Government Structure Failed General Election
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PEAPAC Recommends: NO

Biblical government is representative, not pure democracy; the legislature needs the ability to fix poorly crafted initiatives.

Summary

Prevents the legislature from changing voter-approved statutes for 5 years, then requires a 3/5 vote.

Biblical Reasoning

Biblical government is representative government, not pure democracy. Conceptually, then, the passage of this Measure would be a movement away from biblical government. Practically, this Measure is very wrong-headed as well.

Deuteronomy 1:13 — “Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.”

Election Results

48%
52%
YesNo

Voters rejected this limitation on the legislature, with 52% voting No.

Full PEAPAC Analysis

Biblical government is representative government, not pure democracy. Conceptually, then, the passage of this Measure would be a movement away from biblical government.

Practically, this Measure is very wrong-headed as well. This year’s state-published voter’s guide for the Ballot Measures alone is well over 200 pages long. How many voters will actually read the full text of the Measures themselves, let alone the various statements of opposition or support? The fact is, the people are liable to make some real bad decisions with such a process.

If this measure is approved, we will have no legislative ability to change poorly crafted ballot measures, or those that are intentionally deceitful. Two years ago, the people approved a Campaign Fiancee Reform Initiative sponsored by a liberal political action group… The result may well be Democratic control of the Oregon House. The point here is not who should control the House, but the passage by a large majority of Oregonians of a Measure with hidden political implications.

Such measures need to be able to be cleaned up by the Legislature, and we therefore strongly recommend a NO vote.

← PreviousMeasure 32 (1996)