Money in Politics Research Action Project
917 SW Oak St. #422, Portland, OR  97205  (503) 283-1922  Fax (503) 283-1877 miprap@oregonfollowthemoney.org

Voters Will Need to Dig Deep for Information on Ballot Measures this Fall as
Fundraising Leaders Drown Out their Opponents

For Immediate Release: 
Contact:
October 16, 2006     
Sarah Wetherson, 503/756-8537

Ballot measure fundraising to date suggests that the fundraising leaders will drown out their opponents. For seven of the measures, the fundraising leaders have at least $4 for every $1 their opposition raised.

Chart 1: Contributions to Both Sides of November 2006 Ballot Measures1

 

“Yes” Campaigns

“No” Campaigns

$ Leader (Yes or No)

BM

PAC(s)

BCB1

Total 1st Report $2

Total

PAC(s)

BCB

Total 1st Report $2

Total

39

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

0

$12,039

$12,039

No organized campaign.

Yes

40

Our Courts Committee

0

$307,185

$307,185

No on Constitutional Amendment 40

0

$58,600

$58,600

Yes

41 & 48

Rainyday Amendment Committee and Freedomworks Issues PAC

$33

$145,732

$145,765

Defend Oregon Coalition

0

$1,904,795

$1,904,795

No

42

No organized campaign.

Oregonians against Insurance Rate Increases

$0

$3,739,527

$3,739,527

No

43

Keep Our Daughters Safe DBA Committee to Protect Our Teen Daughters

$35,522

$207,030

$242,552

No on 43 Committee

$0

$706,124

$706,124

No

44

Yes on Measure 44 – Prescription for a Healthy Oregon

$0

$68,639

$68,639

No organized campaign.

Yes

45

Restore Oregon’s Term Limits Committee

$0

$1,250,555

$1,250,555

Oregonians for Voter Choice

$0

$85,440

$85,440

Yes

46 & 47

Money is Not Democracy (MIND)

$5,148

$368,893

$106,431

Protect Our Voice

$0

$39,340

$39,340

Yes

Total figure reflects BCB and total 1st Pre Gen report contributions minus the $267,610 that MIND PAC reports for spending on signature-gathering.

1 Beginning Cash Balance, or total cash the PAC had on hand at the beginning of the reporting period.

2 Data based on disclosure reports filed with the Secretary of State’s office on October 2, 2006. Numbers include cash, in-kind contributions and loans received and may change due to auditing and amendments. MiPRAP’s analysis focuses on the PACs whose sole focus is on opposing or supporting current ballot measures. While other PACs have indicated their position on numerous measures, they given their dollars to one of the PACs listed above, so including them would be double counting dollars.

Measures 46 and 47, which would create a system of campaign finance limits and are being treated by both the “yes” and “no” campaigns as one measure, has the closest fundraising race to date.  The “no” side has raised 37.0 percent of the “yes” side’s $106, 431.  For measure 43, which would mandate parental notification for minors seeking abortions, the “yes” side has raised 34.3 percent of the “no” side’s $706,124.  If either of these rates continues, the fundraising race will still be lopsided. 

Three measures have either no proponent or no opponent. The chief petitioners of measure 40, which would bar insurance companies from using credit ratings to set insurance rates, have not formed a campaign to promote the measure.  Neither measure 39, which would prohibit a public body from condemning private property if it intends to convey it to a private developer, nor measure 44, which would allow any Oregon resident without prescription drug coverage to participate in Oregon prescription drug program, has attracted any organized opposition.

Chart 2: Fundraising Differences between “Yes” and “No” Campaigns1

BM

“Yes” Fundraising Total

“No” Fundraising Total

Difference between Total “Yes” and ”No” Contribution Totals

Underdog Percentage of Opposition Fundraising

(underdog side)

39

$12,039

No organized campaign.

$12,039

 (no) N/A

40

$307,185

$58,600

$248,585

 (no)19.1%

41 & 48

$145,765

$1,904,795

$1,759,030

 (yes)7.7%

42

No organized campaign.

$3,739,527

$3,739,527

(yes) N/A

43

$242,552

$706,124

$463,572

 (yes) 34.3%

44

$68,639

No organized campaign.

$68,639

(no) N/A

45

$1,250,555

$85,440

$1,165,115

(no) 6.8%

46 & 47

$106,431

$39,340

$67,091

 (no) 37.0%

These figures are based on the $101,283 the MIND PAC did not contribute to the 46 and 47 signature gathering campaigns.

1 Data based on disclosure reports filed with the Secretary of State’s office on October 2, 2006. Numbers may change due to auditing and amendments.

All of the PACs on each side of these measures relied on 10 or fewer donors for the more than three-fourths of their fundraising.  Four measure PACs got 100 percent of their dollars from fewer than five contributors.

One indicator of grassroots support is the percentage of unitemized contributions from individuals giving $100 or less.  Two PACs raised more than 10 percent of their funds from these donors, supporters of parental notification (measure 43) and supporters of two related campaign finance reform measures, (measures 46 and 47).

