An advertisement that began airing Sept. 24 in Portland, Eugene and Medford gives false and misleading information on Measure 49. Oregonians In Action, the group that created Measure 37 and sold it to voters in 2004, wants to defeat Measure 49 and is behind this advertisement.

Luckily the issue behind the misleading advertisement is easy to truth.

Consider these details, which are easily verified:

False allegation: “The politicians refused to have public hearings.”

TRUTH: The Joint Special Committee on Land Use Fairness held nine public hearings during the 2007 legislative session on reform of Measure 37, at which 369 Oregonians from all around the state testified. Measure 49 is the result of that work. To say that the public didn’t have input not only is false but it is simply absurd.

False allegation: “They crafted a ballot title meant to deceive voters”

TRUTH: The people behind No on 49 filed a federal suit because they didn’t like the ballot title that clearly indicates, unlike in 2004 when Measure 37 went before Oregonians, what voters are voting on. A federal judge soundly rejected this challenge to the ballot title for Measure 49 (Grudzinski, et. al. v. Bradbury, et. al.).

In September, 2007 Judge Ann Aiken wrote “…plaintiffs’ argument is fatally flawed….” and “Plaintiffs raise an 11th-hour challenge to a ballot title and explanatory statement customarily included with ballot measure and request that Measure 49 be submitted to the voters without any title or explanatory statement, undoubtedly causing confusion or questions in the minds of the electorate.”

Read more or watch a news report below.