HONEST ELECTIONS MULTNOMAH COUNTY

For immediate release:
April 06, 2017

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Multnomah County Commission votes to throw voter-enacted campaign finance reform measure into the courts, without defending it

Today the Multnomah County Commission voted to throw the voter-enacted campaign finance reform Charter Amendment (Measure 26-184) into the courts, without defending it from any claims that is it not valid or constitutional.

Voters enacted Measure 26-184 by a count of 89% to 11%.

"Throwing the measure into court, without defending its validity or constitutionality, is certainly not implementing the will of the voters, who clearly demanded campaign finance reform," said David Delk of the Alliance for Democracy and Honest Elections Multnomah County, the group that spearheaded the campaign for Measure 26-184.

"The corporations and other donors can now challenge Measure 26-184 and not face a defense from the Multnomah County Attorney," noted Dan Meek, volunteer attorney for Honest Elections Multnomah County.

The measure amended the Multnomah County Charter to:

1. Requires that each Communication (defined) to voters related to a Multnomah County Candidate Election prominently disclose the five largest true original sources of funding (in excess of $500) for the Communication.

2. Limits contributions to support or oppose candidates for public office in Multnomah County elections to $500 per person or political committee.

3. Requires any entity that spends more than $750 per election cycle on independent expenditures to register as a political committee, which requires reporting of the sources of its funding.

4. Limits independent expenditures in any Multnomah County candidate race to:

• $5,000 per individual
• $10,000 per political committee, but only from contributions by individuals of $500 or less per year.

For more information: honest-elections.com info@honest-elections.com

Beginning now, the Oregon Progressive Party, Alliance for Democracy, Economic Justice Action Group and others have started gathering signatures on a measure to appear on the Nov 2018 Oregon ballot to allow limits on special interest money in Oregon elections.  Oregon is one of only four states with no limitations and has among the most expensive elections in the nation.

The measure would amend the Oregon Constitution and reads:

Oregon laws consistent with the freedom of speech guarantee of the United States Constitution may regulate contributions and expenditures (including transfers of money or resources) with the purpose or effect of influencing the outcome of any election.

Right now we are gathering 1000 valid Oregon voter signatures in order to turn this into the Secretary of State and get the official ballot measure signatures sheets. 

We Need Your Help! 

Contact David Delk, Chair, Oregon Progressive Party.  He will mail you signatures sheets.  .
      Just email him at davidafd@ymail.com, let him know how many sheets you want (10 signatures per sheet) and your contact info (mailing address, phone number and email address.  Or give him a call at 503.232.5495

Thanks for your help.

David e. Delk, Chair
Oregon Progressive Party

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