2016 Oregon Ballot Measure 97

File:Oregon Ballot Measure 97, 2016, voters' pamphlet.jpg

The campaigns for and against the ballot measure raised the most money ever over a ballot measure in Oregon.{{cite news|last1=Kish|first1=Matthew|title=Measure 97 now costliest in Oregon history|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2016/10/24/measure-97-now-costliest-in-oregon-history.html|accessdate=November 1, 2016|work=Portland Business Journal|date=October 24, 2016|publisher=American City Business Journals}}{{cite news|last1=Achen|first1=Paris|title=Measure 97 breaks fundraising record|url=http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/328545-208392-measure-97-breaks-fundraising-record|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023193224/http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/328545-208392-measure-97-breaks-fundraising-record|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2016|accessdate=November 1, 2016|work=Portland Tribune|date=October 21, 2016|publisher=Pamplin Media Group|oclc=46708462}} By the week before Election Day, combined fundraising for the two campaigns had reached $40 million.{{cite news|last=Mapes|first=Jeff|url=http://www.opb.org/news/series/election-2016/measure-97-money-raised/ |title=Measure 97 Campaign Hits $40 Million Mark After Last-Minute Contributions|publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting|date=November 2, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2016}} Opponents of the measure outspent proponents of the measure; the anti-Measure 97 campaign, the Defeat the Tax on Oregon Sales Committee, raised almost $26 million, while the pro-Measure 97 committee Yes on 97 raised $14 million. A separate pro-Measure 97 group, Defend Oregon, also raised funds in support of the measure's passage.{{cite news|first=Hillary|last=Borrud|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/10/opponents_of_corporate_tax_mea_1.html |title=Opponents of corporate tax measure report raising $16.8 million|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=October 5, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2016}}

The major supporters of the Measure 97 were labor unions, and in particular the Oregon Education Association, the state's primary teachers' union,{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Kirk|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/09/us/measure-97-seeking-to-raise-corporate-taxes-splits-oregon-voters.html |title=Measure 97, Seeking to Raise Corporate Taxes, Splits Oregon Voters|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 8, 2016|access-date=November 1, 2016}} which contributed a total of $2.1 million to the campaign in support of Measure 97. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 503, which is "the largest union representing Oregon state government workers", gave almost $3 million to the pro-Measure 97 campaign. The American Federation of Teachers and the Oregon American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees also contributed to the pro-Measure 97 campaign.

Major corporations mostly opposed the law. Companies and trade associations that contributed to the campaign against the measure include, among others, Amazon.com, General Motors, Kroger/Fred Meyer, J.P. Morgan Chase, Wal-Mart, Costco, Safeway/Albertsons, the Oregon Association of Realtors, Jive Software, Comcast, Pacific Seafood, and the Craft Brew Alliance.

Governor Kate Brown, a Democrat, supported the measure, while Brown's opponent in the 2016 gubernatorial election, Republican nominee William C. "Bud" Pierce, opposed the measure.

A poll conducted by DHM Research during September 1–6 showed 60 percent of respondents were in favor of Measure 97, with 30 percent opposed. Another poll conducted by icitizen during September 2–7 found that 59 percent of 610 respondents were in favor of the measure passing, with 21 percent opposed. However, support decreased to 40 percent and opposition increased to 31 percent after participants heard arguments against Measure 97. The poll's margin of error was 4 percent.{{Cite news|url=http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/322387-201919-poll-support-for-measure-97-erodes-when-voters-hear-pros-cons|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914163454/http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/322387-201919-poll-support-for-measure-97-erodes-when-voters-hear-pros-cons|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2016|title=Poll: Support for Measure 97 erodes when voters hear pros/cons|first=Paris|last=Achen|date=September 13, 2016|accessdate=November 7, 2016|work=Portland Tribune}}

Vote tallies by county:

• Corporate tax in the United States
• List of Oregon ballot measures

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;General

• {{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lro/Documents/RR%203-16%20Measure%2097.pdf|format=PDF|title=Measure 97 Description and Analysis: Research Report #3-16|date=September 2016|author=Legislative Revenue Office|publisher=State of Oregon}}

{{Oregon legislation}}

Category:Corporate taxation in the United States

Category:2016 Oregon ballot measures