Should A Criminal Be Able To Get Measures on The Ballot?
Tax "Activist" Bill Sizemore
I’ve always been amazed at just how many awful measures Bill Sizemore has manage to get onto Oregon’s Ballots. The man has single-handedly cost many good organizations tens of thousands of dollars as they are forced to fight his anti EVERYONE measures. Now it comes out that ole Bill had his hand in the coffers.
So my question is this… If you’re convicted of a felony in this country you lose your right to vote; so why can’t we have a similar law that says if you are indicted on fraud or implicated in signature gathering improprieties that you lose your right to mount ballot measures?
I think it’s time for Oregonians to send a very strong message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and vote no on each and every measure Sizemore has on the ballot. The old saying is you can’t polish a turd, but Sizemore often puts them in pretty boxes with nice bows so people will buy them…
Here’s a list of the Sizemore backed initiatives so you can vote against them:
- Measure 58 - Requires english immersion for non-english speaking students
- Measure 59 -Â Makes federal income taxes fully deductible on state return
- Measure 60 - “Teacher compensation must be based on classroom performance”
- Measure 63 - Allows minor improvements To property without building permit
- Measure 64 - Prohibits using taxpayer-funded resources to collect political funds
I’ll admit to being lazy and not having read all of the background: was he convicted of something, or just indicted?
My gut says that the standard should be the same as that for voting. If convicted felons can’t vote, they shouldn’t be allowed to introduce ballot measures.
Convicted felons can vote in Oregon, upon release from confinement or completion of parole.
D’oh… hit submit too soon, again.
Sizemore is not a convicted felon (yet, anyway). He lost a lawsuit in 2000 that found him liable for racketeering.
Don’t care if he’s been convicted or not. His measures have wreaked a lot of damage on this state and I’ll never vote for one again — even if it seems like a good idea. The fact that someone can turn measure-writing into a full-time job is revolting to me.
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