The Portland Business Journal is reporting that a poll to be released Monday shows Oregon voters strongly support Measure 49, a fix for the seriously-flawed Measure 37, but are more "if'y" about Measure 50, which raises the state tobacco tax and earmarks it for children's health care.
Guess this shows why Oregonians in Action, the main Measure 49 opponent, seems to be putting all of its effort into a federal lawsuit that challenges the description that will be on the ballot.
If voters are given honest information about what Measure 49 does – protect farm land, forest land, and groundwater, while giving Measure 37 claimants additional transferability and survivorship benefits – it'll pass easily.
Muddy the waters, confuse the public, spread disinformation. That's the OIA game plan. Pathetic, but that's all they've got going for them, since most Oregonians don't want our beautiful state trashed.
If Measure 50 is "'iffy'" in your estimation, could it be because it gives far less to health care for uncovered children than it does to the bureaucratic mechanics of state government -- even to transfer to non-health care spending? I'm an SEIU State Employees union steward and advocate, but on this one, HealthyKids translates as HealthyCash for government officers -- it will probably lose, and may take down Measure 49 alongside it. Best advice: Severely divorce Measure 49 supporters from Measure 50 advocacy.
Posted by: John Ponce | September 06, 2007 at 07:08 AM