Oregon's Big Money Move: Can They Make It Work?

Oregon is on a mission to overhaul its political finance system, but time and funding are running thin.

The Plan and the Price Tag

• Law Passed: Limit big donations and increase transparency.
• Cost: Secretary of State's Office wants $25 million to start.
• Uncertainty: Final cost unknown; no system builder hired yet.
• Deadline: Law kicks in soon, but preparations are behind.

The Stakes

• What's at Risk:
• Donation caps for candidates, companies, unions starting 2027.
• New tracking system for political money.
• Potential Disaster: Oregon's history of failing big tech projects looms large.

The Challenges

• Funding Dilemma:
• Lawmakers have options: fund, delay, or amend the law.
• Distracted by other pressing issues: immigration, transportation, budget.
• Public Demand:
• Voters overwhelmingly supported donation limits in 2020.

• Concerns about big money influencing elections.

• Political Tensions:
• Secretary of State Tobias Read warns of high costs.
• Predecessor claimed lack of resources to implement the law.

The Future

Will Oregon deliver on its promise to clean up political money, or will funding hurdles and political distractions derail the effort?