Rep. Reschke: Guide to Measure 107, 108, 109, 110

E. Werner Reschke
Oregon State Representative,

Ballot Measure 107

Authorizes the state legislature and local governments to (1) enact laws or ordinances limiting campaign contributions and expenditures; (2) requires disclosure of contributions and expenditures; and (3) require that political advertisements identify the people or entities that paid for them.

While many think this will finally get “money out of politics” that sentiment is far from the truth. Money is always going to play a major role in political campaigns. What this measure would do is shift money away from candidates and to third parties, who will promote and advertise on behalf of candidates. The result of this ballot measure passing means during future campaigns you will hear far less from a candidate directly than you will from special interest groups about a candidate.

Recommended: NO Vote

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Ballot Measure 108

Increases cigarette tax from $1.33 per pack to $3.33 per pack; imposes tax on nicotine inhalant delivery systems such as e-cigarettes at a rate of 65% of the wholesale price; dedicates revenues to the Oregon Health Authority for medical and health programs.

Today tens of thousands of California and Washington residents come to Oregon in order to buy tobacco products, and at the same time many other products, because our current tobacco tax makes these products far less expensive to purchase in Oregon. If this measure passes it will raise the tax on Oregon tobacco sales so that residents from California and Washington will be far less interested to shop in Oregon. This will not just hurt tobacco businesses in border towns such as Lakeview and Klamath Falls but also other local retail businesses and restaurants.

Recommended: NO Vote

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Ballot Measure 109

Legalizes psilocybin mushrooms for Oregon Psilocybin Services Program under the Oregon Health Authority.

This ballot measure tries to use the same method as “Medical Marijuana” in order to legitimize this new “drug” market. The passage of this ballot measure will only grow the size of the Oregon Health Authority and mean more tax dollars necessary to regulate and manage this new legalization.

Recommended: NO Vote

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Ballot Measure 110

Decriminalizes possession of certain drugs and establishes a drug addiction treatment and recovery program funded by the state’s marijuana tax revenue.

The second part of this ballot measure is harmless; it is the first part that is radical. This measure, in essence, legalizes hard drugs by eliminating the external disincentives to posses and use them. The drugs included in this ballot measure include cocaine, heroin and meth. This measure, if passed, would change possession of these detrimental and addictive drugs from a Class A misdemeanor (up to $6,250 and one year in jail) to a Class E violation ($100 fine).

Recommended: NO Vote