Oregon Ballot Measure 116, the Independent Public Service Compensation Commission Amendment, is a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Oregon that will be decided by voters as part of the 2024 Oregon elections on November 5, 2024. [1] [2] If approved, it would establish an "Independent Public Service Compensation Commission", which would determine salaries for politicians and other government figures in the state. [3]
Newspaper editorials have pointed out that the Commission would not be independent from the Oregon Legislature, which would later determine who would get appointed to the Commission and how it would operate. The Oregonian editorial board stated in its opposition:
Legislators and measure supporters are painting this measure as a way to put the power in the hands of the people and prevent “politicians from meddling in the process,” when it actually takes away accountability to the public. [4]
Willamette Week editorialized:
Currently, as is the case in 30 other states, legislators have the authority to set their own salaries. Although they have long grumbled about low pay and their workload has increased, lawmakers have lacked the political courage to tackle the issue for themselves.
In a hurried process in 2023, lawmakers proposed enshrining in the constitution a salary commission, which would set salaries for statewide elected officials, judges, district attorneys—and lawmakers.
There is no requirement, however, that the commission be bipartisan or nonpartisan, and there are few limits on whom the Legislature can appoint to that commission: state employees, lobbyists and officials’ family members are barred, but everybody else, including donors and political consultants, is eligible.
But the biggest red flag: Unlike virtually any other action a government body might take, no review or appeal of the salary commission’s decisions is allowed, according to the measure’s official explanatory statement: “Determinations of the commission would not be subject to review or modification by the Legislative Assembly, the governor or any other official.”
That’s bad governance. Vote no. [5]
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [a] | Margin of error | For Measure 116 | Against Measure 116 | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (D) [6] [b] | October 16–17, 2024 | 716 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 49% | 26% | 25% |
Ballot Measure 47 was an initiative in the U.S. state of Oregon that passed in 1996, affecting the assessment of property taxes and instituting a double majority provision for tax legislation. Measure 50 was a revised version of the law, which also passed, after being referred to the voters by the 1997 state legislature.
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to two-year terms. There are no term limits for either house in the Legislative Assembly.
Oregon Ballot Measure 37 was a controversial land-use ballot initiative that passed in the U.S. state of Oregon in 2004 and is now codified as Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 195.305. Measure 37 has figured prominently in debates about the rights of property owners versus the public's right to enforce environmental and other land use regulations. Voters passed Measure 49 in 2007, substantially reducing the impact of Measure 37.
Term limits legislation – term limits for state and federal office-holders – has been a recurring political issue in the U.S. state of Oregon since 1992. In that year's general election, Oregon voters approved Ballot Measure 3, an initiative that enacted term limits for representatives in both houses of the United States Congress and the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and statewide officeholders. It has been described as the strictest term limits law in the country.
The Independent Party of Oregon (IPO) is a centrist political party in the U.S. state of Oregon with more than 140,000 registrants since its inception in January 2007. The IPO is Oregon's third-largest political party and the first political party other than the Democratic Party and Republican Party to be recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party.
Elections in Oregon are all held using a Vote by Mail (VBM) system. This means that all registered voters receive their ballots via postal delivery and can vote from their homes. A state Voters’ Pamphlet is mailed to every household in Oregon about three weeks before each statewide election. It includes information about each measure and candidate in the upcoming election.
The Seventy-fourth Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative Assembly (OLA)'s period from 2007 to 2008. There was a regular session in 2007, and a shorter special session in 2008.
The 75th Oregon Legislative Assembly convened beginning on January 12, 2009, for its biennial regular session. All of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives and half of the 30 seats in the State Senate were up for election in 2008; the general election for those seats took place on November 4.
Proposition 1F of 2009 was a measure approved by California voters relating to the salaries of state officers. It was an amendment of the Constitution of California prohibiting pay raises for members of the State Legislature, the Governor, and other state officials during deficit years. It was proposed by the legislature and approved in a referendum held as part of the May 19, 2009 special election ballot, in which the California electorate also voted on five other propositions.
Electoral reform in Oregon refers to efforts to change election and voting laws in the West Coast state of Oregon.
Oregon Ballot Measure 91 was a 2014 ballot measure in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its passage legalized the "recreational use of marijuana, based on regulation and taxation to be determined by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission".
A general election was held in the U.S. state of Oregon on November 8, 2016. Primary elections were held on May 17, 2016.
A general election was held in the U.S. state of Oregon on November 3, 2020. Primary elections were held on May 19, 2020.
Oregon Ballot Measure 111, the Right to Healthcare Amendment, is an amendment to the Constitution of Oregon that voters passed as part of the 2022 Oregon elections. The amendment states that "It is the obligation of the state to ensure that every resident of Oregon has access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care as a fundamental right." This measure makes Oregon the first state with a constitutional right to healthcare.
Oregon Ballot Measure 113, the Exclusion from Re-election for Legislative Absenteeism Initiative, was approved by Oregon voters in the 2022 Oregon elections. Measure 113 amended the Constitution of Oregon to provided that members of the Oregon Legislature with ten unexcused absences from floor sessions are disqualified from serving in the legislature following their current term. It is codified as Article IV, Section 15 of the Oregon Constitution.
The 2024 Portland mayoral election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the mayor of Portland, Oregon. Businessman Keith Wilson was elected, defeating 3 city council members and 15 other candidates.
A general election was held in the U.S. state of Oregon on November 5, 2024. Primary elections were held on May 21, 2024.
The 2024 Ohio redistricting commission initiative was a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, Issue 1 on the ballot, that was defeated 53.7% to 46.3% in the November 2024 election. If passed, the amendment would have replaced the existing politician-led Ohio Redistricting Commission with a citizen-led 15-member Ohio Citizen Redistricting Commission, appointed by retired judges, to redraw congressional and legislative districts.
Oregon Ballot Measure 115, entitled the Impeachment of Elected State Executives Amendment, is a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Oregon that will be decided by voters as part of the 2024 Oregon elections on November 5, 2024. If approved by voters, it will amend the state Constitution to grant the Oregon State Legislature the power to impeach and remove statewide elected officials in the Executive branch of the Oregon state government: the Oregon Governor, Oregon Secretary of State, Oregon Attorney General, Oregon State Treasurer, and Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries.