Greens Call for Governor Kotek to Act on the Promise of Campaign Finance Reform,
Campaign Finance Reform enjoys broad support in Oregon, in both Rural and Urban communities
Now that the dust has settled on the 2022 election, the Pacific Green Party urges Governor Tina Kotek and elected representatives to deliver on the promise to advance campaign finance reform. Over 78% of Oregonians voted in favor of campaign finance reform in 2020, establishing a mandate for reform. “The undue influence of money in elections is an issue with broad support, both in rural and urban communities,” points out Nathalie Paravicini, former candidate for Oregon governor.
Paravicini withdrew from the race for personal reasons, but not before getting a commitment from Kotek to support campaign finance legislation in the 2023 legislative session. While it is unknowable what effect a Green Party candidate for Governor would have had on final results, Kotek did make campaign finance reform one of her top priorities.
Continue readingPGP Calls For Change In Policy Toward Haiti
The Pacific Green Party (PGP) stand in solidarity with the Haitian people, rejects the Calls for Foreign Intervention in Haiti, and Demands that the International Community Respect Haitian Sovereignty and the Wishes of the Haitian People for National Self-Determination.
The current crisis in Haiti is not new; it started with the US government-supported coup that removed democratically-elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Since then Haiti’s rule of law has faltered, repressing opposition movements, amplified by the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 2010 and followed by Hurricane Matthew in October of 2016. The UN also left a track record of abuses and a cholera outbreak that killed thousands of people and continues to sicken people across the country.
Another foreign military intervention will not solve the problem in Haiti. Haiti's problems will only be solved when the US cuts support to corrupt leaders, provide meaningful support to grassroots organizations and respect free and fair election results.
Continue readingOregon’s Wealthiest Man Has Caused Tina Kotek to Take Contribution Limits Seriously—or at Least Claim She Does
Tina Kotek, the Democratic nominee locked in a dead heat in the Oregon governor’s race, took time out from campaigning Oct. 10 to hold a “roundtable on campaign finance reform.” The event was occasioned by Nike co-founder Phil Knight writing Kotek’s Republican opponent, Christine Drazan, a check for $1 million on Oct. 6.
“Oregon is in danger of flipping red due to the influx of large donations from billionaires and corporate special interests looking to influence the election,” Kotek’s campaign wrote in an email publicizing the roundtable.
There’s some irony in Kotek’s newfound interest in limiting campaign contributions.
Continue readingKotek pledges support for campaign finance limits, will accept big checks to get elected – Oregon Capital Chronicle
Democrat Tina Kotek pledged Monday to make capping campaign contributions one of her top priorities if she’s elected governor – but she won’t turn down large campaign checks.
Kotek, Republican Christine Drazan and nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson last week surpassed the $40 million fundraising record set by Democratic Gov. Kate Brown and Republican nominee Knute Buehler in 2018. The three have raised more than $42 million combined since January 2021, buoyed by large checks from national Democratic and Republican groups, labor unions, businesses and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who has personally spent $6.75 million this year to boost Johnson, Drazan and Republicans running for the Oregon Legislature.
During a Portland town hall with campaign finance reform advocates Monday morning, Kotek criticized the state’s lack of campaign finance limits, and particularly how they allow Oregon’s wealthiest man to single-handedly spend millions on campaigns.
She’s calling to limit individual contributors to $2,000 for statewide races and $1,000 for legislative races in future elections, but she said she wouldn’t refuse a $1 million check from an individual.