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Measure 103 amends the Oregon Constitution to prohibit taxes/fees based on transactions for “groceries” enacted or amended after September 2017. While this sounds promising, the measure would set a dangerous precedent on other kinds of taxes that the state could initiate in the future. The measure, as written, is vague at best, purposefully confusing at worst. Given that there are no taxes on groceries, and Oregonians have clearly rejected consumer sales tax measures in the past, why bring forth this measure now? Clearly, it’s a preemptive measure, but not one meant to protect consumers. Given that the American Beverage Association…

Measure 104 is a prescription for endless budget crisis and legislative gridlock in Salem. Since the passage of Measure 5 by Oregon voters in 1990 Oregon has required a 60% majority in its legislature to pass any tax bills. Measure 104 radically expands this so that a 60% supermajority would be required to pass ANY bill that could increase state revenue. No fee could be increased, no tax loophole could be closed, literally nothing could be done to increase state revenues without a supermajority. There would be little hope of ending the regular Oregon ritual of schools, universities, health care…