Chart 3: Small Donor Contributions Compared with Contributions from Top 10 Donors1

BM

“Yes” Campaign

“No” Campaign

 Miscellaneous Contributions of $100 or less

Top 10 Contributors

 Miscellaneous Contributions of $100 or less

Top 10 Contributors
 

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

39

$0

0%

$12,039

100%

No organized campaign.

40

$0

0%

$307,185

100%

$700

1.2%

$53,000

90.4%

41 & 48

$5512

3.8%

$140,180

96.2%

$1741

<1%

$1,764,487

92.6%

42

No organized campaign.

$60

<1%

$3,132,413

83.8%

43

$32,610

15.8%

$171,893

83.0%

$58,368

8.3%

$540,075

76.5%

44

$0

0%

$68,139

99.3%

No organized campaign.

45

$0

0%

$1,250,555

100%

$0

0%

$85,440

100%

46 & 47

$41,574

11.3%

$318,384

86.3%

$0

$0

$39,340

100%

These contribution totals and percentages are based on the $368,893 contribution total reported on the 1st General report.

1 Data based on disclosure reports filed with the Secretary of State’s office on October 2, 2006. Numbers may change due to auditing and amendments.

Groups associated with New York businessman Howard Rich fuel measures that would cut taxes (measure 41), limit government spending (measure 48) and limit terms for elected officials (measure 45).  A coalition of labor and business groups has formed to defeat measures 41 and 48, with labor groups leading the fundraising for the effort.  Lobbyists and labor groups are taking the lead in opposition to measure 45.

Insurance companies have poured more than $3 million into an effort to defeat measure 42, which would ban the practice of using credit ratings to set insurance rates.  The measure’s sponsors have not formed a political committee to promote the measure to voters.

The timber industry and developers, through the Oregon Family Farm Association PAC, are the primary backers of measure 40, which would create districts to elect Supreme Court and Circuit Court judges in Oregon.  Their effort is opposed by a coalition of lawyers, legal groups, and sitting and former justices.

Chart 4: Top 10 Contributors to Each Side of Measures on the November 2006 Ballot

BM

“Yes” Groups and Their Top 10 Contributors

Yea Amount

‘No” Groups and Their Top 10 Contributors

Nay Amount

39

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

$12,039

No organized campaign.

Seneca Jones Timber Company $10,000 (83.1%)

Oregonians in Action PAC $1000 (8.3%)

Oregonians in Action $539 (4.5%)

Oregon Association of Realtors $500 (4.2%)

40

Our Courts Committee

$307,185

No on Constitutional Amendment 40

$58,600

Oregon Family Farm Association PAC $219,730 (95.0%)

Judicial Integrity Coalition $14,917 (4.9%)

Oregonians in Action $439 (<1%)

Larry George $100 (<1%)

Follow the Money Alert: Of the $280,630 the Oregon Family Farm Association PAC raised in this period, 78 percent came from five donors who gave $43,750 each: timber companies Seneca Saw Mill, Swanson Group and Columbia Helicopters/Wes Lematta; a top executive with senior housing developer, Holiday Retirements; and A-DEC Dental Equipment.

Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP $15,500 (26.5%)

Multnomah Bar Association $5000 (8.5%)

Oregon Trial Lawyers Association $5000 (8.5%)

Re-Elect Justice Riggs Committee $3000 (5.1%)

Retain Supreme Court Judge Tom Balmer $2500 (4.3%)

Kell, Alterman & Runstein $2500 (4.3%)

Committee to Re-elect Justice Robert Durham $2000 (3.4%)

Michael Morey $1500 (2.6%)

And 16 individual at $1000 each (1.7% each)

41 & 48

Rainyday Amendment Committee and Freedomworks Issues PAC

$145,765

Defend Oregon Coalition

$1,904,795

Taxpayers Association of Oregon Spending Limit PAC $90,773 (62.3%)

Americans for Limited Government $30,672 (21.0%)

Freedomworks $12,325 (8.5%)

Taxpayer Association of Oregon $3250 (2.2%)

Taxpayer Defense Fund $1000 (<1%)

Malcolm McIver $750 (<1%)

Oregon Citizens for a Sound Economy PAC $500 (<1%)

John Bryan $500 (<1%)

Janet Esler Rowe $450 (<1%)

Follow the Money Alert: Taxpayers Association of Oregon Spending Limit PAC received 94.1 percent of its money from Illinois-based group, Americans for Limited Government, which is largely funded by New York businessman Howard Rich.

Oregon Education Association $573,743 (30.1%)

Service Employees International Union Local 503 $280,230 (14.7%)

AFT-Oregon Issue PAC $250,000 (13.1%)

Oregon School Employees Association, School Employees Exercising Democracy $201,000 (10.6%)

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) $150,000 (7.9%)

Oregon AFSCME Council 75 $144,513 (7.6%)

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde $50,000 (2.6%)

Oregon Nurses United PAC $50,000 (2.6%)

Oregonians to Maintain Community Standards $35,000 (1.8%)

Nike Inc & Affiliates $30,000 (1.6%)

42

No organized campaign.

