News & Updates
No on Measure 64
October 20, 2008
Statesman Journal: Measure 64 Would Bar Public Support
"Measure 64 would deprive many nonprofit organizations of financial support from public employees through workplace giving programs. It would even ban public employees from using payroll deduction to donate to their own unions."
October 19, 2008
Statesman Journal: Unions, Sizemore Clash
"Oregon voters will decide the latest round in the long-running political fight between public-employee unions and arch-critic Bill Sizemore."
October 13, 2008
Eugene Register-Guard: Familiar-Sounding Measure 64 Returns to the Ballot
"Oregon voters have seen Measure 64 before. Similar initiatives to prohibit public funds from being spent for political purposes – a proposal that would limit how money collected through public payroll deductions could be spent – appeared on ballots in 1998 and 2000, and were rejected by voters."
October 13, 2008
Oregonian: Unions - Employees Should Have Free Choice
"If you listen to America’s workers, one of the keys to digging ourselves out of the economic hole we’re in is employees’ ability to join a union. Polls show between 25 and 60 million Americans who are not now union members say they wish they had a union in their workplace.
"That desire is understandable – on average, people with a union make 30 percent more than those in the same jobs who don't have one, are 62 percent more likely to have employer-provided health coverage, and have greater job security."
October 5, 2008
Bend Bulletin: No on Measure 64
"...Measure 64 is far from perfect. It is not particularly clear and does collateral damage to charities."
October 5, 2008
Medford Mail Tribune: Fourth Time Shouldn't Be A Charm
"If you believe, as Bill Sizemore does, that public employee unions are the root of all evil, you’ll probably vote for Ballot Measure 64. But before you set out to spank the unions, ask yourself if you also want to punish United Way, the Humane Society or food banks across the state."
October 1, 2008
Hillsboro Argus: 4time Loser - Measure 64
"Measure 64, a ballot measure sponsored by the man who makes a living by pushing the pen of poorly written measures (Bill Sizemore), unfairly targets working folks in Oregon – like teachers, nurses and firefighters – by limiting their ability to make voluntary contributions to organizations of their choice and does nothing to address the influence of corporations and special interests in politics."
September 30, 2008
Oregonian: No One More Time
"Three times before this election, Bill Sizemore has put a version of Measure 64 on the ballot. Three times, the people of Oregon have rejected it, and each time he has returned, because collecting signatures to put measures on the ballot is what he does. It’s a living. Which is why Sizemore already has a similar measure filed for 2010."
September 29, 2008
Eugene Register-Guard: Measure 64 - No, Badly Worded Initiative Could Hurt Charities
"Line up the clichés for Measure 64, the latest ballot bomb in Bill Sizemore’s ongoing war with Oregon’s public employee unions. It will feel like deja vu all over again for Oregon voters, who have seen similar Sizemore measures in 1998 and 2000. What part of “no” does Sizemore not understand? Oregonians wisely defeated both of those nearly identical earlier initiatives..."
September 24, 2008
Oregonian: Bill Sizemore's latest measure again takes on Oregon-employee unions
The Oregonian finds that the state’s largest charities are coming out against Measure 64, because it would impact the important work they do.
September 14, 2008
Oregonian: Like a bad penny, Sizemore is back
“It's discouraging, frankly, that one man has set so much of the agenda for an Oregon election. He did it just as he has before, by manipulating the state's treasured initiative system in cynical ways never dreamed of by its founders 106 years ago.
"How so? Sizemore discovered long ago there are wealthy ideologues willing to pay handsomely to have him turn Oregon's initiative system into their personal playground. In this election, the millionaires behind the Sizemore curtain are Loren Parks, a former Oregon medical device manufacturer now living in Nevada, and Richard Wendt, founder of Jeld-Wen, a Klamath Falls manufacturing company.”
September 6, 2008
Oregonian: Oregon has voted against him, but Sizemore fights on
The Oregonian examines Bill Sizemore’s track record, and determines that no matter how many times Oregon voters reject his ideas, Sizemore keeps coming back with more out-of-state money to fund his initiatives.
September 5
Bend Bulletin: Bill Sizemore tries to push a bad idea for the fourth time
The Bend Bulletin takes a look at Bill Sizemore’s attempt—once again—to attack working Oregonians.
August 23, 2008
Yamhill Valley News Register: Three initiatives just warmed-up leftovers
“We don’t want to seem like we’re picking on Bill Sizemore. On second thought, yes, we do — he’s such an easy target. His philosophy seems to be: If at first a ballot measure doesn’t succeed, try, try again. Bring on the paid petitioners — again; call Loren Parks and other out-of-staters for donations –again; all the while making a mockery of the initiative system.
“We say No to three of Sizemore’s measures on the November ballot — 59, 60 and 64 — all repeats of sorts. ...
“As far as we can tell, the warmed-up leftovers from Sizemore and Walker are no tastier this year than before. About all these measures do is keep those professional initiative petitioners employed.”
August 9, 2008
Yamhill Valley News Register Editorial: Special interests hijack state’s initiative system
The News Register takes a look at the current state of Oregon’s initiative system, and finds that it’s been hijacked by a small handful of people who make a living by getting out-of-state, wealthy donors to pay them to push their ultra-rightwing agenda.
