Supporters of Measure 6, which would give public funding to candidates running for state office, say it would reform an ailing campaign finance system by getting private money out of state politics and by encouraging more candidates to run for office.
“We must put citizens back in the driver’s seat of American government,” said Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, president of the League of Women Voters, during her Oct. 16 visit to Eugene.
But opponents of the measure say it would give public money to candidates who don’t deserve the support and would do little to eliminate corruption.
“Measure 6 would support candidates people don’t agree with,” said Becky Miller, executive assistant with Oregon Taxpayers United, an anti-tax organization that is opposing the measure.
The measure would give candidates running for state offices $25,000 with which to campaign. To qualify for public funding, candidates must limit private contributions and receive a specified number of $5 contributions from Oregon residents. Candidates running for governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general and legislative seats would be able to choose whether to seek the public campaign funding.
If Measure 6 passes, Oregon will follow only four other states — Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont — that have passed similar measures.
“Oregon can set the direction for reform across the country,” Jefferson-Jenkins said. “Campaign finance needs to be reformed because the political system needs to be reformed. Both go hand in hand.”
The League of Women Voters of Lane County is supporting Measure 6 because it wants to see an increase in grassroots campaigning, said Dian Smissar, a league member.
“Measure 6 forces grassroots politics so that politicians know who they are representing,” Smissar said. “I would rather put campaigns back in the hands of the everyday voter. I think the taxpayer’s dollar is a more sound dollar to apply toward voting issues than the corporate dollar.”
Opponents of Measure 6 say it will not completely solve the problem of corruption in campaign financing.
“The power to be gained in elections is so great, there will always be corruption,” Miller said. “There are ways to corrupt Measure 6, and taxpayers would have to pay for it.”
Supporters of the measure argue it would help more people run for office and give citizens more candidates to choose from.
“Candidates will have to listen to the needs of the citizens,” Jefferson-Jenkins said.