After a Whirlwind Week, CIR One Step Closer!

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.

One of the bill’s chief sponsors, Representative Vickie Berger, who reviewed the bill in the House Rules Committee, testified in support of the bill. Rep. Berger was joined by two former panelists from the 2010 Citizens’ Initiative Review pilot and Healthy Democracy Oregon’s Co-Directors.

“The bill continues to build support from both parties and in both chambers. You can’t argue against voters having access to clear and more trustworthy information about ballot measures,” said Elliot Shuford, Healthy Democracy Oregon’s co-director. 

2010 Panelists Marion Sharp and Ann Bakkensen and moderator Robin Gumpert visited several supportive legislators last week on Wednesday. They met with Senator Johnson and Senator Rosenbaum's offices and made stops to talk with Ways and Means Co-chairs Senator Richard Devlin and Representative Peter Buckley.

“Several of the panelists from the 2010 Citizens’ Initiative Review Pilot have been visiting lawmakers over the past week and that’s really helped our effort,” said Co-Director Tyrone Reitman.

Momentum is really growing for the Citizens' Initiative Review. We had great support from all these legislators as we winded our way through the Ways and Means committee. We also met with two of our most important supporters in the House: Representatives Vickie Berger and Andy Olson. Berger and Olson championed the bill in the House Rulles committee and it was a great chance to thank them for their work on the bill.

Here are some pictures of last week’s capitol volunteers.

Senator Devlin met with CIR panelists and supporters on Wednesday. 

Our crew meeting with Catie Shriver from Senator Rosenbaum's office.

All in all, it was a great week for the Citizens' Initiative Review. A very special thank you to Ann, Robin, Greg, and Marion for voicing their support to their lawmakers and making it happen!