Government Structure Failed General Election
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PEAPAC Recommends: YES

Restores representative government; unelected bureaucrats shouldn’t make laws.

Summary

Allows citizens to petition the legislature to review administrative rules.

Biblical Reasoning

But we elect Legislators to make laws, to make the tough decisions, not the bureaucrats! The Scriptures exhort us to truthfulness (Pr. 23:231 Cor. 13:6) and diligence ( Pr. 12:27) in our callings. Romans 12:8 cites diligence as a basic requirement for leaders. It’s something less than truthful or diligent for someone elected to pass laws to give the controversial work to bureaucrats. Our system of electing representatives to make laws is rooted in the Bible. Administrators are good in their place. But this Measure restores accountability to those who were elected by the people. It’s a small but positive step in restoring the kind of representative government envisioned by our Founding Fathers and taught in the Bible.

Proverbs 23:23 — “Scriptures exhort us to truthfulness”
1 Corinthians 13:6 — “Scriptures exhort us to truthfulness”
Proverbs 12:27 — “Scriptures exhort us to… diligence”
Romans 12:8 — “cites diligence as a basic requirement for leaders”

Election Results

44%
56%
YesNo

Voters rejected the legislative review of rules (56% No).

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: If passed, Measure 2 would provide a mechanism to require the Legislature to vote either their approval or disapproval of contested administrative rules. 10,000 signatures would be required to force a Legislative review of a particular rule. We urge a Yes vote on this Measure.

In ancient Athens, rulers had to publicly post all laws in writing, so people could read them. One despot got around this by writing them in very little print, and posting them on a tall pole! If people didn’t know the laws, he could arrest only those who opposed him. While most Oregonians may not realize it, unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats write and adopt thousands of administrative rules, all carrying the force of law. Many legislators like this because it gets them off the hot seat on controversial issues.

But we elect Legislators to make laws, to make the tough decisions, not the bureaucrats! The Scriptures exhort us to truthfulness (Pr. 23:231 Cor. 13:6) and diligence ( Pr. 12:27) in our callings. Romans 12:8 cites diligence as a basic requirement for leaders. It’s something less than truthful or diligent for someone elected to pass laws to give the controversial work to bureaucrats. Our system of electing representatives to make laws is rooted in the Bible. Administrators are good in their place. But this Measure restores accountability to those who were elected by the people. It’s a small but positive step in restoring the kind of representative government envisioned by our Founding Fathers and taught in the Bible. We hope you will vote Yes on Measure 2.

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