Similar documents

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO A-ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 229

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON

County Initiative and Referendum Manual

I N I T I A T I V E P E T I T I O N

Repeals law prohibiting law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

Senate Bill 229 Ordered by the Senate May 22 Including Senate Amendments dated May 22

CHAPTER 2 INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND LEGISLATIVE SUBMISSION

May 8, Via Facsimile ( ) and electronic mail

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 4033

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON

Libertarian Party of Oregon 2018 Primary Election Rules Adopted Amended

Digest: Vargas v. City of Salinas

I N I T I A T I V E P E T I T I O N

Initiatives and Referenda Handbook

79th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Regular Session

Winding Down the Campaign. December 7, 2016

OREGON LAW REVIEW Winter 1999 Volume 78, Number 4 (Cite as: 78 Or. L. Rev. 941)

Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON RULES, ETHICS, & ELECTIONS ANALYSIS. Committee on Rules, Ethics, & Elections and Representative Goodlette

Restrictions on Political Activities

STATE OF MICHIGAN IN THE COURT OF APPEALS BRIEF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND BOARD OF CANVASSERS IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT FOR MANDAMUS

I N I T I A T I V E P E T I T I O N

To coordinate, encourage, and assist county growth through the County central committees,

HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL 3009

CANON 4. RULE 4.1 Political and Campaign Activities of Judges and Judicial Candidates in General

STATE OF NEW JERSEY. ASSEMBLY, No th LEGISLATURE. Sponsored by: Assemblyman MICHAEL PATRICK CARROLL District 25 (Morris and Somerset)

I N I T I A T I V E P E T I T I O N

California Ballot Reform Panel Survey Page 1

LAWS OF KIRIBATI REVISED EDITION 1980 CHAPTER 29A ELECTION OF BERETITENTI ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I PRELIMINARY PART II NOMINATION

Practical Legal Tips for Ballot Measures. May 8, 2018

House Bill 3521 Ordered by the House June 24 Including House Amendments dated May 24 and June 24

POLITICAL REFORM ACT TASK FORCE TENTATIVE PROPOSALS. 12/13/10 Draft I. ELECTRONIC FILING & STATE/LOCAL CONSISTENCY

Charter Amendment HRC Legislative Body Resolution

ORDINANCE REPEALING AND SUPERSEDING ORDINANCES 300-H AND 302-H FOR THE PURPOSE

County Referendum Process

Guide to Submitting Ballot Arguments

CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND BALLOT MEASURE GUIDE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON FOR THE COUNTY OF MARION. Case No. OVERVIEW OF CASE

Ohio Elections Commission & Campaign Finance Law

79th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Regular Session. Senate Bill 683 SUMMARY

ELECTOR ORGANIZATION GUIDE

The Supreme Court upholds the action of the Title Board in. setting the title and ballot title and submission clause for

May 31, Consensus Questions Initiative and Referendum Update

2018 Bill 14. Fourth Session, 29th Legislature, 67 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 14 AN ACT TO EMPOWER UTILITY CONSUMERS

STATE OF OREGON LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL COMMITTEE

A statute addressed in this opinion has changed. Please consult current Florida law.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND BALLOT MEASURE GUIDE

2007 Thomson/West. No Claim to Orig. U.S. Govt. Works.

SUPREME COURT STATE OF COLORADO. 2 East 14th Avenue Denver, CO COURT USE ONLY Case No. 2014SA151

SUPREME COURT STATE OF COLORADO

Advocacy 101 for Funders

No. 21: Determination of Pre-Election Matters

A Guide to Placing a County Initiative on the Ballot

CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND BALLOT MEASURE GUIDE

2014 CO 53. No. 14SA135, In re Matter of the Title, Ballot Title and Submission Clause for #129 Single Subject Clear Title.

ADMINISTRATION Article 2. Elected Officials 1-203

Report of the Nonprofit Organizations Law Section of the Oregon State Bar on House Bill 2609 (2017)

Rational Voters and Political Advertising

RESOLUTION NO

County Counsel Memorandum

Respondents Suzanne Staiert, Sharon Eubanks, and Glenn Roper, in their official capacities as members of the Title Board (collectively,

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2001 SESSION LAW SENATE BILL 1054

INFORMATION ON FILING A PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW

In this consolidated original proceeding Philip Hayes. challenges the actions of the Title Setting Board in setting

Public Sector Employment and Management Amendment Act 2008 No 16

ORDINANCE WHEREAS, Section 7.01 of the Charter of the City of Daytona Beach Shores, Florida

ASSEMBLY, No STATE OF NEW JERSEY. 218th LEGISLATURE PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

John G. Barisone Atchison, Barisone, Condotti & Kovacevich 333 Church Street Santa Cruz, CA THE INITIATIVE PROCESS AFTER PROPOSITION 218

Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Amendment Act 2009 No 22

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW. A Note from the Chair OREGON NEWSLETTER. Published by the Oregon State Bar Constitutional Law Section July No.

