Measure 107 seeks to allow state campaign finance reform

Oregonians have found Measure 107 on their ballots, an item designed to amend the state's constitution to explicitly allow for campaign finance regulations.

Marisa woloszyn."

This election season has seen a slew of campaign commercials over the air and online.... and on their ballots, oregon voters will be deciding if the state should be able to regulate the donations and spending that make all that political messaging possible.

Kezi 9 news reporter chris lueneburg breaks down the measure and what exactly it aims to do.

"2018's gubernatorial race between kate brown and knute buehler was the most expensive in state history with the two raising a combined total of $30 million.

Supporters of measure 107 say it's time for oregon to stop being recognized as the 'wild west' of campaign finance."

Oregon state university political expert christopher stout says that oregon is one of just a few states without campaign spending and contiribution limits.

"there's been an increase in spending across the nation in campaigns and elections.

And the fact that there's no limit means that oregon is ripe for outside spending."

The measure has seen support from many oregon state legislatorsoth republican and democrat.

Stout says the negative effects can touch the political process- no matter the party.

"just one or two individuals can have an outsized say in the electoral process."*the yes on 107 campaign the ultimate losers when it comes to campaign finance are minorities working oregonians ho's smaller donations make less of an impactnd who's campaigns may have a hard time attracting big dollar donors.

"well, its not fair when one person is able to speak in the same room with a giant megaphone that is able to speak over everyone else.

That is fundamentally unfair and infringes on other people's free speech rights."

However he oregon supreme court has ruled that the state's constitution doesn't allow for contirbution and expenderture limits, as well as requirements on spending and advertisement disclosures& language this measure would ammend to explicitly allow.

"it strips from the oregon constitution all of the protections that go above and beyond what the first amendment already requires."

Though there is largely bi-partisan support for the measure, libertarian candidate for oregon secretary of state kyle markley fears limits on political speech.

"if you want to hire a speechwriter or print out some handbills or put an ad on tv, that money is spent for the purpose of political expression.

Without that money, the expression couldn't take place."

Markley says that third-party candidates sometimes rely on large-dollar donors& and limits could lead to a less-diverse marketplace of ideas.

"i look at these attempts to regulate campaign finance, and i view it frankly as censorship."

Officials say that if he measure won't have a financial impact on state or local government.

"measure 107 simply amends the state constitution to allow campaign finance laws.

There aren't any in the books right now except in the city of portland it'll be on state legislators to decide if and when they want to pursue campaign finance regulations.

In the newsroom, chris