Healthy Democracy Oregon Blog

  • HDO Presents on "Authentic Community Engagement"
    admin
    November 8, 2011

    On November 3, Healthy Democracy presented at the 2011 Civic Engagement Conference in Salem, Oregon. HDF enjoyed an intimate conversation with the audience about the CIR, with great questions and discussion.

    The event’s theme was Authentic Community Engagement: Transforming and Inspiring Oregon Communities. With this in mind, Healthy Democracy presented on the Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR).

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  • HDO Advisors Keisling and Paulus Receive Legend Award
    admin
    October 20, 2011

    Congratulations to Phil Keisling and Norma Paulus, 2011 recipients of the Bus Project’s Legend Award.
    Phil and Norma are both on the advisory committee to Healthy Democracy Oregon, and have a long history of working to improve the democratic process for Oregonians.

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  • Ballot Measure Round-Up: 2012 is Getting Interesting
    admin
    October 13, 2011

    Welcome to HDO's Ballot Measure Round-Up! In this series, we explore the initiative process and the prospective measures that may be put to vote in the 2012 election.

    Since 1902, Oregon voters have had the power to enact new laws, change existing laws, or amend the Oregon Constitution through initiatives and referendums. Any citizen, acting individually or on behalf of an organization, may sponsor initiatives.

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  • Healthy Democracy Co-Hosts International Delegation
    admin
    October 13, 2011

    Last month, an international delegation of leaders in the field of direct democracy toured Western states to learn more about the ballot intiative process in the United States. Their final stop was Oregon, where they showed particular interest in learning about our innovative Citizens' Initiative Review.

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  • Governor Holds Ceremonial Signing for Historic CIR Bill
    admin
    October 13, 2011

    July 21st, 2011


    Salem, Ore.  Governor Kitzhaber held a ceremonial signing in his office Thursday for House Bill 2634, the bill establishing the Citizens’ Initiative Review as a new  feature of Oregon’s democratic process.  He was joined by lawmakers, as well as citizens who participated in a 2010 pilot of the Citizens’ Initiative Review, to celebrate the passage of the historic legislation.

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  • NEWS RELEASE: Oregon Senate Approves Citizens’ Initiative Review Bill!
    admin
    June 1, 2011

    For Immediate Release

    June 1, 2011



    Contact: Tyrone Reitman

    541-999-5088

    Today the Oregon Senate took action on legislation to establish the Citizens’ Initiative Review as a permanent feature of Oregon’s initiative process. 

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  • CIR Passes the Oregon House of Representatives!
    admin
    May 24, 2011

    The Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR) bill is headed to the Senate! Monday, May 23rd, the bill (HB 2634) was passed in the House, moving it onward to the other chamber. We barely had the chance to report the legislation was up for a vote in the House before the legislation was passed. The bill now moves to the Senate before it can be signed by the Governor.

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  • All Signs Say CIR Advancing to the House!
    admin
    May 17, 2011

    On Friday, May 13, the Legislature’s joint budget committee approved the Citizens’ Initiative Review bill, HB 2634. The legislation advanced from the Joint Ways and Means Committee, and all signs say it will move onward to the House.

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  • Lessons of Democracy from South of the Border
    admin
    May 12, 2011

    A recent article about California in The Economist is giving us considerable food for thought. It’s a good argument for why Californians, and others, should seriously consider a Citizens’ Initiative Review diet.

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  • After a Whirlwind Week, CIR One Step Closer!
    admin
    May 10, 2011

    The Citizens’ Initiative Review bill, HB 2634, made one more step towards becoming law Monday, passing in the General Government sub-committee of the larger Joint Committee on Ways & Means.

    HB 2634 creates a state commission to provide robust, visible oversight of the Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR) and ensures the CIR continues to be published in a prominent place in the voter’s pamphlet.HB 2634 will have no fiscal impact on the state’s general fund.

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