CALLING AN ELECTION OR PLACING A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT FOR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS

HOW TO PLACE A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT

Levy County Candidate Handbook

Amendments to Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure

ORDINANCE NO

CHAPTER Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 259

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON PETITION TO REVIEW BALLOT TITLE CERTIFIED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (INITIATIVE PETITION #43 (2018))

SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA MARICOPA COUNTY CV /02/2013 HONORABLE LISA DANIEL FLORES

Elections: Campaign Finance and Voting

State Candidate s Manual: Individual Electors

Only a Plebiscite Authority can start up a plebiscite:

Contributions to school district levy or bond issues

RESPONDENTS OPENING BRIEF

STATE OF FLORIDA FLORIDA ELECTIONS COMMISSI.ON

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON. STATE OF OREGON, Plaintiff, THOMAS HARRY BRAY, Defendant. J. B., Appellant,

Guide to Submitting Ballot Arguments

Public and Private Welfare State Institutions

Oregon. Score: 8.5. Restrictions on Oregon s Initiative & Referendum Rights. Oregon s Initiative & Referendum Rights

Tennessee Administrative Law Manual

Addendum to Board Policy a Delegation of Board Authority

AUG 0 3 2m NORTH KITSAP FIRE & RESCUE AUDITOR/EL KITSAP COUN'Ty''

ACLU Opposes S The Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections ( DISCLOSE ) Act

PETITIONERS: Timothy Markham; Chris Forsyth, RESPONDENTS: Greg Brophy and Dan Gibbs, and

Federal Tax-Exempt Status of Churches

Illinois Health and Hospital Association POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY BY TAX- EXEMPT HOSPITALS: LEGAL GUIDELINES

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Federal Restrictions on State and Local Campaigns, Political Groups, and Individuals

31 USC 321. NB: This unofficial compilation of the U.S. Code is current as of Jan. 4, 2012 (see

Understanding the Citizens United Ruling

Transcription:

COMMENTS ON DRAFT BALLOT TITLE FOR PETITION 12 (2018) April 28, 2017 Elizabeth Trojan and Ron Buel [hereinafter "we"] are electors and are the chief petitioners on this petition. We o er these comments on the draft ballot title (DBT) for Petition 12 (2018). The entire text of the measure is this: Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oregon, there is added an Article II, Section 25, of the Constitution of Oregon: 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 e ect of in uencing the outcome of any election. The draft ballot title reads: Amends Constitution to allow laws regulating political campaign contributions/expenditures. Revives previous voter-enacted campaign nance measure. Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote amends constitution to authorize laws regulating campaign contributions/expenditures; 2006 voter-enacted initiative takes e ect, limiting contributions/expenditures and imposing disclosure/reporting requirements. Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains Oregon Constitutions current provisions, which prohibit campaign contribution and expenditure limits; voter-enacted contribution/expenditure limits and disclosure/reporting requirements remain inoperative. Summary: Amends the Oregon Constitution. The free-expression provision of the Oregon Constitution (Article I, section 8) has been interpreted by the Oregon Supreme Court to protect most political campaign contributions and expenditures from limits. The proposed measure amends Oregons constitution to allow laws that regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. If the amendment passes, Measure 47 (enacted by the voters in 2006) will become operative and will alter current election laws. Measure 47 limits campaign contributions and expenditures, and establishes new reporting and advertising disclosure requirements for the sources and amounts of campaign contributions/expenditures. Even if the amendment passes, laws regulating campaign contributions and COMMENTS ON DRAFT BALLOT TITLE FOR PETITION 12 (2018) Page 1

expenditures (including Measure 47) still must comply with the free-speech provision of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. I. CAPTION. ORS 250.035(2)(a) requires a "caption of not more than 15 words that reasonably identi es the subject matter of the state measure." The DBT reads: Amends Constitution to allow laws regulating political campaign contributions/expenditures. Revives previous voter-enacted campaign nance measure. We suggest: Amends Constitution: Allows laws regulating political campaign contributions/expenditures. Revives previous voter-enacted campaign nance reform [or limits] measure. (15 words) The DBTs caption adds "to" after "Amends Constitution" instead of inserting the traditional colon there (which does not count as a word). Substituting a colon in place of "to" allows re nement of the caption to include the word "reform" or the word "limits" just before the last word of the caption. This clari es the nature of the previous voter-enacted measure. We agree that Petition 12 "revives previous voter-enacted campaign nance measure." That was a prominent part of the certi ed ballot title for Petition 77 (2016). We also agree that the previous measure should be referred to as a "voterenacted measure." That distinguishes it from a measure enacted by the Legislature and clari es that Petition 12 does not seek to reinstate a law enacted by the Legislature. We also agree that Petition 12 is correctly interpreted as referring to "laws regulating political campaign contributions/expenditures." Petition 12 refers to "contributions and expenditures (including transfers of money or resources) with the purpose or e ect of in uencing the outcome of any election." That phrase is the same as that used in Petition 77 (2016), where the certi ed ballot title correctly abbreviated it to "laws limiting campaign contributions/expenditures." It is also essentially the same as that used in Petition 8 (2006), where the certi ed ballot title correctly abbreviated it to laws * * * regulating campaign contributions, expenditures." See Meyer v. Bradbury, 341 Or 288, 142 P3d 1031 (2006). COMMENTS ON DRAFT BALLOT TITLE FOR PETITION 12 (2018) Page 2

