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Ballot Measure 116

Independent Public Service Compensation Commission Amendment: Establishes “Independent Public Service Compensation Commission” to determine salaries for specified officials; eliminates legislative authority to set such salaries.
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 981,715 47.54% No 1,083,451 52.46%
No   70-80%   60-70%   50-60% Yes   50-60%

Oregon Ballot Measure 116, the Independent Public Service Compensation Commission Amendment, is a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Oregon that will be decided by voters as part of the 2024 Oregon elections on November 5, 2024. If approved, it would establish an "Independent Public Service Compensation Commission", which would determine salaries for politicians and other government figures in the state.

Newspaper editorials have pointed out that the Commission would not be independent from the Oregon Legislature, which would later determine who would get appointed to the Commission and how it would operate. The Oregonian editorial board stated in its opposition:

Legislators and measure supporters are painting this measure as a way to put the power in the hands of the people and prevent “politicians from meddling in the process,” when it actually takes away accountability to the public.

Willamette Week editorialized:

Currently, as is the case in 30 other states, legislators have the authority to set their own salaries. Although they have long grumbled about low pay and their workload has increased, lawmakers have lacked the political courage to tackle the issue for themselves.

In a hurried process in 2023, lawmakers proposed enshrining in the constitution a salary commission, which would set salaries for statewide elected officials, judges, district attorneys—and lawmakers.

There is no requirement, however, that the commission be bipartisan or nonpartisan, and there are few limits on whom the Legislature can appoint to that commission: state employees, lobbyists and officials’ family members are barred, but everybody else, including donors and political consultants, is eligible.

But the biggest red flag: Unlike virtually any other action a government body might take, no review or appeal of the salary commission’s decisions is allowed, according to the measure’s official explanatory statement: “Determinations of the commission would not be subject to review or modification by the Legislative Assembly, the governor or any other official.”

That’s bad governance. Vote no.

Polling

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. This poll was sponsored by the Northwest Progressive Institute

See also

• List of Oregon ballot measures
• 2024 United States ballot measures

References

1. Bourgeois, Michaela (August 2, 2024). "Oregon voters to decide on 5 ballot measures in 2024 November election". KOIN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
2. Fuentes, Carlos (October 13, 2024). "Election 2024: Your guide to Oregon's November election". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
3. "Measure 116 would change who sets salaries for state elected officials - Oregon Center for Public Policy". 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
4. Board, The Oregonian Editorial (2024-09-29). "Editorial endorsement November 2024: Vote 'no' on Measure 116, the Legislature's accountability dodge". oregonlive. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
5. "WW's Fall 2024 Endorsements: Ballot Measures". Willamette Week. 2024-10-16. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
6. Villeneuve, Andrew (October 24, 2024). "Oregon voters are split on ranked choice voting initiative, while poised to reject rebate plan and accept constitutional changes". Northwest Progressive Institute. Retrieved November 3, 2024.

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