August 31, 2003
From Voters' Pamphlet To Voters' Brochure?
"Isn't there any news other than Chief Kroeker's resignation?" you might ask. Well, yes. Among other things, there's this item about the continuing troubles of the Voters' Pamphlet:
Oregon law requires elections officials to provide a Voters' Pamphlet for next year's elections.
But there's a problem: The just-adjourned Legislature didn't set aside any money for it.
Now, officials say they'll have to ask for the $1.3 million from legislators on the state Emergency Board, which meets regularly while the Legislature is out of session.
"If we don't have the money, we can't do it," said John Lindback, director of the state Elections Division, which is part of Secretary of State Bill Bradbury's office. "We can't produce it without money."
As The Oregonian reminds, there was a measure making its way through the Oregon Legislature this session which would have paid for the guide through increased fees. But lawmakers adjourned before adopting it, leaving the Secretary of State's office -- barring funding from the Emergency Board -- without the necessary money.
"It won't be anything like what we're used to," The Oregonian quotes Paula Krane of the League of Women Voters of Oregon. "I'm under the impression there will be no Voters' Pamphlet as we know it."
Hey, it's only democracy as we know it on the Pacific coast of the United States. Why should that deserve any money.