Oregon has no statewide sales tax, and Oregonians, by and large, have tended to be fairly steadfast in not wanting to enact one. While Measure 103 might seem like a move in favor of preventing that for good through a constitutional amendment, it could have unintended consequences. Measure 103 would prevent the enactment or increase […]
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Measure 102: Vote Yes
Removes restriction for govt. affordable housing projects
It’s no secret that many Oregonians are struggling with being able to afford housing. While housing costs have skyrocketed in recent years, wages have not kept pace, forcing people to spend a larger share of their income on housing. In the interest of curbing homelessness and improving outcomes for our most vulnerable people, Oregonians should […]
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Millennials in action
A new generation of community leaders on the rise
As another election approaches, reports of the elusive millennial voter and what effect they could have on the 2018 midterms have started to crop up again. Could this be the election that voters born between 1981 and 1998 turn out in record numbers, surpassing the number of baby boomers at the polls? A Pew Research […]
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Endorsement: Oregon State Governor
Vote Kate Brown
Central Oregon voters have a tough choice in a surprisingly competitive race for governor. Republican challenger Rep. Knute Buehler is a local who would bring welcome attention to the needs of Oregonians outside the Willamette Valley. Independent candidate Patrick Starnes, the third major party candidate on the ballot—who we interviewed during the primary, lacks experience […]
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Measure 104: Vote No
Requires supermajority for all revenue-raising initiatives
When state legislators want to raise revenue in the form of new taxes, they’re required to obtain a three-fifths supermajority vote. That’s reasonable; not reasonable is extending that requirement for ALL new revenue-raising efforts, including raising state fees. Oregon has more than 2,400 fees, and to require a supermajority to raise any of them would […]
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Bend Scores Low in LGBTQ Equality
Human Rights Campaign rates eight cities in Oregon
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation—the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization—has released its seventh-annual Municipal Quality Index, assessing LGBTQ equality in 506 cities across the U.S., including eight cities in Oregon. Bend didn’t fare so well. Bend scored 58 out of 100 overall in the findings, released Oct. […]
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Measure 104: Some Things to Know
Measure would require a supermajority for raising fees and other revenue-raising initiatives
When legislators want to raise revenue in the form of new taxes, they have to have a supermajority vote in the legislature. Now, the backers behind Measure 104 want to extend that requirement to anything that would in any way raise revenue—including the raising of fees. Oregon issues more than 2,400 fees—including fees for things […]
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A Primer on Measure 102
Measure aims to tackle one facet of building affordable housing
It’s no secret that many Oregonians are struggling with being able to afford housing. While housing costs have skyrocketed in recent years, wages have not kept pace, forcing people to spend a larger share of their income on housing. According to the Pew Research Center, the real average wage in 2018, accounting for inflation, has […]
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Ballot Measure 103: What’s What
Ballot Measure 103 would prevent the enactment or increase of any state or local tax, fee, or assessment on the sale of groceries. Measure 103 would define groceries as, “raw or processed food or beverages intended for human consumption,” excluding alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Based on the definition, the measure would preempt local governments from […]
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Ballots Get Mailed This Week. Don’t Wait to Mail Them Back.
Depending on where you live, your ballot could take up to a week to get to the county clerk
The buzz of election season is evident in the office of Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship, who says the season is both thrilling and high-pressure. “It’s exciting. It’s fun because you have a whole lot more interaction with people,” she said. “There’s a whole lot more going on. Depending on what happens—not knowing what shoe […]