Save Voters' Pamphlet.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Oregon voters, by nature and history, are generally well-informed about issues and candidates. One reason for voters' high level of awareness is a too-often-taken-for-granted gem called the Oregon Voters' Pamphlet. Alas, without help from the 2003 Legislature, the gem may be lost to memory.

The problem is simple: The Voters' Pamphlet costs a lot to produce and distribute, and it doesn't bring in enough revenue to cover those costs. In the past, the Legislature has appropriated money to make up the difference. But because of Oregon's current economic woes, it's unlikely that the state - i.e., the taxpayers - can subsidize the pamphlet any longer. The money just isn't there.

A solution is contained in Senate Bill 139, now pending in the Senate Rules Committee. It would mandate an increase in the fees paid by candidates, political parties and supporters or opponents of ballot measures to get their information in the pamphlet. The bill deserves approval.

In the 2000 primary election, it cost more than $900,000 to produce and distribute the pamphlet to every household in Oregon. Fees paid by candidates, parties and issue advocates or opponents covered less than a third of that. For the 2000 general election - a presidential election year - the pamphlet cost a little more than $2 million, and fees provided less than $500,000.

Last year, the gap between expense and fee income remained, even though a presidential election tends to generate more arguments and candidates. The 2002 primary Voters' Pamphlet cost more than $360,000 to produce and distribute, but fees totaled less than $200,000. For last fall's general election, the cost of the pamphlet was a little more than $750,000 and revenues covered only a third of that amount.

Fees fall far short of covering the full cost because space in the pamphlet costs as little as $300, and no more than $1,000. SB 139 would bump the fees to $5,000 for candidates for national and statewide office; to a maximum of $1,500 for legislative, judicial, county and municipal candidates; and to $3,000 for statements by political parties. The cost of statements supporting or opposing measures would range from $500 to $2,500, depending on the amount of space required.

Candidates and issue advocates or opponents could avoid the fees by collecting 1,000 to 5,000 voter signatures, depending on the office and the amount of space required in the pamphlet.

In short, the bill would make the Voters' Pamphlet self-supporting.

The need for SB 139 is evident. Gov. Ted Kulongoski's proposed 2003-05 budget contains a $1.9 million reduction for the Elections Division, whose budget in 2001-03 was roughly $3.3 million. Without fee increases, there is simply no way the division can continue to produce the Voters' Pamphlet - while still meeting its mandated responsibilities to enforce state election laws, administer the initiative and referendum process and oversee campaign contribution and expenditure reports.

Politicians and groups that benefit from heavily subsidized space in the pamphlet will no doubt scream bloody murder at the proposed fee hikes. But they should remember that for years, the taxpayers have been paying most of the cost of their pamphlet material. It's high time they picked up the tab themselves.

With the approval of SB 139, Oregon voters would lose the occasional statement in the pamphlet by an underfunded candidate or issue-oriented group operating on a shoestring. This type of political information can often be entertaining, and is sometimes valuable. In the past, Oregon has subsidized all political speech to ensure that some is not priced out of the Voters' Pamphlet. But under the dire budgetary conditions that prevail today, the choice is between a self-supporting Voters' Pamphlet or none. It's that simple, legislators. Pass the bill.