From The Portland Tribune:
Despite misleading statements to the contrary, a fledgling effort to make sure voters are well informed about statewide ballot measures in Oregon is worth continuing.
The Oregon Citizens’ Initiative Review process is, in fact, already having a positive influence on an initiative system that’s become overly corrupted by big money over the past two decades.
Perhaps it is the potential power of this initiative-review process that caused a group behind one 2012 ballot measure to avoid discussing its measure with the cross section of ordinary citizens on the panel. After all, if the citizen panel gains too much influence, it could counteract the emotional arguments that often form the basis for ballot measure campaigns.
