Initiative Explanations
Pending Statewide Citizen Initiatives which Common Sense for Oregon Endorses
IP 10 – Independent Redistricting Commission. Redistricting for legislative lines is carried out by an independent commission composed of senior retired judges without partisan political backgrounds. They prepare the redistricting plan, based on a “maximally compact” standard, using census districts. There is no room for gerrymandering, as this is a mathematical formula based on the parameters of the districts.
Preliminary filings and ballot title proceedings are finished. A volunteer petition circulation program is being implemented with the funds available. Paid petition circulation has not been implemented.
IP 11 – Ballot Access Act. Provides that, when an initiative text is 100 words or less, the full text of the measure shall be printed on the ballot followed by a yes or no vote. This is printed in front of any other legislatively-required information placed on the ballot. This lets voters read the clear text of the measure when voting.
Preliminary filings and ballot title proceedings are finished. This petition is in circulation with paid circulators. Common Sense supported all of the preliminary work on this initiative, up to the point of paid petition circulation.
IP 12 – My Signature Counts Amendment. Amends the Constitution to guarantee that every person who signs an initiative or referendum petition is entitled to have their signature counted for purposes of determining whether an initiative or referendum measure has enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Preliminary filings and ballot title proceedings are finished. This petition is in circulation with paid circulators. Common Sense supported all of the preliminary work on this initiative, up to the point of paid petition circulation.
IP 15 – Death Tax Phase-Out. The Death Tax system in place at the time of passage of this Act shall remain in place but shall be phased out. The phase-out shall be based on the amount of tax collectible as of the date of passage of this Act; the amount collectible during the phase-out shall be a reduced percentage of the tax amount collectible just before passage of this Act. The reduced percentage shall apply as to the year in which a person dies. The phase-out reduces the tax by 25% per year, with a final, permanent, zero tax as of January 1, 2016.
The Supreme Court has issued a decision regarding the ballot title, and the Attorney General has prepared a good modified ballot title. One opposing group has objected to this modified ballot title. We anticipate a Supreme Court decision soon.
IP 17 – Oregon Castle Doctrine. Every person may use force to defend his or her home or business against an intruder, without having to retreat. Any criminal trespasser, who is injured because of a condition on the property where he is trespassing, has no right of recovery for such injury.
All of the preliminary filings and ballot title proceedings are finished. The form for petitions has been approved by the Secretary of State. This petition is on hold until a volunteer circulator network can be established or funds can be raised to pay for petition circulation.
PLEASE NOTE: Ballot title proceedings are significant because no initiative petition can be circulated for signatures until the initiative has a final ballot title.