Tag: Money in politics

Campaign Finance Reform Forums

Are you worried about the influence of BIG money on politics? The League is! Come weigh in on next steps for campaign finance reform in Oregon.

Representative Dan Rayfield, who helped lead the charge for campaign finance reform in the 2019 Legislature, is hosting a series of forums around Oregon.

PORTLAND AREA FORUMS

  • Tuesday, September 10th, from 7:00-8:30pm
  • Clackamas Community College, Harmony Community Room–7738 SE Harmony Rd, Milwaukie, OR 97222;
  • OR Wednesday, September 11th, from 6:00-7:45pm
  • Midland Library –805 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97233

What will be covered

Each forum will include:

  • a 20-minute presentation on the history and politics of campaign finance reform in Oregon
  • a 20-minute discussion of the recently passed campaign finance reform legislation
  • a 40-minute community discussion on various campaign finance limit goals and proposals

Oregon is one of five states without campaign contribution limits.

“We believe this statewide tour will help drive a local conversation about campaign finance reform and keep pressure on the legislature to pass a campaign contribution limits,” said Rebecca Gladstone, President of the League of Women Voters of Oregon.

“We made real progress on campaign finance reform during the session, but it’s not enough,” said Rayfield.“We need to do more in 2020 and I want to hear directly from Oregonians on what they want their campaign finance system to look like.”

see what the League is doing

The League of Women Voters of Portland and the Oregon LWV have filed a “Friend of the Court” brief in the Oregon Supreme Court. It supports the campaign contribution limits passed by voters in Multnomah County. See our earlier post here.

More Events

See the list of Upcoming Events in our sidebar to the right.

  • August 26 on the Portland Police Association contract
  • September 16 on Innovations in Education

League Submits Brief to Supreme Court

Support for Limiting MoNey in Politics

The League of Women Voters of Oregon and the League of Women Voters of Portland have submitted a Friend of the Court Brief (Amicus Brief) to the Oregon Supreme Court. We are supporting the right of voters to limit campaign contributions in Multnomah County elections. In 2016, Multnomah County voters passed Ballot Measure 26-184 with 89% yes votes! It was an outstanding victory for reforming money in politics. If enacted, the measure would limit campaign contributions to $500 or less per person for each candidate. It would not allow contributions to candidates from corporations. It also would require that candidates disclose their five largest donors in campaign ads.

The League strongly believes in reducing the influence of money in politics. So we support Multnomah County in arguing that the measure  should take effect. You can read our Brief here: S066445_amicus_brief_lwvor

The Case

The case before the Oregon Supreme Court is about the constitutionality of campaign contribution limits in Oregon.

Opponents of the measure argue that limiting campaign contributions violates the free speech clause in Oregon’s Constitution. However, 45 other states have limits on contributions to candidates and 37 of them have free speech clauses in their constitutions. There is persuasive evidence that large donations give donors more access to lawmakers and more influence over the laws that are passed or defeated. In addition, Oregon is the only state that doesn’t identify the sources of funding for political ads. Our Brief cites these reasons to show that the measure is constitutional.

We understand that the Supreme Court will hear this case on November 1, 2019.

 

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