Oh, Where Have You Been, Billy Boy?

Cue the music! "Oh, where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Oh, where have you been, charming Billy?" The answer is: hanging out with the press and whining about the new, tougher laws about collecting signatures for ballot measures.

Today's Baker City Herald had an article about Mr. Sizemore. Apparently because of the new rules regarding payroll records for paid signature gatherers several of Racketeer Bill Sizemore's proposed ballot measures have been suspended. He says, "Bill Bradbury has shut down the initiative process." Oh, poor Billy S.! Despite the fact that he knew the rules were being put into place in 2008 he failed to maintain accurate records and follow protocol by turning them in at the Secretary of State's office. Considering the charges OEA brought against him a few years ago and his conviction for racketeering this isn't surprising. Of course if he had a dedicated group of volunteers instead of paid signature gatherers this wouldn't be an issue. Because signature gatherers are being paid there are strict rules and the Secretary of State is watching for compliance.

Oregon's initiative process was in dire need of reform. Before this new law took effect signature gatherers were paid by the signature, a system that encouraged fraud and forgery. Some signature gatherers were caught signing voter's names to initiatives the original signer had no idea existed. According to an article from "Our Oregon Newsletter "4.24.07 "House Bill 2082 will require campaigns that hire paid signature gatherers to keep accurate and up-to-date payroll records and gives the Secretary of State audit authority to spot check campaigns . . . Additionally, HB 2082 increase the number of signatures required to file a ballot title from 25 to a reasonable 1,000, which would stop the current practice of campaigns marketing their ideas on the taxpayer's dime. If the campaign goes forward with the measure, the 1,000 signatures would count for the final total."

Until Sizemore complies with state election law he cannot continue to gather signatures for the following ballot measures:

• A proposal to make federal income taxes fully deductible on state returns.
• A requirement that non-English speaking students take English-only classes within two years.
• Teacher Merit Pay

These aren't the only ballot measures being suspended. Several measures by another anti-tax, anti-public employee group, "Freedom Works" are affected. This is good news for our members. OEA and other like-minded groups have fought these kinds of measures for years. We were instrumental in getting ballot measure reform in place because of Sizemore's racketeering and general abuse of the system.

Naturally there is a backlash. According to the article Kevin Mannix, another ballot measure backer, "is rounding up signatures for a proposed initiative measure to overturn many of the new restrictions recently put into place." Mannix says "It undoes the bureaucratic garbage that has been enacted by the powerful elites."

Hmmm. Without a doubt OEA is powerful. Our members make us strong. But elite? Hardly. This sounds suspiciously like sour grapes and a general distaste for an educated public. Why is it unreasonable for firms employing paid signature gatherers to prove that they aren't paying by the signature when this practice encourages fraud? Because it eliminates the industry of making money from ballot measures, something that has been going on in Oregon for years.

Thankfully the new rules are in place now. Unfortunately we know that these prolific sponsors aren't going away anytime soon. With luck we will have slowed them down and may keep some ugly ballot measures off of the November 2008 ballot.