II. YES/NO STATEMENTS. ORS 250.035(2)(b) requires a "simple and understandable statement of not more than 25 words that describes the result if the state measure is approved," while ORS 250.035(2)(c) requires a similar statement describing the result if the measure is not approved. A. THE "YES" STATEMENT. The DBT reads: Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote amends constitution to authorize laws regulating campaign contributions/expenditures; 2006 voter-enacted initiative takes e ect, limiting contributions/expenditures and imposing disclosure/reporting requirements. We suggest: Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote authorizes laws limiting campaign contributions/expenditures; revives 2006 voter-enacted statewide initiative limiting campaign contributions/expenditures, requiring political advertisements identify largest campaign funders. (24 words) The DBTs "yes" statement omits a central, key feature of Petition 12: reviving the 2006 voter-enacted measures requirement that political advertisements identify the largest donors to the campaign (or to the independent expenditure e ort). This is known as a "tagline" or "disclaimer" requirement. It is not necessary, or traditional, for the "yes" statement to repeat that the measure amends the Oregon Constitution. And "revives" can be used in place of "takes e ect." The saved words can instead clarify the measure by stating that the 2006 initiative was "statewide" and to more speci cally identify the major disclosure requirement of the 2006 measure ("requiring political advertisements identify largest campaign funders"). If it is absolutely necessary to again state that this measure amends the constitution (although ballot titles for many amendments do not mention that in the "yes" statement), we suggest: Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote amends constitution to authorize laws limiting campaign contributions/expenditures; revives 2006 voter-enacted initiative limiting campaign contributions/expenditures, requiring political advertisements identify largest funders. (25 words) Also, the DBTs "yes" statement is only 24 words, so at least the word "statewide" should be inserted after "voter-enacted." COMMENTS ON DRAFT BALLOT TITLE FOR PETITION 12 (2018) Page 3

B. THE "NO" STATEMENT. The DBT reads: Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains Oregon Constitutions current provisions, which prohibit campaign contribution and expenditure limits; voter-enacted contribution/expenditure limits and disclosure/reporting requirements remain inoperative. We suggest: Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains Oregon Constitutions prohibition on political campaign contribution and expenditure limits; 2006 voter-enacted contribution/expenditure limits and disclosure/reporting requirements remain inoperative. (24 words) Our version uses fewer words to convey the same meaning, allowing us to add the word "political" to more speci cally identify "campaign contribution and expenditure limits." Our version is 24 words. COMMENTS ON DRAFT BALLOT TITLE FOR PETITION 12 (2018) Page 4

III. SUMMARY. ORS 250.035(2)(d) requires a ballot title summary consisting of a "concise and impartial statement of not more than 125 words summarizing the state measure and its major e ect." The draft ballot title summary reads: Summary: Amends the Oregon Constitution. The free-expression provision of the Oregon Constitution (Article I, section 8) has been interpreted by the Oregon Supreme Court to protect most political campaign contributions and expenditures from limits. The proposed measure amends Oregons constitution to allow laws that regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. If the amendment passes, Measure 47 (enacted by the voters in 2006) will become operative and will alter current election laws. Measure 47 limits campaign contributions and expenditures, and establishes new reporting and advertising disclosure requirements for the sources and amounts of campaign contributions/expenditures. Even if the amendment passes, laws regulating campaign contributions and expenditures (including Measure 47) still must comply with the free-speech provision of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. We suggest: Summary: Amends the Oregon Constitution. The free-expression provision of the Oregon Constitution (Article I, section 8) has been interpreted by the Oregon Supreme Court to ban some laws that limit political campaign contributions and expenditures. The proposed measure amends Oregons Constitution to allow laws that regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. If the amendment passes, Measure 47 (enacted by the voters in 2006) will become operative and will alter election laws. Measure 47 (1) limits political campaign contributions and expenditures, (2) establishes new reporting requirements for the sources and amounts of campaign contributions/expenditures, and (3) requires political advertisements to identify the largest funders of the campaign. Laws regulating campaign contributions and expenditures (including Measure 47) still must comply with the free-speech provision of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. (124 words) First, the sweeping statement about current interpretation of Article I, 8, is unwarranted. That section has not been interpreted by the Oregon Supreme Court to ban necessarily "most" laws that limit political campaign contributions or expenditures. Thus, we use the word "some" to moderate that statement. Second, we believe clarity is served by referring to the Oregon Supreme Courts current view of the Oregon Constitution as "to ban some laws that limit political COMMENTS ON DRAFT BALLOT TITLE FOR PETITION 12 (2018) Page 5