Oregonians against Insurance Rate Increases

$3,739,527

 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company $731,909 (19.6%)

Farmers Group, Inc. $658,526 (17.6%)

SAFECO Insurance Co of America $361,828 (9.7%)

Allstate Insurance Company $342,990 (9.2%)

Progressive $244,036 (6.5%)

St. Paul Travelers $188,388 (5.0%)

American Family Mutual Insurance Company $170,177 (4.6%)

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company $163,922 (4.4%)

Geico Direct $137,753 (3.7%)

The Hartford $132,885 (3.6%)

43

Keep Our Daughters Safe dba Committee to Protect Our Teen Daughters

$242,552

No on 43 Committee

$706,124

Oregon Right to Life PAC $150,642 (72.8%)

Oregon Right to Life $13,250 (6.4%)

Michael Stepovich $3000 (1.4%)

Patricia Epperly $1000 (<1%)

Thomas Glogau $1000 (<1%)

Mark Baker $1000 (<1%)

Linda Middlekauff $500 (<1%)

Gregg Oberlin $500 (<1%)

Friends of Karen Minnis $500 (<1%)

Nedora Counts $500 (<1%)

Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette $136,540 (19.3%)

Planned Parenthood Health Services of SW Oregon $131,034 (18.6%)

ACLU of Oregon $62,469 (8.8%)

Planned Parenthood of Western Washington $50,000 (7.1%)

Planned Parenthood Action Fund $50,000 (7.1%)

Planned Parenthood of California $30,000 (4.2%)

NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon $20,033 (2.8%)

Burmeister-Brown, Susan $20,000 (2.8%)

Anne Taft, $10,000 (1.4%)

ACLU of Washington $10,000 (1.4%)

NARAL Pro-choice America $10,000 (1.4%)

NARAL Pro-choice Oregon Foundation $10,000 (1.4%)

44

Yes on Measure 44 – Prescription for a Healthy Oregon

$68,639

No organized campaign.

AARP Oregon $18,792 (27.4%)

Service Employees International Union Local 503 $13,900 (20.3%)

Oregon AFSCME Council 75 $10,000 (14.6%)

Oregonians for Health Security $7620 (11.1%)

CareOregon $5000 (7.3%)

Our Oregon $4610 (6.7%)

United Food and Commercial Workers Northwest Federal Credit Union $2500 (3.6%)

Nurses United PAC $2500 (3.6%)

Oregon State Public Interest Research Group $2423 (3.5%)

Oregonians for Affordable Prescriptions $793 (1.2%)

45

Restore Oregon’s Term Limits Committee

$1,250,555

Oregonians for Voter Choice                              

$85,440
 

US Term Limits $1,240,000 (99.2%)

Committee to Restore Oregon Term Limits $10,305 (<1%)

Paul Farago $250 (<1%)

Follow the Money Alert: Illinois-based US Term Limits is largely funded by NY businessman Howard Rich.

Public Affairs Counsel $30,590 (35.8%)

Oregon Education Association $25,000 (29.3%)

Oregon Beverage PAC $10,000 (11.7%)

Oregon AFSCME Council 75 $10,000 (11.7%)

Public Direct $7600 (8.9%)

Dave Barrows & Associates, Inc. $1000 (1.2%)

Oregon School Employees Association $500 (<1%)

Oregon Association of Realtors $500 (<1%)

Friends of Mary Botkin $250 (<1%)

46 & 47

Money is Not Democracy (MIND)

$368,893/ $106,431

Protect Our Voice

$39,340
 

Petitioning.net $135,410 (36.7%)

Harry Lonsdale $90,000 (24.4%)

Democracy’s Edge Action Fund $44,000 (11.9%)

Daniel Meek $28,600 (7.8%)

William Boyer $15,000 (4.1%)

Steven Marsden $1000 (<1%)

Kerstin Adams $1000 (<1%)

Citizens for Yamhill County Public Utility District $774 (<1%)

Elwyn Tesche $600 (<1%)

Four individuals at $500 each (<1% each)

Follow the Money Alert: The MIND PAC raised $368,893 through the most recent reporting deadline to add to its $5148 balance.  It spent $267,610 on the signature-gathering effort, leaving $106,431 for the November campaign.

Oregon Education Association $25,000 (63.5%)

Our Oregon $14,340 (36.5%)

“Oregonians will have to look deeper than the direct mail they receive in their mailboxes and the ads they see on television if they want to learn about both sides of the ballot measures they will face this fall,” said Sarah Wetherson, research and outreach associate.  Wealthy individuals and big-money interests often have loudest voice, determining which issues voters hear about during the election cycle.”

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