To volunteer:
State Rep. Mitch Greenlick --  mitchgreenlick@msn.com
In Eugene, contact state Rep. Paul Holvey -- Holvey.Rep@state.or.us
Here is the ballot title:
AMENDS CONSTITUTION: REQUIRES ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT; LEGISLATURE MUST ADOPT PLAN EXPANDING HEALTH CARE
RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: "Yes" vote requires state to ensure access to health care as fundamental right, and legislature to adopt plan expanding health care coverage, for Oregon residents.
RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: "No" vote retains current law, which does not require access to health care as fundamental right or require legislature to adopt plan expanding health care.
SUMMARY: Amends constitution. Currently, state statutes establish goals for universal health care; state constitution does not require legislature to adopt health care plan. Measure requires state to provide access to health care as fundamental right for every Oregon resident; legislature must adopt plan that incrementally expands health care coverage so residents can regularly obtain effective, affordable health care. In developing plan, legislature must consider ways to: conserve, strengthen existing health care system; conserve, strengthen system of providing health insurance as employment benefit; encourage individual responsibility for health care; maximize use of federal programs; encourage efficient, effective use of expenditures; improve health of every Oregon resident. Plan must be adopted not later than July 1, 2009; repeals requirement to adopt plan on December 31, 2012. Other provisions.
Initiative number 40
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Oregon:
PARAGRAPH 1. The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended by creating new sections 46 and 46a to be added to and made a part of Article 1, such sections to read:
SECTION 46. Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity and there is an obligation for the state to ensure that every Oregon resident has access to effective and affordable health care as a fundamental right.
SECTION 46a. (1) The Legislative Assembly by law shall adopt a plan that incrementally expands health care coverage so that every Oregon resident is able to obtain effective and affordable health care on a regular basis.
(2) When developing a plan for expanding health care coverage, the Legislative Assembly shall consider ways to:
(a) Conserve and strengthen the existing health care system to the greatest extent possible;
(b) Conserve and strengthen the existing system of providing health insurance as a benefit of employment;
(c) Encourage individual responsibility for one's own health care;
(d) Maximize the use of Medicaid, Medicare and other federal health care programs;
(e) Encourage the efficient and effective use of health care expenditures; and
(f) Improve the health of every Oregon resident.
(3) The Legislative Assembly by law shall adopt a plan that incrementally expands health care coverage pursuant to this section not later than July 1, 2009.
(4) This section is repealed December 31, 2012.
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e-mail:
One if I am going to throw myself into an initiative campaign, then I want immediate, tangible rewards for the effort. I want hospitals to be forced to change their charity care policies, I want regulation of insurance premiums (health, auto, home, the works), I want to put the Oregon Health Plan back on track to fulfilling its original intent, I want an initiative that will galvanize public support in an instant and stymie opposition and hit them in their wallets. Initiatives are very expensive, both in volunteer time and money. This one fails to make an immediate impact so it fails that test.
Second, this initiative serves to highlight the corrosive dynamic of rule by ballot measures vs representative government. In essence, it is the abdication of power by elected representatives. It reinforces the cynacism and apathy of voters in the ability of elected government to act in their best interests and thus continues the downward spiral of the willingness of government to act in the public interest. Oregon needs to make up its mind - rule by plebicite or by representative democracy? I choose representative democracy, so I will put my efforts into registering voters and educating them to use their power to force those elected to respond. I won't give up yet.
Of course if there were an initiative to regulate insurance rates, I might be tempted:)