Republicans sponsor nine of ten remaining ballot initiatives

The Statesman Journal is reporting that of the 10 ballot initiatives looking to be added by the voters, nine of them are sponsored by Republican interests.

Democrats are crying foul over several measures. One targets unions, which says that public officials could not collect union dues for political purposes, has already made the ballot. Another, Measure 20, targets teachers by basing their salary on the performance of their students. And then there are Measures 51 and 53, which targets trial lawyers by limiting attorney fees and making lawyers accountable for lawsuit abuses that still might make the ballot. The Dems believe that these measures force them to play defense; instead of allocating money toward tight races, donors feel the need to pledge their support to defeating these ballot measures.

"The only way that Republicans and conservatives can have a chance is by going to the people, because they cannot win elsewhere," said Bill Sizemore, an initiative activist who is the chief sponsor of three measures and co-sponsor of two more with Russ Walker of Keizer said to the Statesman Journal.

If all 10 initiatives qualify, they will join the four others that the Legislature voted on for a total of 14 ballot initiatives in November.