Special Series
Measure 63 in Oregon
In a Series
Measure 63 Round-up
Oregon's Measure 63 -- a mosquito-bite version of the old Measure 37 plague -- is not managing to make a lot of friends. Here's a look at what newspapers around the state are saying. It isn't pretty:
The Albany Democrat-Herald recommends voting no:
...it sounds good. But it is baloney...
Building codes exist for a reason, even though sometimes they are a pain. The reason is fire and life safety. And the permit process is how the codes are carried out.
The Eugene Register-Guard says no too:
The state estimates the measure would reduce local government revenues by up to $8 million a year and state revenues by up to $750,000.
The measure is opposed by firefighters, police, EMTs, trade unions, the Oregon Building Officials Association, the Oregon Farm Bureau, the American Institute of Architects Oregon and the American Insurance Association. These and a long list of other organizations recognize that eliminating permit requirements would undermine the planning and public safety systems and deprive local and state governments of needed revenue.
