Oregon Ballot Measure 62 (2008)

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Oregon Ballot Measure 62 (2008) (formerly IRR 41) appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Oregon. It was an initiated constitutional amendment that deals with the issue of where a percentage of profit from the state lottery should go. The initiative, if it had passed, would have required that 15% of net lottery proceeds be deposited in a public safety fund. 50% of that fund would have been distributed to counties to fund grants for childhood programs, district attorney operations, and sheriff's investigations. The other 50% of the fund would have gone to Oregon State Police criminal investigations and forensic operations.[1],[2] It is expected that most of that money would have been diverted from schools.

2008 election results

See also 2008 ballot measure election results

These election results are based on the Oregon Elections Division.[3]

Ballot Measure 62
Yes or no Votes Percentage
Yes 674,428 39.42%
No 1,035,756 60.58%
Total votes 1,710,184 100%

Background

The official ballot title is: Allocates 15% Of Lottery Proceeds To Public Safety Fund For Crime Prevention, Investigation, Prosecution

Measure 62 has become unofficially known as the Oregon C.S.I. Measure.[4]

Specific provisions

Where the money would go:

  • 20% for grants to counties to fund early childhood programs for children who are at risk;
  • 50% to fund the criminal investigation and forensics operations (including crime lab) of the Oregon State Police to assist law enforcement throughout the state;
  • 15% to provide grants to countries to supplement existing county appropriations for the operations of District Attorneys;
  • 15% to provide grants to counties to supplement existing county appropriations for investigation and field operations of county sheriffs.

Estimated fiscal impact

The state's Financial Estimate Committee prepares estimated fiscal impact statements for any ballot measures that will appear on the ballot. The estimate prepared by this committee for Measure 62 says:

  • Measure 62 would require public safety spending from the state lottery fund of $100 million in the first year, increasing in subsequent years depending on how much money goes into the state lottery fund from the sales of tickets in the Oregon state-sponsored lottery.[5],[6]

Supporters

The measure was sponsored by chief petitioners Duane Fletchall, Steve Beck, and Kevin Mannix.

Arguments in favor of Measure 62

Notable arguments made in favor of Measure 62 included:

  • More money going into crime investigations will help reduce the backlog of investigations.
  • Currently, some crimes in Oregon aren't investigated using modern forensic techniques because the resources don't exist.
  • Rural counties especially need the help funding investigations.[5]
  • The money is needed to help stabilize funding for state police investigations.[7]

Opponents

Defend Oregon opposed Measure 62.

Arguments against Measure 62

Notable arguments made against Measure 62 include:

  • It would divert money from the lottery that would otherwise go to schools.[8]
  • From the Oregonian's No on 62 endorsement: "Ballot Measure 62 is one more in a long line of gratuitous assaults on good government in Oregon. Ill-conceived and poorly crafted, the measure would rip millions of lottery dollars from where they are most needed -- Oregon classrooms -- and squander them in a hodgepodge of public safety causes."

Donors opposing Measure 62

Defend Oregon, as a committee, fought seven different ballot measures, and supported two others. As a result, it is not possible to discern how much of its campaign money was going specifically to defeat Measure 61. Altogether, the group raised over $6 million in 2008.[9]

Major donations to the Defend Oregon group as of October 8 included:[10]

Newspaper endorsements

Here is how Oregon's major newspapers endorsed on the measure. See also: Endorsements of Oregon ballot measures.

Newspapers Yes No
The Oregonian No
Medford Mail-Tribune No
Statesman Journal Yes
Bend Bulletin No
Portland Tribune No
Eugene Register-Guard No
Daily Astorian No
East Oregonian No
Corvallis Gazette Times No
Coos Bay The World No
Willamette Week No
Yamhill Valley News Register No
Gresham Outlook No

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Initiative summary
  2. ↑ OregonLive.com: "Two more initiatives qualify for Ore. ballot", The Oregonian, July 21, 2008
  3. ↑ Oregon Elections Division, Ballot Measure 62 (2008) Election Results
  4. ↑ Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Ballot Measure 62: 'The Oregon: C.S.I. Measure'", September 29, 2008
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Estimated fiscal impact statement for Oregon Measure 62
  6. ↑ Register Guard, "Digging deeper into state ballot measures", August 7, 2008
  7. ↑ Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Measure 62: Lottery Funds", September 8, 2008
  8. ↑ Basic Rights Oregon, "This Election Season Make Sure to Vote No on Measures 59, 62 and 64!"
  9. ↑ Campaign finance history of Defend Oregon for 2008
  10. ↑ Record of donations to Defend Oregon
  11. ↑ Oregon Live, "Teachers, nurses add $2.5 million to campaigns", September 10, 2008
  12. ↑ The Oregonian, "OEA puts $4 million into ballot measure fight", October 8, 2008
  13. ↑ Oregonian, "School workers add $100,000 to campaign", August 25, 2008
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