Don't know whether to laugh or cry...

[themabbi]

Looks like Oregonians, in our wisdom, have passed Measure 47, which puts some very stringent limits on campaign contributions, but failed to pass Measure 46, which amends the constitution to make Measure 47 legal. I voted against them both, so I guess I'm glad, but still, come on people, read your stinking voter guide

Comments

[muerte]

This ballot needed a little more cowbell.

[aaron]

Holy Cow. I never saw that, but I know the reference from a conversation I had with friends. That was Hilarious.

[aaron]

Out of curiosity (if you don't mind my asking) why would you be against limiting campaign funding?

[themabbi]

I'm not against campaign finance limits, I'm very much in favor of them, which made it tough to vote against this, but the devil is always in the details. The bar was set so low that it would have been very difficult to pay for any tv ads at all, which I think would have led to a lot of pressure to get more money into a race any way that could be found. There's a fine line between leveling the playing field and stifling the political process, and I just thought this was too much of the latter. Still, I probably could have lived with that.

However, measure 46 would have made the limits legal in Oregon, but a state constitution can't override the federal constitution. The SCOTUS has ruled over the years that contributions from individuals are protected speech, so it's very likely that portion of the law would have been found unconstitutional, whereas the limits on non-profits and unions would not. Thus giving wealthy donors even more influence than they have now.

[sassadaisy]

the important thing is that measure 43 didn't pass