News Release December 23, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Russ Walker (503) 709-8864 or Angela Wilhelms (503) 805-5231 OEA, NEA & Lincoln Park Elementary School Face Investigation into Election Law Violation
Yes on 30 Flyer Sent Home With Third Grade Student( Portland , OR )— The Taxpayer Defense Fund today filed a complaint with the Oregon Elections Division after a third grade student was sent home with a “Yes on Ballot Measure 30” flyer distributed by the Oregon Education Association, National Education Association and Lincoln Park Elementary, part of the David Douglas School District.
Katherine Burns, mother of the third grader, contacted the Taxpayer Defense Fund after being shocked to find political propaganda in her daughter's weekly folder on December 17, 2003 . “This is not the first time this has happened,” said Burns. “We received an almost identical flyer urging our yes vote for the Multnomah County tax last spring.”
“It is outrageous to think that the OEA, the NEA and schools in Oregon would abuse children for the sake of a political agenda,” stated Russ Walker, Director of Oregon Citizens for a Sound Economy and chief petitioner for Measure 30. “This was not an accident. Unfortunately their tactic worked and the students have already been used.”
Statutes in violation are ORS 260.432 and ORS 294.100(2). The former saying that the flyer is in violation as it does not fairly present the issue and advocates votes for a particular side. The latter says that public funds and resources are not to be expended for the production or distribution of political material favoring a specific outcome.
This comes at the same time the Hillsboro School District was instructed by the Elections Division to remove pro-30 material from their website. In a letter addressed to the superintendent, Compliance Specialist Norma Buckno wrote, “we have serious concerns about its impartiality.”
“The actions of the Hillsboro and David Douglas School Districts are indicative of a very disconcerting trend,” said Angela Wilhelms, Campaign Manager for the Taxpayer Defense Fund. The Taxpayer Defense Fund has requested a full investigation into the matter by the Secretary of State.
The election for is set for February 3, 2004 . A ‘no' vote will prevent the legislature's tax package from taking effect; a ‘yes' vote imposes $1.1 billion in new taxes.
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