Oregon Lottery Proceeds for Veterans' Services Amendment (2016)
| Lottery Proceeds for Veterans' Services Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Amendment |
| Origin | Citizens |
| Topic | Lottery |
| Status | Not on the ballot |
| Not on Ballot |
|---|
 |
| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Oregon Lottery Proceeds for Veterans' Services Amendment (Petition #3) did not make the 2016 ballot in the state of Oregon as an initiated constitutional amendment. If approved by voters, the measure would have done the following:[1]
- Required 5 percent of lottery net proceeds be distributed to provide services to Oregon veterans
- Reduced funding for economic development and education
Text of measure
Ballot title
The official ballot title was as follows:[1]
| “ | Amends Constitution: Requires 5% of lottery net proceeds be distributed to finance services to Oregon veterans
Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote requires 5% of lottery net proceeds be distributed to finance services to Oregon veterans; reduces lottery funding distributed to education/economic development. Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains current list of authorized purposes for spending state lottery net proceeds; keeps lottery funding for education and economic development at current percentages.[2] |
” |
Ballot measure summary
The ballot summary was as follows:[1]
| “ | Amends Constitution. Measure requires 5% of lottery net proceeds be distributed to provide services to Oregon veterans. Veterans' services include assistance with employment, education, housing, health care, reintegration, access to government benefits, and other services for veterans, spouses and dependents. Constitution currently requires that state lottery proceeds be used to create jobs, further economic development, and finance public education. Currently dedicates 18% of net lottery proceeds to finance education stability fund; dedicates 15% of net lottery proceeds to finance state parts, restoration and protection of native fish and wildlife, watersheds, water quality and wildlife habitats; dedicates 15% of net lottery proceeds to finance school capital matching fund. Measure reduces funding for economic development and education to finance veterans' fund. Other provisions.[2] | ” |
Full text
Read the full text of the measure here.
Background
Julie Parrish (R-37) and Martha Schrader attempted to get a similar measure on the ballot in 2014, but it was withdrawn on November 22, 2013. Parrish unsuccessfully attempted to have the measure referred to the ballot, decided to sponsor this measure with Schrader.[3]
According to the Oregon Department of Veteran's Affairs, about 333,800 veterans resided in Oregon in 2016. About 152,000 veterans served in World War II, 74,500 served in the Korean War, 118,600 are Vietnam War veterans and 32,000 served in Afghanistan or Iraq.[3]
Support
This measure was being sponsored by Julie Parrish (R-37) and Martha Schrader. Supporters called the measure "Keeping Our Promise-Oregon Veterans Lottery Bill."[1]
Parrish said that the measure would have generated approximately $27 million a year to help veterans and that the measure could have been a moneymaker for the state if it would have been used to help more veterans qualify for federal benefits.[4]
According to Parrish, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars supported this measure.[4]
Support
Arguments in favor
Schrader said,
| “ | It’s time we fully fund the programs our veterans need and welcome them home properly. The funds this ballot measure would generate will serve all veterans of all eras but it’s clear that multiple deployments for soldiers in the post-9/11 wars are taking a toll, and the spike in mental health needs is tremendous. We can only imagine the need 40 years from now, and this is a good first step to planning the future for these servicemen and women.[2] | ” |
Parrish said,
| “ | Dedicated funding for these types of programs gives us a chance to properly care for our veterans and open up the state for opportunities to draw federal dollars down to Oregon. It also lets us allocate money to nonprofits with a veterans’ mission.
It’s too important for us not to get this measure to the voters for a vote in 2014. I believe our legislative body has an obligation to refer this to the ballot for a vote of the people, but we’ll rally veterans to gather signatures if we can’t get this bill passed.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
Parrish and Schrader filed the initiative on January 10, 2014. Supporters exceeded the minimum of 1,000 signatures needed to file the petition by turning in 1,026 verified signatures on July 22, 2014. The petition was approved for circulation on October 9, 2014. Supporters were required to collect at least 117,578 valid signatures in order to land the initiative on the ballot.[1] No signatures were submitted by the July 8, 2016, deadline.[5]
State profile
| Demographic data for Oregon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 4,024,634 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 95,988 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 85.1% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 1.8% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 4% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 4.1% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 12.3% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 89.8% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 30.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $51,243 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 18.4% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Oregon. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Oregon
Oregon voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, two are located in Oregon, accounting for 0.97 percent of the total pivot counties.[6]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Oregon had two Retained Pivot Counties, 1.10 of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Oregon coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Oregon
- United States congressional delegations from Oregon
- Public policy in Oregon
- Endorsers in Oregon
- Oregon fact checks
- More...
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Oregon Secretary of State, "Initiative, Referendum, and Referral Search," accessed February 19, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Oregon Live, "Oregon House bill would divert lottery proceeds for veterans services," February 20, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Oregonian, "Oregon Lottery: 2016 ballot initiatives already circulating to gain lottery profits," November 11, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Initiative, referendum, and referral search," accessed July 8, 2016
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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