Kyle Markley, candidate for Oregon Secretary of State

Kyle Markley
for Oregon Secretary of State

I published the following argument in opposition to Measure 107 in the Oregon Voters' Pamphlet for the 2020 General Election.


Oregonians wisely rejected the very similar Measure 46 in 2006. Here are some quotes (emphasis added) from opposing Voters' Pamphlet arguments that still resonate today:

Betty Roberts, former Oregon Supreme Court Justice:

If [this measure] is approved, there would be no free speech rights left in the Oregon Constitution to prevent a law that would ban all contributions for and against any ballot measure.

No Censorship Committee:

… Oregon laws could be passed that would ban political artistic expression if there is any connection to a candidate or ballot measure. We do not want to put artistic expression at risk of government censorship just because a book, film or performance is too topical and is considered a campaign "contribution."

Oregon AFSCME:

We cannot support this measure and we strongly encourage you to vote "No." This measure will eat away at Oregon's free speech protections. We have some of the strongest free speech protection in the country under the Oregon Constitution; much stronger than the U.S. Constitution. With this measure the standard will be lowered to that level for political speech.

NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon:

[This measure] eliminates ANY provision of the Constitution that conflicts with ANY future legislation or future ballot measure that seeks to regulate political campaign expenditures and contributions. That's a blank check we can't afford to write.

SEIU Local 49 and SEIU Local 503:

If we must amend the Constitution, we should be sure what we are doing, and what exactly the impact will be. [This measure] goes too far, and can lead to too many unintended consequences. Don't give up your constitutional right to free speech.

Oregon Education Association:

Right now, our freedom of political speech protection under Oregon's Bill of Rights is actually stronger than the federal law. But this measure would effectively remove important freedom of speech protections from our state Constitution, leaving it to the legislature or ballot measures to determine what our freedom of speech means in Oregon.


All of my other arguments against Measure 107 are available online.

© Kyle Markley
Libertarian candidate for Oregon Secretary of State
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