008 election and it looks like there will be no shortage of ballot measures.

The majority of the measures are sponsored by a group of familiar conservative activists.

Anti-tax advocate Bill Sizemore says he is juggling seven potential ballot measures. The anti-tax group FreedomWorks and Republican Kevin Mannix are working on initiaves of their own.

But before anyone in Oregon votes on these topics, there are more immediate ballot measures at hand. Coming up in November 2007, voters will consider whether to increase the tax on cigarettes to pay for an expansion of children’s health insurance, and whether to revamp Oregon’s private property compensation law. Both of those measures were placed directly on the ballot by state lawmakers.