Good Government Committee

Chair: Will Rasmussen, Miller Nash

Good government practices are the foundation for good public policy. Oregon Business Association believes that good government is dependent not only upon public officials who are dedicated to the public interest, but also on processes that are equitable, transparent and accountable.

Initiative Reform

The current initiative system is flawed, resulting in potentially harmful public policy and costing the state significant revenues. OBA supports enhancing the initiative process for the purpose of improving the quality of measures, and providing voters with greater disclosure of the long-term financial impact of measures. OBA supports the following reforms:

• Requiring higher signature limits if measures have a fiscal impact.
• Providing additional disclosure of fiscal impacts to voters.

Citizens’ Initiative Review

Voters in Oregon need a clear, useful and nonpartisan source for information and evaluation of statewide ballot measures. OBA supports making the Citizens’ Initiative Review an ongoing public service for Oregon voters.

Open Primary

OBA supports creating an Open Primary to give all voters, regardless of their political affiliation, an identical ballot in primary elections. This is a significant improvement over our current system, as it would give every voter a say in which candidates will appear on the general election ballot, encouraging candidates to reach out beyond their party faithful in order to advance to the general election.

2012 Committee Schedule: 2nd Wednesdays, Noon – 1:30

OBA Staff Contact: Elizabeth Howe