Almost one-third of the $644,264 in total contributions to signature gathering committees came from Loren Parks, a manufacturer of medical equipment and frequent donor of political money. Only five donors gave 55% of the contributions to the 17 active initiative committees whose reports are available. (See Charts 1 and 2)

"It looks like our initiative process is controlled by a few major players funded by a small number of big money contributors and are not the grassroots efforts intended by the original populist proponents of initiatives," said Janice Thompson, Executive Director of the Money in Politics Research Action Project.

The major contributors to initiative signature gathering are summarized below with a breakdown of which initiative(s) they are supporting. Loren Parks is the major donor to three initiative campaigns and has given $159,940. Oregon Taxpayers United PAC, led by Bill Sizemore, gave $109,460 to two initiative committees.

Loren Parks also gave $176,500 to the Oregon Taxpayers United PAC (Chart 3) during the 2000 general election cycle. This was 28% of the OTU PAC's total contributions. Applying this same percentage to the OTU signature gathering spending results in $30,520 that can be considered an indirect contribution from Parks to initiative committees. Adding this figure to direct contributions from Parks means that 30% of initiative committee dollars came from this one individual.

Chart 1 - Major Contributors to Initiative Committees
 

Major Contributors to Signature Gathering Committees	Amounts Contributed	Initiatives Supported (descriptions and chief petitioners on next page)
Loren Parks  OTU PAC raised $640,127 during the 2000 general election with $176,500 or 28% coming from Loren Parks. 28% of OTU's spending on signature gathering is $30,520. This figure plus Park's direct contributions come to $190,460 which is 30% of total contributions to initiatives	$159,940 (direct contributions)	$96,348 - gave 99.8% of all contributions to #90
		$53,592 - gave 99% of all contributions to #67
		$10,000 - gave 100% of all contributions to #60 (February 6 report from this committee is late so this figure may change)
Oregon Taxpayers United PAC**	$109,000	$87,000 - gave 100% of all contribution to #18
		$22,000 - gave 100% of all contribution to #49
Oregon State Denturist Association	$34,400	$34,400 - gave 99% of all contributions to #109
Mel Bankoff - owner of Emerald Valley Kitchen in Eugene	$32,138	$2,138 in contribs and $30,000 loan = 88% of all contributions to #23
William M. Shields II - director of Better People, an agency that serves ex-convicts	$19,390	$19,390 - only 11% of contributions to #20

The signature gathering committee for initiative #20, the Life for a Life petition, raised the most money at $170,559. Their funds were from a large number of contributors. They also had a large, $19.390 contribution but this comprised only 11% of the money given to that committee. The contributions from the top four donors made up a much higher percentage, often 100%, of the total money raised by the committees supported by the big money donors.

"The domination of the initiative signature gathering process by a few big money players looks like checkbook democracy rather than democracy by and for the people," summarized Janice Thompson.

Chart 2 - Initiative Contributions To Date
 

Init #	Subject/Chief Petitioners	Contributions  on 9/01 report	Contributions  on 2/02 report	Total Contribs to Date
16	The Student Protection Act II	$32,085	$36,525	$68,610
	Lon Mabon, Louis Beres, Jose Solano
18	Require Employee Authorization for Political Payroll Deducations	$7,500	$79,500	$87,000
	Christiana Mayer, Bill Sizemore
20	Life for a Life - repeal death penalty	$84,389	$86,170	$170,559
	Mark Hatfield, William Connor, MD, Norma Paulus
23	Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food	$5,470	$36,173	$41,643
	Donna Harris, Katelyn Lord
27	OR Comprehensive Health Care Financial Plan	$12,179	late	$12,179
	Ruth Duemler, John Partridge, Phil Dreyer
35	Instant Runoff Voting Act of 2002	Not required	$2,718	$2,718
	Fillard Rhyne, Cletus Moore, Betty Taylor
41	Legalize Personal Use of Cannabis for Adults in Private	$9,188	late	$9,188
	Thomas Wagoner, Sandee Burbank
43	Campaign Finance Reform	$16,821	$3,805	$20,626
	Lloyd Marbet, James Weaver, Harry Lonsdale
49	Income Tax Limit	Not required	$22,000	$22,000
	Bill Sizemore
60	No Retirement Pension for Legislators	$10,000	late	$10,000
	Loren Parks, Gregg Clapper
61	OR Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Program	Not required	$2,686	$2,686
	Eugene Provonost, Alice Dale
67	None of the Above - allows this option in judicial races	Not required	$54,092	$54,092
	Don McIntire, Gregg Clapper
76	OR Liquor Anti-Monopoly Act	Not required	$3,550	$3,550
	Eric Winters, Don McIntire
90	Judicial Accountability Act of 2002	Not required	$96,528	$96,528
	Steve Doell, Ted Ferrioli, Bob Smith
97	Insurance - Unrestricted Patient Choice of Physician	Not required	$3,034	$3,034
	Michael Megehee
107	Constitutional Oath and Responsibility Amendment	Not required	$5,152	$5,152
	Lon Mabon, Thurston Jones, Richard Orrin
109	The Consumer Denture Care Act	Not required	$34,700	$34,700
	Ken Holden, Jim Davis, Alice Pickard
Total Contributions to Initiative Signature Gathering Committees to Date				$644,264

Seventeen committees should have filed reports on February 6. Three committees were late so the total contribution figures and other numbers will be adjusted after all reports are submitted. Contribution totals at this time are summarized below. The totals include cash and in-kind contributions as well as any loans received by a committee. Reports are required if the committee received the OK to circulate petitions and received or expended more than $2,000 by the reporting deadline.

Chart 3 - Top Contributors to Oregon Taxpayers United PAC
 

Donors to OTU PAC during 2000 general election cycle	Contribution Amount	% of Total Contributions
Loren Parks	$176,500	28%	62% from 11 donors giving $5,00 or more
Wes Lamatta	$100,000	16%
OTU Education Fund	$30,450	5%
Seneca Jones Timber Co	$25,000	4%
Carl Lindner	$25,000	4%
Howard Ahmanson	$10,000	2%
Oregonians in Action PAC	$10,000	2%
Fourply Inc	$7,000	1%
Wayne Hamersly	$6,000	<1%
Sam Allen	$5,000	<1%
James-Furman & Co.	$5,000	<1%
Contribs $201-$4,999	$53,318	8%
Contribs $51- $200	$73,775	12%
Contribs $50 or less	$113,084	18%
Total Contributions	$640,127

A full listing of Oregon Taxpayer Union contributors is available at www.oregonfollowthemoney.org/contribs.html