STATEMENT ON COMPLIANCE WITH PROCEDURAL CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PETITION 12 (2018) April 28, 2017 Elizabeth Trojan and Ron Buel [hereinafter "we"] are electors and are the chief petitioners on this petition. We o er this statement regarding Petition 12s compliance with procedural constitutional requirements. The Secretary of States process for accepting such comments is inherently unfair to chief petitioners and other supporters of a proposed measure, because it allows opponents to le comments anytime before 5 p.m. on the nal day that comments can be led by the chief petitioners, thus allowing chief petitioners no opportunity to see the arguments made by opponents or to respond to those arguments. Some may argue that Petition 12 violates Article XVII of the Oregon Constitution by proposing multiple unrelated amendments. The Secretary of State correctly rejected this argument when it was raised against Petition 8 (2006), which became Measure 46 (2006). ACLU then led suit to appeal the Secretarys determination. After over 18 months of litigation, and considerable cost to the State and to the petitioners, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that the multiple amendments proposed by Petition 8 (2006) were "closely related" and thus allowed by Article XVII. Meyer v. Bradbury, 341 Or 288, 142 P3d 1031 (2006). That decision has since governed "multiple amendment" cases in Oregon: State v. Rogers, 352 Or 510 (2012); Martinez v. Kulongoski, 220 OrApp 142 (2008); Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team (LINT) v. Kitzhaber, 341 Or 496 (2006). Some may raise that Petition 77 (2016) was rejected by Secretary of State Atkins on "single amendment" grounds. The chief petitioners there declined to appeal that decision to the courts, because of the late date within the election cycle. Petition 77 contained separate subsections: Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oregon, there is added an Article II, Section 25, of the Constitution of Oregon: Oregon laws consistent with the freedom of speech guarantee of the United States Constitution may: (1) limit contributions and expenditures (including transfers of money or resources) to in uence the outcome of any election; and (2) require disclosure of the true sources and amounts of such contributions or expenditures (a) to the public and (b) in the communications they fund. Petition 12 contains no such enumeration or bifurcation. It simply states: Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oregon, there is added an Article II, Section 25, of the Constitution of Oregon: STATEMENT ON PROCEDURAL CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS RE PETITION 12 (2018) Page 1

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 e ect of in uencing the outcome of any election. Petition 8 (2006) read: Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oregon, there is added an Article II, Section 24, of the Constitution of Oregon, as follows: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the people through the initiative process, or the Legislative Assembly by a three-fourths vote of both Houses, may enact and amend laws to prohibit or limit contributions and expenditures, of any type or description, to in uence the outcome of any election. Note that Petition 8 (2006) included authority for (2) laws to prohibit contributions, (2) laws to limit contributions, (3) laws to prohibit expenditures, and (4) laws to limit expenditures. The Oregon Supreme Court con rmed that Petition 8 (2006) did not run afoul of Oregon Constitution, Article XVII, section 1. It is not necessary that an amendment proposed by initiative have no conjunctions in it. Note the very similar wording of Petition 8 (2006) and Petition 12. Both refer to contributions and expenditures to "to in uence the outcome of any election" or with that purpose or e ect. The Oregon Supreme Court concluded that Petition 8 (2006) did not contain unrelated amendments: First, IP 8 does not change di erent constitutional provisions that confer di erent fundamental rights on di erent groups of persons. See Armatta, 327 Or at 28384, 959 P2d 49 (changes to constitutional provisions involving separate constitutional rights granted to di erent persons not closely related for separate-vote requirement); see also Lehman, 333 Or at 246 n9, 37 P.3d 989 (when separate constitutional provisions conferring separate rights on di erent groups are a ected by proposed amendment, it is "strong indication" that provisions not closely related for separate-vote requirement). Meyer v. Bradbury, 341 Or 288, 301, 142 P3d 1031, 1038, 2006 WL 2567430 (2006). It is easy to observe that Petition 8 (2006) certainly contained more alleged "amendments" than does Petition 12. Some persons may le comments stating that Petition 12 violates Article IV, Section (1)(2)(d). That section states: (d) An initiative petition shall include the full text of the proposed law or amendment to the Constitution. A proposed law or amendment to the STATEMENT ON PROCEDURAL CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS RE PETITION 12 (2018) Page 2