ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION

DON'T BE FOOLED!

VOTE NO ON 79

A statement by Lloyd K. Marbet

During the last legislative session, when Legislators were busy creating 79, they were also forcing ratepayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in profit to PGE/Enron for abandoning Trojan. The Legislature overturned Ballot Measure 9, a statutory law created by initiative in 1978, that prohibited utilities from charging you for something that you didn't build, you didn't break, and doesn't work

Did the Legislature ask if you wanted to pay for Trojan: NO!
Did they ask if you wanted to change your law: NO!

This is why Oregonians turn to their Constitution
when they sponsor initiatives.

IT FORCES THE LEGISLATURE TO ASK YOU FIRST!

In 1996, the City Club of Portland considered the impact of increasing signature requirements to amend Oregon's Constitution. They found:

Such changes would simply increase the power and advantage of individuals or interests with money compared with individuals or interests with less or no resources.
Measure 79 turns our Constitution over to big monied interests! IT STOPS YOU FROM AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THEM! Corporations and rich people will have no problem circulating constitutional initiatives!

If the Legislature had respect for the will of the people, and were willing to address our concerns, we wouldn't need an initiative process! If the Legislature had respect for the legislative powers of the people, it would refer substantive changes to initiative laws back to a vote of the people. This would reduce the need for Oregonian's to amend their Constitution. In the words of Thomas Jefferson:

I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but inform their discretion.
VOTE NO on 79

Phone: 503-637-6130
Email: marbet@mail.com

(This information furnished by Lloyd K. Marbet.)


(This space purchased for $500 in accordance with ORS 251.255.)

The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by the State of Oregon, nor does the state warrant the accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument.