Healthy Democracy Oregon

Healthy Democracy Oregon Blog

  • A big welcome to Fred Neal, HDO’s newest Advisory Board member
    Tyrone Reitman
    September 25, 2009 3:10

    The staff and board of Healthy Democracy Oregon heartily welcomes Fred Neal as the newest member of the HDO Advisory Board.  

    Neal has held various government-related positions in Oregon over a 32-year period. He retired in July 2006 as campaign finance manager for the Oregon Secretary of State's Office, Elections Division, a position he held for 11 years.

  • Gearing up for the 2010 Reviews
    Elliot Shuford
    September 2, 2009 3:49

    Following the passage of HB2895, we've been getting ready for the coming year- it promises to keep us busy!

    Couple of quick updates:

  • Citizens' Initiative Review bill signed by Governor!
    Tyrone Reitman
    June 29, 2009 4:42

     

    For Immediate Release

    A Win for Oregon Voters: How Everyday Citizens are being Re-Engaged in the Initiative Process

    Salem - On June 26th, 2009, Governor Kulongoski signed HB 2895, which allows statements, from a Citizens' Initiative Review panel to be printed in the 2010 Voter's Pamphlet. This encourages public participation and gives voters another perspective to draw upon when casting their ballot.

    The Citizens' Initiative Review will engage a representative panel of 24 Oregonians in a public review of a statewide measure on the ballot. Registered voters are selected randomly from across the state to participate in the panel. They will come together and spend several days hearing balanced testimony, asking questions and deliberating on the pros and cons of the initiative. The panelists then develop a "citizens' statement" that is published as a prominent new page in the Oregon voters' pamphlet.

  • Citizens' Initiative Review Bill Passes the Senate!
    J Bombardier
    June 17, 2009 4:57

    Yesterday, June 16th, HB 2895A passed the Oregon State Senate by a vote of 23-7!

    Great thanks and congratulations are in order for Sen. Rick Metsger, who carried the Bill on the Senate floor and had this to say about the successful legislation:

  • CIR BILL IS GOING TO THE SENATE!
    Elliot Shuford
    June 5, 2009 10:32

    Yesterday, with some great testimony from Representative Harker and Kappy Eaton of the League of Women Voters, HB 2895A passed out of the Senate Rules Committee and now heads to the Senate floor.

    Following the vote, Tyrone and I had a conversation about our early work in the Legislature.

  • Citizens' Initiative Review in Senate Rules- TODAY!
    Elliot Shuford
    June 4, 2009 12:36

    With a one-hour notice in effect for Senate Committee meetings, things can happen very fast. As it stands, at 3pm today, HB 2895A will be heard in the Senate Rules Committee.

    We're hoping the bill will get a work session and passed out to the full Senate Chamber today as well.

    Onward...

  • Citizens' Initiative Review passes House!
    Tyrone Reitman
    May 29, 2009 1:38

    Minutes ago, the Citizens' Initiative Review, House Bill 2895A, passed the Oregon House!

    The vote was 40 to 7 (unfortunately many of our co-sponsors were off the floor on other committee business). But the vote still reflects how both parties can work together to offer a proposal which can build trust with voters and provide opportunities for better quality public deliberation.

     Now, with previous little time remaining in the session, we're off to the Senate to work the bill on that side. Despite the time crunch, we feel good about the Bill's chances.

    More very soon!

  • A Unanimous Success!
    J Bombardier
    May 22, 2009 3:28

    Today, House Bill 2895, the Citizens' Initiative Review Bill, was passed by a unanimous vote in the House Rules Committee.

    With Representative Berger making the motion, the Bill cleared a very important hurdle in the legislative process.

    Next, HB 2895 will go before the full House of Representatives. Pass there, and it's on to the Senate!

    Stay tuned for more updates from the Capitol...

  • HB 2895 Gets Another Work Session!
    Elliot Shuford
    May 19, 2009 1:26

    Good news for the CIR: it seems likely the bill will be moving tomorrow. Last Friday, Chair Roblan held a work session on HB 2895 and moved the -2 Amendments into the bill.

    However, due to the fact that a fiscal impact statement was not ready in time for the hearing, the bill could not be moved. We expect the fiscal impact statement to be ready for tomorrow's work session.

  • HB 2895 Gets a Work Session!
    Elliot Shuford
    May 14, 2009 1:20

    We're on the Rules Committee Agenda and it looks likely the Citizens' Initiative Review will be making some strides in the 2009 legislature!

    On Friday, HB 2895 is on the agenda for a work session, where the committee will move to adopt the amendments and will most likely move the bill out of committee to the full House of Representatives.