My Recommendations for the State and Local Measures on the Ballot in the 2022 General Election

October 19, 2022 Rob Taylor

Oregon:

Measure 111

Ballot Title

Amends Constitution: State must ensure affordable healthcare access, balanced against requirement to fund schools, other essential services

Result of “Yes” Vote: “Yes” vote requires state to ensure affordable healthcare access. State must balance healthcare funding against funding for schools, other essential services; courts must respect balance.

Result of “No” Vote: “No” vote retains current law. The constitution does not require the state to ensure access to affordable health care; state provides some healthcare access.

Summary: Amends Constitution. Current state law outlines the general requirements for health insurance policies and provides health care for low income and disabled residents who meet eligibility requirements. Amends the Oregon Constitution to establish health care as a fundamental right; obligates the state to provide Oregon residents “access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care.” Amendment requires the state to balance that obligation against the public interest in funding public schools and other essential public services. If the state is sued to enforce the amendment, the court may not order a remedy that interferes with the state’s requirement to balance healthcare funding against funding for public schools and other essential public services.

I am voting NO on Measure 111. Health care is not a right. Health care is part of the service industry and it should be in the domain of the private market. Measure 111 creates a socialized style health care system where government bureaucrats will have the authority to decide who will and who will not receive medical treatment. Enacting this measure will eliminate the individual’s freedom to pursue the best medical treatment available because under a socialized program the politician has the authority to decide how resources are distributed and provided. Under such a system, doctors will no longer practice medicine. Instead, they will be nothing more than agents for the government forced to use the medical protocols set by the bureaucracy.

Measure 112

Ballot Title

Amends Constitution: Removes language allowing slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for crime

Result of “Yes” Vote: “Yes” vote amends constitution to remove language allowing slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for crime; allows programs to be ordered as part of sentencing.

Result of “No” Vote: “No” vote retains current language that generally prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude but allows slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for crime.

Summary: Amends Constitution. Article I, section 34 of the Oregon Constitution currently prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude but allows an exception to that prohibition as a punishment for crime. Measure removes language that allows slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. Under measure, a court or probation or parole agency is allowed to order a person convicted of a crime to engage in education, counseling, treatment, community service, or other alternatives to incarceration, as part of sentencing for the crime. Ordered programs must be in line with programs that historically, or in the future, have been in place to provide for accountability, reformation, protection of society, or rehabilitation. Effect on current constitutional provisions requiring inmate work programs unclear.

I am voting NO on Measure 112. It is not slavery to force criminals to atone for their crimes by forcing them to work. Most individuals have to work to make a living, while criminals steal from the profits of the individual’s efforts. Forcing the criminal to work as a punishment for their crime is the highest form of justice. It should be mandatory that all criminals should have to perform manual labor while incarcerated to learn the basic skills most of society has already learned to be honest, productive citizens.

Measure 113

Ballot Title

Amends Constitution: Legislators with ten unexcused absences from floor sessions disqualified from holding next term of office

Result of “Yes” Vote: “Yes” vote disqualifies legislators with ten unexcused absences from legislative floor sessions from holding office as legislator for term following current term of office.

Result of “No” Vote: “No” vote retains existing law. Absent legislators may be punished by legislative chamber (potentially expelled by supermajority); present legislators have legal authority to compel attendance.

Summary: Amends Oregon Constitution to add language prescribing consequences for unexcused absences by legislators from floor sessions. Currently, Senators and Representatives may be “punished” or, by the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senator’s or Representative’s chamber, “expelled” for “disorderly behavior,” but law does not define “disorderly behavior.” Additionally, absent legislators may be “compelled” to attend legislative floor sessions, but current law does not specify consequences for unexcused absences. Measure specifies that “disorderly behavior” includes legislator’s failure to attend ten or more legislative floor sessions during a regular or special legislative session without permission or excuse. Under measure, legislator who engages in “disorderly behavior” through unexcused absences is disqualified from serving as a Senator or Representative for the term following the end of the legislator’s current term.

I am voting NO on Measure 113. Voting to eliminate the ability of representatives to remove their people from the legislative session defeats the purpose of having a quorum. Denying a legislative body a quorum, thus stopping the session, is an effective and constitutionally legal tool to fight against bad legislation. It gives the minority party the ability to stop the tyranny of the majority over the minority.

Measure 114

Ballot Title

Requires permit to acquire firearms; police maintain permit/firearm database; criminally prohibits certain ammunition magazines

Result of “Yes” Vote: “Yes” vote requires background check, safety training, fee for permit to acquire firearms; state police maintain new permit/ firearm database; criminally prohibits certain magazines; exceptions.

Result of “No” Vote: “No” vote retains current law: seller/ transferor must request criminal background check; permit, safety course not required; no magazine capacity restrictions.

Summary: Oregon law currently allows persons over age 18 to acquire firearms (federal law requires age 21 for some handgun purchases), seller/ transferor must request criminal background check. Measure requires permit from local law enforcement to acquire firearm; person must pay fee, submit photo ID, fingerprints, complete approved safety training, pass criminal background check, not be prohibited from possessing firearms; officer may deny permit to person believed danger to self or others. Permit issued within 30 days, valid 5 years. Permit denials appealable. Must present permit, pass background check to acquire firearm. State Police creates/ maintains permit/ firearm database. Magazines over 10 rounds, or readily modifiable to exceed 10 rounds, prohibited; exception for current owners /inheritors. Exceptions for law enforcement, armed forces. Criminal penalties. Other provisions.

I am voting NO on Measure 114. The Second Amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Measure 114 is a clear infringement on the Right to keep and bear arms. It will not prevent crimes and it will not stop criminals.

Coos County

· 6-203 Prohibits psilocybin-related business within unincorporated Coos County.

I am voting YES on 6-203. Yes, means no to psilocybin-related businesses. Thanks to Measure 110, psilocybin has already been decriminalized and therefore anyone who wants to use this substance can use it. Measure 6-203 gives the state more regulatory power over the use and sale of this substance, which will take the hiring of more bureaucrats to regulate these businesses.

· 6-204 A five-year levy to increase jail funding and capacity.

I am voting NO on 6-204. Sheriff Deputy Gabe Fabrizio has stated that the county will be able to open the jail without the passage of this tax measure. Sheriff Zanni has repeatedly stated that the lack of jail space is a matter of staffing not funding. Taxes are too high on all levels and the government is forcing the taxpayer to choose between paying for the necessities of life and paying their tax bill.

City of Bandon

· 6-206 Prohibit Psilocybin-Related Business. Prohibition sunsets after two years.

I am voting YES on 6-203. Yes, means no to psilocybin-related businesses. Thanks to Measure 110, psilocybin has already been decriminalized and therefore anyone who wants to use this substance can use it. Measure 6-203 gives the state more regulatory power over the use and sale of this substance, which will take the hiring of more bureaucrats to regulate these businesses.

· 6-207 City Council authority to set System Development Charges

I am voting NO on 6-207. Many cities are now using added fees on water, wastewater, and development charges to make up for shortfalls in their general fund and the voters are not getting to decide on those taxes. Giving up the authority of the voters of Bandon over the rate setting of the system development charges will only make it easier for desperate politicians to keep increasing those fees/taxes. Never give up YOUR authority over politicians, especially in Bandon. The Bandon City Council is corrupt. In 2019, a court of law found the city guilty of violating the city’s charter based on a fake emergency, which cost the taxpayers of Bandon over $30,000 in legal expenses. Never give money to criminals, or politicians, which in most cases is a repetitive statement.