A number of the measures on the November 6 ballot will impact the economic opportunity and well-being of Oregonians. The Oregon Center for Public Policy has taken a position on several of the measures, and we offer the following recommendations.
Measure 102: YES
Measure 102 will help Oregon confront the housing affordability crisis by expanding the ability for local governments to partner with non-profit and local businesses in building more affordable housing. The Oregon Constitution currently prohibits public agencies from using revenue generated from bonds in a project with private ownership — a provision that restrains the construction of more affordable housing. Measure 102 removes that restriction, but local residents retain the ability to approve or reject bond measures. Measure 102 will enable local governments to stretch limited local resources in the building of more affordable housing units.
Measure 103: NO
Measure 103 threatens to embed into the Oregon Constitution a special-interest tax carve out for the grocery and beverage industries. It would even exempt some corporations from any increase in the corporate minimum tax. Measure 103 has nothing to do with keeping our grocery bills low. If the goal were to ban new taxes on food, OCPP would support that effort, as we have long fought against regressive tax proposals that make low- and middle-income Oregonians pay more. Measure 103 is simply a misleading attempt by some corporations to avoid paying their fair share.
Measure 104: NO
Measure 104 creates a constitutional barrier to getting rid of wasteful tax breaks benefiting corporations, the rich, and special interests. Right now, it takes a simple majority of lawmakers to create and get rid of tax breaks. If Measure 104 were to become law, it would still take a simple majority to create a tax break, but it would take a supermajority (3/5ths) of lawmakers to eliminate a tax break. This would allow a minority of lawmakers beholden to special interests to block the repeal of wasteful tax breaks, further rigging taxes in favor of the rich and corporations.
Measure 105: NO
Measure 105 repeals Oregon’s so-called “sanctuary law,” which helps protect Oregonians from being targeted by law enforcement based on race, ethnicity, and language. The measure would limit economic opportunity for lower income Oregonians. It would have greatest impact on people of color, who already experience greater obstacles to getting ahead. The measure would raise social and practical barriers to fully participating in school, work, and other opportunities for economic advancement. It would divert valuable state and local resources away from state and local law enforcement activities.
Measure 106: NO
Measure 106 undermines economic security for over 325,000 Oregon women and their families. The measure would restrict access to health care for lower income Oregonians and public employees by prohibiting public funding for abortion services. As a consequence, the measure would shift health care costs to lower income households. The impact of the measure would fall hardest on lower income women and women of color.