Your Action of the Week is to fill out your ballot and get it to a drop box or in the mail. Also do what you can to encourage everyone you meet to vote.

One of our previous Actions urged you to vote yes on Ballot Measure 102 and no on the four dangerous ones 103, 104, 105 and 106. Those four are serious threats to the movement to Universal Health Care, several have tax giveaways to corporations or are discriminatory.

Help us by getting involved with the following:
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103: Get involved at https://noon103.org/ and share with others. This is an unprecedented change to Oregon’s constitution that would permanently exempt a wide range of transactions such as e-cigarettes and vaping products from any taxes and fees. It’s risky, misleading, and completely unnecessary. There is no proposed tax on groceries. The measure is also retroactive, so it would even put Medicaid funding at risk. Just look at who is funding the Yes campaign and then decide if you are likely to benefit. Albertson/Safeway, Am. Beverage Assoc., Fred Meyer & Kroger, Costso, Oregon Soft Drink PAC, and others have contributed close to $5 million to convince you that you should vote Yes.  Don't buy it; this is not in your interest. 


104: Get involved at https://noon104.org/ and share with others.  Measure 104 is a wasteful and unnecessary constitutional amendment that would lock in tax loopholes and perks for special interests and increase political gridlock by requiring a super-majority vote in the state legislature for bills increasing revenue. It would risk a government shutdown and threaten Oregon’s schools and healthcare. Oregon Center for Public Policy just issued a report on the racist historical roots of the movement to create super-majority requirements. Read it here

105: Get involved at https://orunited.org/ and share with others. This could open the door to racial profiling and families being torn apart, simply because someone is perceived to be an undocumented immigrant. 105 violates our Oregon values of fairness and looking out for our neighbors.

106: Get involved at https://nocutstocare.com/ and share with others. This sets a dangerous precedent by allowing voters to make medical decisions. Measure 106 takes away the full range of reproductive health care that women deserve. Women have a right to choose the procedures which affect their bodies and that right should not be diminished because they are low-income or are state workers.
Although we can’t recommend, due to our nonprofit status, any candidates, we trust that UUs will vote for candidates who embody our UU Principles. 

Print a copy of this Action of the Week here. ​

OR UU Voices has researched the state-wide ballot measures and makes these recommendations.  Many organizations, including UU churches, have made these same recommendations. 

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Measure  102
YES

Would allow local governments to issue bonds to pay for affordable housing projects that involve nonprofits or other nongovernmental entities. This mix of private and public money is expected to expand funds for affordable housing and was submitted by the Legislature
Also endorsed by Defend Oregon, Affordable Housing for Oregon, Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCCP), and First Unitarian's Committee on Hunger and Homelessness (COHHO) and Economic Justice Action Group (EJAG) 
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Measure 103
NO

A constitutional amendment that would bar new taxes on groceries, including food and soda, as well as freeze the state’s corporate minimum tax for supermarkets. Submitted by grocers and soda producers after Multnomah Co interest in imposing local soda tax for health reasons.
Defend Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, OCCP, and First U's Economic Justice Action Group (EJAG) and others recommend Vote No.
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Measure 104
NO
A constitutional amendment that would require a three-fifths supermajority for legislation that raises revenue through changes in tax exemptions, credits and deductions and fees. Submitted to halt fees on financial and real estate transactions and changes to a more progressive tax system. Rep Alissa Keny-Guyer “this measure would hobble the ability of the state to raise money “
Defend Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, OR Right to Health,OCCP, and First Unitarians's Economic Justice Action Group (EJAG) recommend Vote NO.
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Measure 105
NO

Would overturn Oregon’s 1987 sanctuary law that prohibits state and local police from enforcing immigration law if a person’s only violation is being in the country illegally. Would increase threats to immigrants and their access to services, allow racial profiling and hamper farming operations.
OR United, Defend Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, Oregonians Against Profiling, OCCP, Causa, and First Unitarian's Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG), Economic Justice Action Group (EJAG) recommends Vote NO.
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Measure 106
NO

A constitutional amendment that would ban public funds from being spent on abortions in Oregon, except when medically necessary or required by federal law. (Currently no federal funds may be used for abortion.) Would lead to more limits on women’s rights, including limiting access to state funded abortion for all state employees and those on the Oregon Health Plan. 
Defend Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, Oregon Right to Health, OCCP, and First U's Economic Justice Action Group (EJAG) recommend a NO Vote
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Download a printable copy here.