2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures bomb books budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal portland mayor president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes television terrorism theater third parties timber payments transportation union university of oregon violence washington water wildfire women

Perhaps what needs reform is the reckless state legislature that votes on hundreds of bills each year, clearly that is excessive, i guess the legislature needs all the reforms that some people propose for the initiative process........and more.

Lets face it the unions and other groups spend millions of $$$$$$$$$$$ dollars$$$$$$$$$$ and lots of time and other resources battling initiatives and they see and opportunity to stop initiatives before they become a threat to them

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
view in context

I don't see the problem with initiatives dealing with the same subject different years. It has taken years for same sex marriages/civil unions to become reality in parts of the country, how long did it take for others to gain what they wanted? Are you saying that once an election is taken that the issue should not come up again, or need to wait an arbitrary amount of years??

It seems that the established powers: Legislators, Governor, bureaucrats, labor unions and others feel threatened by the initiative process and try to restrict it to where it is no longer a viable means for citizens to affect change. These groups have enough clout and power to get what they want through the political process by backroom dealing and large campaign donations. It is no mystery why they would want to limit or eliminate it.

The voters are the only ones that should decide if the proposal is "beneficial to the majority of Oregonians" i wonder how the government would react if a group could decided if their legislation is"benefical to the majority of Oregonians"?

I find it odd that some of the commentators don't want to amend the constitution by initiative but are comfortable amending the right of the people's initiative process as PROVIDED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

I guess some people simply feel threatened by the peoples voice...

You know simply having an initiative being circulated is one of the most awesome forms of speech whether the measure gets to the ballot or not whether the measure is passed or not an initiative encourages speech on important topics.

The right of initiative is powerful as a check to unbridled political power in the legislature beholden to special interest. Don't be too quick to diminish this power as you never know when you will want to use it.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
view in context